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SEDIMENT
Sediment is a broad term used by geologists for any
particulate matter that is transported by fluid flow. The deposition of suspended matter on the bed or bottom of a body of water by settling is known as sedimentation. In most places the sea floor is covered with a layer of sediment. The exceptions would be a newly formed volcanic island or the bottom of a submarine canyon recently scoured by a turbidity current. Sediment layers in the ocean are records of processes occurring both in the oceans and on land.
CLASSIFYING SEDIMENTS
Geologists group these sediment into 4 main groups based on the origin or source of the sediment:
Terrigenous Sediment 2) Biogenous Sediment 3) Hydrogenous Sediment 4) Cosmogenous Sediment
1)
Biogenous Sediments
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MACROSCOPIC
MICROSCOPIC
Can be seen with bare eyes: shells, bones, teeth Not common (except coral reefs)
Microscopic organisms produce tiny shells tests tests sink after organism die
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Biogenous ooze must contain at least 30% biogenous test material (by weight)
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Radiolarians (protozoa)
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Diatoms (microscopic algae)
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Coccolithophores (microscopic algae)
Hydrogenous Sediments
Chemical reactions cause materials to come out of solution precipitate (from dissolved to solid state)
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Chemical composition of seawater
Major components: MnO2 (30%) + FeO (20%) Minor components (less than 1%) copper (wiring, pipe, brass and bronze) nickel (stainless steel) cobalt (strong magnets and steel tools)
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Oolites
Formed from calcium carbonate and magnesium carbonate in warm, shallow productive waters
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Phosphate deposits
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Evaporite deposits
Restricted circulation + high evaporation saturation
Chemical precipitation
Biogenous sediments
Hydrogenous sediments