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Sediments and Sedimentary Rocks

Terms in this set (26)

What is the difference between mechanical and chemical weathering?
Mechanical breaks down rocks into smaller particles, composition not changed. Chemical decomposition by reaction to water (transform minerals in the rock into different minerals)
Examples of weathering process...
frost wedging, thermal expansion & contraction, and mechanical exfoliation
Sediment clast sizes, sorting, and shapes..
boulders, cobblers, pebbles are coarse-grained; sand are medium-grained; silt, clay are fine-grained
Sediment clast sizes, sorting, and shapes tell us what?
The closer to the source is coarse-grained and the further from the source is fine-grained.
Sedimentary structures are?
Bedding (stratification), graded bedding, cross bedding, ripple marks, and mudcraks
Bedding (stratification)
change in water velocity. example: faster ater moves larger sediments
Graded bedding
turbidity current (underwater avalanche); fine grains settle last,
Cross bedding
ancient sand dunes
Ripple marks
shallow water environment
Mudcracks
dry environments drying in mud
Clastic sedimentary rocks
mudstone/shale is fine grained, sandstone is medium grained, conglomerate breccia is coarse grained
How are conglomerate and breccia different?
Conglomerate is a rounded gravel size and breccia is a angular gravel size.
What are the differences between biogenic(organic) and inorganic chemical sedimentary rocks?
Biogenic is derived from living organisms and inorganic solution without the influence of living organisms.
What are evaporates?
Halite and gypsum (Halite + NaCl)
How is coal formed?
from vegetation (land based organisms)
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