Sedimentary Rocks
How They Form
Sedimentary rocks are rocks formed by the process of erosion, deposition, compaction, and cementation. Now lets get more detailed in the way sedimentary rocks form. Erosion is the process of wind, water, and weathering forces pushing and eating away at the earth surface. Then the particles are carried away. Now comes deposition. Deposition is the process of sediment settling out of the wind, water or ice carrying it. After that comes Compaction. Compaction is the process in which sediment builds up in years. Then the particles and sediment are pushed together by a great pressure. Last but not least comes Cementation. Cementation is the process in which particles are packed and glued together. After all of these processes, then a sedimentary rock forms!
The Three Major Types
The three major types of sedimentary rocks are... clastic, organic, and chemical.
A clastic rock is when a rock forms from rock fragment that are squeezed tightly together. Organic rocks form from remains of plant or animals that are deposited in thick layers. Chemical rocks form when dissolved in a solution and that solution crystallizes.
Uses
Sedimentary rocks can be used for many things those thing are weapons, tools, building materials, chalk, cement, and glass!
Sedimentary rocks are rocks formed by the process of erosion, deposition, compaction, and cementation. Now lets get more detailed in the way sedimentary rocks form. Erosion is the process of wind, water, and weathering forces pushing and eating away at the earth surface. Then the particles are carried away. Now comes deposition. Deposition is the process of sediment settling out of the wind, water or ice carrying it. After that comes Compaction. Compaction is the process in which sediment builds up in years. Then the particles and sediment are pushed together by a great pressure. Last but not least comes Cementation. Cementation is the process in which particles are packed and glued together. After all of these processes, then a sedimentary rock forms!
The Three Major Types
The three major types of sedimentary rocks are... clastic, organic, and chemical.
A clastic rock is when a rock forms from rock fragment that are squeezed tightly together. Organic rocks form from remains of plant or animals that are deposited in thick layers. Chemical rocks form when dissolved in a solution and that solution crystallizes.
Uses
Sedimentary rocks can be used for many things those thing are weapons, tools, building materials, chalk, cement, and glass!
Flint is a hard tough chemical or biochemical sedimentary rock. It is a form of quarts that is mostly called chert. Flint can be uses for tools, weapons, and starting fires.
Coal is an organic sedimentary rock that forms mainly from plant decay. The plant decay usually is from a swamp environment. Coal is often used for electricity, and the making of steel and cement. Also it it used as fuel.
Shale is a clastic sedimentary rock that is made up of clay sized weathering debris. It typically breaks into thin flat pieces. Shale's luster is earthy. Shale can be used for bricks, cement, concrete and ceramic products. Also shale is very soft.
Lime Stone is made mostly of calcium carbonate. It can form organically from the accumulation of shell, coral, algea 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. These ways are production of cement, crushed stone, building and it can be found in toothpaste, paint and some foods.