Sedimentary Rocks

Origins and Characteristics

Todays
Today
s goal
Formation of Sedimentary Rocks
Types of sedimentary rocks
Sedimentary structures

Sedimentary Rocks
< 10% of crustal rocks
Cover 70% of the continental surfaces
Why are Sedimentary Rocks important in
engineering?
g
g

Origin of Sedimentary Rocks

1.
2
2.
3.

Weathering forms clasts

_________ leads to transportation of clasts
Clasts can then be deposited

Origin of Sedimentary Rocks

4. Particles are converted into rock via Diagenesis
Lithification
compaction
cementation
Natural cements include calcite, silica, and
iron oxide
Recrystallization development of more stable
minerals from less stable ones

Origin of Sedimentary Rocks

Sedimentary Rock Types

Textures: size and arrangement of particles

Rock types are based on the source of the

material

Detrital sedimentary rocks

Chemical sedimentary
y rocks

Detrital Sedimentary Rocks

Clast
Matrix
Cement

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Detrital Sedimentary Rocks

Shale and other Mudrocks

Clay to silt-size
silt size particles deposited in thin
layers (laminae)
Deposited by gradual settling from quiet
water
Siltstone

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Detrital Sedimentary Rocks

Sandstone

Composed of sand
sand-size
size particles
Quartz (durable) is the dominant mineral

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Detrital Sedimentary Rocks

Conglomerate and breccia

Particles greater than 2mm in diameter

Conglomerate
Breccia

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Detrital Sedimentary Rocks

Particle size and

environment
Rounding, sorting,
composition and
maturity

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Environment??
1. Sandstone
2. Siltstone
3. Breccia
4 Conglomerate
4.
5. Shale
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Chemical Sedimentary Rocks

Precipitation of calcium carbonate material

occurs in two ways

Inorganic processes
Organic processes (biochemical origin)

Forms __________ rock

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Chemical Sedimentary Rocks

Coral reef

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Chemical Sedimentary Rocks

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Chemical Sedimentary Rocks

Where would the rocks form?

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Chemical Sedimentary Rocks

Travertine

Dolostone: typically formed

from limestone when
magnesium replaces some
calcium

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Chemical Sedimentary Rocks

Evaporites: minerals that precipitate due to

evaporation of a body of water

Includes: halite, gypsum

Chert:

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Organic Sedimentary Rocks

Coal
Stages in coal formation:
1. Accumulation of plant
material (often in swamps)
2. Partial decomposition
into peat
3. Shallow burial forming lignite
4 Deeper burial forming
4.
bituminous coal
5. Metamorphism forms
anthracite coal
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Organic Rocks

Formation of coal

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Sedimentary Rock Types

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Sedimentary Rocks what are these?

B
A

D
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Sedimentary Structures

Clues to what environment the rock was

deposited in
Bedding planes:
Laminae:

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Sedimentary Structures

Cross-bedding: inclined layers formed from

g
g wavelike bedforms
migrating

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Sedimentary Structures

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Sedimentary Structures

Graded beds form from

rapid deposition from water
coarse material settles
first

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Sedimentary Structures

Ripple marks small waves of sand that are

formed by currents (asymmetric) or waves

Mud cracks shrinkage on exposure to air

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Summary

Sedimentary rocks can have a clastic (detrital),

chemical, biochemical or organic origin
The grain size, rounding, composition can tell us
about the maturity of the rock (how far it has been
transported)
Sedimentary structures provide clues to what
environment
i
t the
th rockk was formed
f
d in
i

Questions?

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