Sedimentary Rocks and Weathering Processes

These flashcards cover key concepts related to sedimentary rocks, weathering processes, and their characteristics.

Sedimentary Rock

A rock formed from the deposition and solidification of physical, chemical, and/or biological sediment.

Lithification

The process through which sediments become solid rock through compaction and cementation.

Weathering

The process that breaks rocks into smaller particles or chemical components.

Erosion

The movement of sediment away from the source area.

Sedimentation

The process by which eroded sediments settle out of water or air.

Physical Weathering

Mechanical breakdown of rocks into smaller pieces without changing their chemical composition.

Chemical Weathering

The alteration of rocks through chemical reactions, often involving water and acids.

Biological Weathering

Weathering caused by the actions of living organisms.

Compaction

The process where sediments are pressed together under pressure, reducing their volume.

Cementation

The process where minerals precipitate from water and fill the spaces between sediments, binding them together.

Clastic Sedimentary Rock

Composed mainly of fragments from pre-existing rocks, classified by grain size.

Chemical Sedimentary Rock

Formed from minerals that precipitate from solutions or are created by organisms.

Biogenic Sedimentary Rock

Composed of materials produced by living organisms, such as shells or plant debris.

Frost Wedging

A type of physical weathering where water freezes in cracks of rocks, expanding and breaking them apart.

Salt Wedging

A form of weathering where salty water enters rock cracks, evaporates, and leaves salt crystals that expand and break the rock.

Exhumation

The process of rocks being brought to the surface where weathering occurs.

Cross-Bedding

Sedimentary structure formed by the deposition of sediment at an angle to the primary bed surface.

Graded Bedding

A sedimentary structure characterized by a decrease in grain size from bottom to top.

Mud Cracks

Cracks that form in dried mud, indicating periods of wet and dry conditions.

Karst Topography

The landscape formed by the dissolution of soluble rocks, typically forming caves and sinkholes.