SEDIMENTARY

ROCKS
 INTRODUCTION

Sedimentary Rocks are formed by the deposition and

consolidation of ‘new sediments’, in layers over the pre-existing
rocks. The new sediments are, in fact, eroded away from some
old rocks by weathering, and are then transported by agents like
wind, water, ice, etc. These eroded sediments, after travelling
some distance, may get deposited over some existing rocks,
which on consolidation, will result in the formation of what are
known as sedimentary rocks. These are generally found to occur
at or near the surface of the Earth.
 FORMATION

The sedimentary rocks are formed in the following 4 stages:

 Weathering

 Transportation of the eroded materials

 Deposition of these materials, and

 Consolidation and rock formation, a process called

LITHIFICATION.
 CLASSIFICATION
Sedimentary rocks are classified into categories based on:

 Transportation of sediments
• Marine (sea deposited)
• Lacustrine (lake deposited)
• Glacial (glacial deposited)
• Eolian (wind deposited)
• Fluvial (river deposited)

 Composition
• Limestone
• Chert
• Quartz
• Sandstone
 Mode of origin

• Clastic: Derived from fragments or individual minerals of other rocks.

• Chemical: Derived from weathered materials which travel in soln. and

ultimately get precipitated.

• Organic: Derived from the biological activities of various organisms

living in water bodies.
TEXTURES
 STRUCTURES
Structures of sedimentary rocks can be classified into:

 Mechanical Structures
• Stratification or Bedding
• Lamination and Cross lamination
• Ripple marks
• Rain marks
• Joints and Cracks

 Chemical Structures
• Concretionary
• O-olitic and Pisolitic
• Geode
 Organic Structures
 Mechanical Structures
• Stratification or Bedding: Arrangement of rocks in layers or
strata, which are horizontal at the time of formation, but may
get displaced or folded, due to Earth movements, through angles
upto 90 degrees, with the passage of time.
They are of different types:
i. Horizontal
ii. Monocline
iii. Anticline
iv. Syncline

• Lamination and Cross lamination: When the thickness of a bed

is very small, i.e., less than 1cm, it is called lamina.
Lamination is the normal bedding of deposition where as Cross
lamination is cross bedding or false bedding of deposit.
• Ripple marks: Symmetrical or Unsymmetrical undulations that may be seen
on some sedimentary deposits which are caused by winds or waves, during
the deposition of sediments in a shallow water environment.

• Rain marks: Marks left by the falling rains on the loose sediments.

• Joints and Cracks: In unconsolidated or partially consolidated deposits, joints

often develop because of shrinkage due to water loss, compaction and
settlement, or some other causes.
 CHEMICAL STRUCTURES

• Concretionary: Rounded bodies with irregular shape are found

embedded in the main rock mass.

• Oolitic and Pisolitic: Rocks made up of small spherical or

rounded grains (.1-1mm in size), resembling insect eggs. These
particles are called oolitics. When these are coarser in texture,
i.e. more than 1mm in size, it is then called pisolitic structure.

• Geode: Represented by the presence of hollow shell, which is

made up of one mineral, and contains lining of projecting
crystals of another mineral inside the shell.
 ORGANIC STRUCTURES

• Fossils: It is the remains of animals and plants

being preserved in the rocks. They include all
types of impressions, bones, shells, skeletons,
etc.
 CONGLOMERATE

Conglomerate is a clastic sedimentary rock

that contains large (> 2 mm in diameter)
rounded particles. The space between the
pebbles is generally filled with smaller
particles and/or a chemical cement that
binds the rock together.
 DOLOMITE

Dolomite (also known as "dolostone"

and "dolomite rock") is a chemical
sedimentary rock that is very similar
to limestone. It is thought to form when
limestone or lime mud is modified by
magnesium-rich ground water.
 LIMESTONE

Limestone is a rock that is composed primarily

of calcium carbonate. It can form organically
from the accumulation of shell, coral, algal,
and fecal debris. It can also form chemically
from the precipitation of calcium carbonate
from lake or ocean water. Limestone is used in
many ways. Some of the most common are:
production of cement, crushed stone, and acid
neutralization.
 SANDSTONE

Sandstone is a clastic sedimentary

rock made up mainly of sand-size
(1/16 to 2 mm diameter) weathering
debris. Environments where large
amounts of sand can accumulate
include beaches, deserts, flood plains,
and deltas.