Sedimentary Rocks!

Formation of Sedimentary Rocks 75% of the rocks exposed at the surface of Earth are sedimentary rocks. Sediments are loose materials (rock fragments, mineral grains, bits of shell) that have been moved by wind, water, ice, or gravity. Sedimentary rock forms when sediments are pressed and cemented together.

Stacked Rocks Sedimentary rocks often form as layers. The older layers are on the bottom because they were deposited first. Sometimes, forces within Earth overturn layers of rock and the oldest rocks are no longer on the bottom.

Classifying Sedimentary Rocks Sedimentary rocks can be made of just about any material found in nature. Sediments can come from weathered and eroded igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks. Sediments also come from the remains of some organisms. Sedimentary rocks are classified by their composition and by the manner in which they are formed. Detrital Chemical Organic Types of sedimentary rocks

Detrital Sedimentary Rocks Made from the broken fragments of other rocks. These loose sediments are compacted and cemented together to form solid rock

Ways Rocks Break Apart Weathering = air, water, or ice Erosion = movement of weathered material Compaction = layers of sediment build up and the pressure from the upper layers pushes down on layer layers Cementation = when water and minerals such as quartz, calcite, and hematite are deposited between pieces of sediment and act like glue to hold everything together.

Chemical Sedimentary Rocks Form when dissolved minerals come out of solution (minerals left over after the water they are in evaporates) Not made from pieces of preexisting rocks. Rock Salt

Organic Sedimentary Rocks Rocks made of the remains of once- living things. One of the most common is fossil- rich limestone. Contains remains of once-living ocean organisms