Specimen

Description

Interpretation of Maturity

How rock was formed

Detrital sedimentary rocks are formed from particles of pre-existing rocks and organic debris, collectively called sediment. This sediment is transported in water and deposited, burying all of the previously deposited layers. When the layers are buried deep under the surface layer, they may be turned into solid sedimentary rock by the process of lithification. During compaction, excess air and water is pressed out of the sediment and the volume of the sediment is reduced. The sediment grains become bound together by minerals that were dissolved in the water that circulated through the sediment. These minerals "precipitate" (come out of the water) and act like glue to cement the particles together into solid rock.

95 % Quartz (Black spaces are void spaces), 1% rock fragments, quartz particles exhibit low sphericity between sub-angular and angular, particles are moderately-sorted, most particles display bladed grain shape, no matrix present, the arrangement of the grains show point contacts.

The specimen displays between the sub-mature stage and mature stage in terms of textural maturity as the grains are moderately sorted and not well rounded. It is mineralogically mature as it contains a lot of quartz.

60% feldspar, 30% quartz, 10% iron oxide. Iron oxide acts as a cementing agent. Quartz exhibit low sphericity that is between sub-angular and angular while feldspar has high sphericity between sub-rounded and sub-angular. Iron oxide acts as the matrix. Feldspars are more equant while quartz is bladed to rod-like. Some feldspar particles exhibit multiple twinning which may be due to weathering. The arrangement of grains show point contacts to concavo-convex contacts. Specimen is moderately sorted.

The specimen displays between the sub-mature stage and mature stage in terms of textural maturity as the grains are moderately sorted and not well rounded. It is moderately mineralogically mature as it contains less stables grains such as feldspars but chemically stable and physically resistant such as quartz

Specimen

Description

Interpretation of Maturity

How rock was formed

80% quartz (black spaces are void spaces) and 20% rock fragments. Particles are moderately sorted. Quartz particles exhibit low sphericity between angular and sub-angular. Particles vary in shape from bladed to equant. No matrix present, the arrangement of the grains show point contacts.

The specimen displays between the sub-mature stage and mature stage in terms of textural maturity as the grains are moderately sorted and not well rounded. It is mineralogically mature as it contains a lot of quartz.

5% rock fragments, 10% iron oxide and 85% quartz.

Iron oxide acts as a cementing agent. Quartz exhibit high sphericity that is between subangular and angular. Particles are moderatelysorted, most particles display equant grain shape, no matrix present, the arrangement of the grains show point contacts.

The specimen displays mature stage in terms of textural maturity as the grains are moderately sorted and rounded. It is mineralogically mature as it contains a lot of quartz.

Detrital sedimentary rocks are formed from particles of pre-existing rocks and organic debris, collectively called sediment. This sediment is transported in water and deposited, burying all of the previously deposited layers. When the layers are buried deep under the surface layer, they may be turned into solid sedimentary rock by the process of lithification. During compaction, excess air and water is pressed out of the sediment and the volume of the sediment is reduced. The sediment grains become bound together by minerals that were dissolved in the water that circulated through the sediment. These minerals "precipitate" (come out of the water) and act like glue to cement the particles together into solid rock.