Sedimentation:

Rocks Formed by Surface Processes

About Sedimentation
Sediments are produced on the Earths surface as a result of weathering.
Sediments are transported and become sedimentary rocks after they come to rest.
Sedimentary rocks give evidence of ancient sedimentary environments where they formed.

Lecture Outline
1. Sedimentary rocks; surface processes
2. Sedimentary basins
. Sedimentary environments
!. Sedimentary structures
". #urial and diagenesis
$. Siliciclastic classification
%. &hemical and biological classification
1. Sedimentary rocks are produced by surface processes in the rock cycle.
'eathering
(hysical weathering
&hemical weathering
(rocesses forming sedimentary rock
'eathering
Erosion
)ransportation
*eposition +sedimentation,
#urial and compaction
*iagenesis
Some sedimentary environments
-lacier
.iver
*elta
*esert
/akes and playas
0arine shelf
Sedimentary environments and
(rocesses forming sedimentary rock
1
1. Sedimentary rocks are produced by surface processes in the rock cycle.
&lassification of sediments
Siliciclastic sediments
&hemical sediments
#iological sediments
&urrent strength and distance of
transport affect1
Si2e of clastic particles
Sorting of clastic particles
.ounding of clastic particles
Sedimentary
rocks
Metamorphic
rocks
Plutons
Desert
Playa
lake
Delta
Glacier
Weathering
breaks down
rocks.
Erosion carries
away particles. Transportation moves
particles downhill.
Deposition occurs
when particles
settle out or
precipitate.
Diagenesis causes
lithiication o the
sediment! making
sedimentary rocks.
"urial occurs
as layers o
sediment
accumulate.
2
&hemical mi3ing vats1
4ceans
/akes
2. Sedimentary basins
Sediments tend to accumulate in depressions in the Earths crust.
*epressions are formed by subsidence.
Sedimentary basins are depressions filled with thick accumulations of sediment. )hey are sinks
for sediment.
ypes of sedimentary basins1
.ift basins and thermal subsidence basins

5le3ural basins
Sedimentary basins Sedimentary basins
form on rifted form on rifted
continental continental
margins margins
!
!. Sedimentary en"ironments
)ypes of environments1
1. &ontinental
/ake
.iver +alluvial,
*esert
-lacier
2. Shoreline
*elta
)idal flat
#each
. 0arine
&ontinental shelf
4rganic reef
&ontinental margin
&ontinental slope
*eep sea
"
Sedimentary Sedimentary
environments environments
3.
Sedimentary environments
Sedimentary environments
$
#n"ironments of siliciclastic sediments:
&ontinental +alluvial6 desert6 lake6 and glacial,
Shoreline +deltas6 beaches6 and tidal flats,
0arine +shelf6 margin6 slope6 and deep sea,
#n"ironments of chemical and biolo$ical sediments:
&arbonate deposits +organic reefs6 beaches6 shelves6 and tidal flats,
Siliceous environments +deep sea,
Evaporite environments +lakes,
%. Sedimentary structures
Sedimentary structures & all kinds of features in sediments formed at the time of deposition.
#edding +stratification,
&ross7bedding
-raded bedding
.ipples
#ioturbation structures
%

8
9
!. Sedimentary structures
'eddin$ se(uences & "ertically stacked layers of sedimentary rock )ith different types of
sedimentary structures in each layer.
%. 'urial and dia$enesis
#urial is the preservation of sediments within a sedimentary basin.
*iagenesis is the physical and chemical change that converts sediments to sedimentary rocks.

Example of a bedding sequence
Example of a bedding sequence
1:

Lithification includes:
&ompaction
&ementation
11
*. +lassification of siliciclastic sediments and sedimentary rocks
+lassification of sediments by particle si,e
+lassification of sedimentary rocks by te-ture and composition
12
.. +lassification of siliciclastic sediments and sedimentary rocks
Four ma/or compositional $roups of siliciclastic sediments:
;rkose
/ithic
<uart2 arenite
-raywacke
0. +lassification of chemical and biolo$ical sedimentary rocks
+hemical sedimentary rocks
/imestone
&hert
4rganics
(hosphorite
#iological sedimentary rocks
*olostone
=ron formation
Evaporite
1
1!
Organic reef development Organic reef development
Organic reef development
Organic reef development
1"
hou$ht (uestions for this chapter
1. ; geologist says that a particular sandstone was derived from a granite. 'hat information
could she have gleaned from the sandstone to support this>
2. ?ou are looking at a cross7section of rippled sandstone. 'hat sedimentary structure would tell
you the direction of current flow>
. ?ou discover a bedding se@uence that has a conglomerate at the base; grades upward into
sandstone and then to a shale. 'hat changes in the sediment source area would have caused this>
!. =n what sedimentary environment are carbonate muds>
". Aow can you use si2e and sorting of sediments to distinguish between sediments deposited in a
desert and in a glacier>
$. 'hat role do organisms play in the origin of some types of limestone>
%. 'here are reefs likely to be found>
8. Aow are chert and limestone similar in origin>
Organic reef rock
Organic reef rock
1$
;dBei
:$C1:
1%