Earth Systems 3209 Unit 3

The Rock Cycle

Why study sedimentary rocks? Economic use, fossils and

earths history.
5% of Earths crust is sedimentary rock.

75% of Earths surface is sedimentary rock.

Sedimentary Processes
Formed from sediments of pre-existing rocks
(i.e. metamorphic, igneous or sedimentary).
Created by the processes of WEATHERING
(i.e. break-up) and EROSION (i.e. removal
and transportation).

Weathering (Two Types: Chemical and

Mechanical)
Erosion (Agents: water, ice, and wind)
Aided by gravity, sediments travel to bodies of water

where they are deposited (i.e. come to rest). Over

geological time, sediments transform into sedimentary
rock.

Sedimentary Processes

Sediments are formed into rock by the process of

LITHIFICATION, which includes two subprocesses:
Compaction: pressure from the burial of sediments

solidifies material into rock. This results in reduced

porosity and permeability. (Note: effective with small grain
sizes)
Cementation: minerals precipitate out (i.e. crystallize) of
circulating ground water, which cements sediments
together (SiO2, CaCO3, FeO3)

Cementation and Compaction

Sediment Particles

Can anyone give examples of sedimentary rocks?

Cement

Coal

Sandstone

Breccia

Conglomerate

Shale

Rock Salt

Siltstone

Gypsum

Limestone

Coquina

Dolomite

Chaulk

CLASSES of Sedimentary Rocks

Clastic (also called detrital):
(e.g., shale, siltstone, sandstone, conglomerate, breccia)

Formed from mechanical weathering

Classified based on particle size (and particle shape)

Chemical:
Evaporites (e.g., rock salt, gypsum, sylvite)
Precipitates (e.g., compact limestone, travertine, dolomite,

chert)
Chemical weathering dissolving of chemicals

Biochemical
(e.g., coquina, chert, coal, coral limestone, chaulk)
Accumulation of living material i.e. organic remains

Clastic Characteristics:

Clastic rocks are classified based on grain size (e.g.,

shale - clay, siltstone - silt, sandstone - sand) with
the exception of Breccia (angular gravel particles),
and conglomerate (rounded gravel particles), which
are classified based on grain shape.
Grain Shape (rounded, angular)
Sorting (well sorted, poorly sorted) DOES NOT APPLY TO
CHEMICAL OR BIOCHEMICAL, BUT IT DOES APPLY TO CLASTICS!

Cementation (e.g., siliceous, calcareous, or iron

oxide)
Porosity (pore space - % of open space or holes)
Permeability (communication or interconnectiveness
between pore space Darcys)

What can we tell from grain size/shape?

Grain size decreases with decreasing current velocity

(i.e. decreasing energy). In general, larger grain sizes are
closer to the source of weathering. Smaller grain sizes are
further from the source of weathering.
The roundness of grains increases with increasing
distance from the source of weathering. Angular grains
have not traveled far from the source.
High Velocity

Low Velocity

Breccia, Conglomerate Sandstone Siltstone Shale

HORRIZONTAL SORTING (COARSE TO FINE FROM LEFT TO RIGHT)

Clastic Depositional Environments

AND Rocks

Fluvial (Rivers/streams) Conglomerate, Breccia,

Sandstone, Siltstone, Shale
Lagoonal/Bays Siltstone, Shale
Beaches Conglomerate, Sandstone
Deep Marine Involves turbidites (Conglomerate,
Sandstone, Siltstone, Shale), but is dominated by
chemical sedimentary rocks.
Shallow Marine Conglomerate, Sandstone,
Siltstone, Shale

Fluvial

Beach

Fluvial

Shallow
Marine

Turbidites

Deep marine sedimentary rocks resulting from

underwater avalanches. Characterised by graded
bedding - fining upwards sequences of conglomerate at
the bottom, followed by sandstone, siltstone and shale.

Chemical Sedimentary Rocks

Chemical:
1) Evaporites (e.g., halite, gypsum, sylvite)
NOTE THAT THE ABOVE ARE THE RESULT OF THE

EVAPORATION OF WATER.

2) Precipitates (e.g., compact limestone, travertine,

dolomite, nodular chert)
DUE TO CHANGES IN ENVIRONMENTAL CONIDITONS

(E.G., TEMPERATURE CHANGE, CHEMICAL CHANGE,

CONCENTRATION CHANGE).
Chemical weathering dissolving of chemicals

Chemical Sedimentary rocks

Chemical Depositional Environments:
1. Shallow Marine (e.g., gypsum, halite, sylvite,
limestone and dolomite)
2. Deep Marine (e.g., limestone, dolomite and
nodular chert)
3. Cave - Stalactites and stalagmites
Stalactites are icicle-like pendants that hang from the
ceiling. Water seeps through cracks in the ceiling of
the cave.
Stalagmites form from the floor.
The precipitated limestone that makes up stalactites
and stalagmites is called travertine.

Stalactites and Stalagmites

Biochemical Sedimentary Rocks

Coquina forms from the build-up, compaction, and
cementation of shells from dead organisms (mostly on
beaches).
Chaulk forms from the accumulation, compaction, and
cementation of microscopic marine organisms such as
formaminifera (i.e. deep marine)
Chert forms from the accumulation of microscopic marine
organisms, such as radiolaria and diatoms, that form a very
hard rock consisting of microcrystalline silica. Examples of
chert include jasper, flint, and agate (i.e. deep marine)
Coral limestone accumulations of coral can be compacted
and cemented into coral limestone (i.e. shallow marine)
Coal formed form the accumulation of plant material, which
is buried and chemically altered over millions of years.

What are corals?

Corals are examples of organisms that are

capable of creating large quantities of marine
limestone from their shells and external skeletons
which are composed of calcium carbonate.

The Formation of Coal - Swamps

There are 4 stages of coal formation:

1) Peat earliest stage of plant accumulation. Contains

large amounts of volatiles. (PEAT IS NOT A ROCK).

(VOLATILES E.G., CARBON DIOXIDE, WATER).
2) Lignite decreased levels of volatiles. It is classified
as a sedimentary rock.
3) Bituminous higher grade of coal than lignite. It is
classified as a sedimentary rock.
4) Anthracite final stage of coal formation. It is
classified as a metamorphic rock due to heat, pressure,
and hot chemical fluids. It burns cleaner than other
stages of coal due to less volatiles present. Small
amount available world-wide.
Increasing
Grade

Four Stages of Coal Formation

Peat

Lignite

Bituminous

Anthracite

Biochemical Sedimentary
Rocks
Depositional Environments
- Swamp Coal
- Shallow Marine Coquina, Limestone (Coral)
- Beach Coquina
- Deep Marine Chaulk, Chert

Think about the concept of systems. How do

biochemical sedimentary rocks and coral
represent a dynamic interaction of the
spheres?

Core Lab 3 Sedimentary Rocks

Review:

Concept Map for rocks

Next class Metamorphic Rocks