Sedimentary Rocks and Processes

These flashcards cover key concepts related to sedimentary rocks and processes as detailed in the lecture on sedimentary rocks, including processes like weathering, erosion, and mass wasting, as well as classification of sedimentary rocks.

Sedimentary Rocks

The most common type of rock at Earth's surface, important for many processes and human activities.

Weathering

The process of breaking down rocks at Earth's surface into smaller pieces.

Physical Weathering

The mechanical breakdown of rocks into smaller fragments without changing their chemical composition.

Chemical Weathering

The process by which rocks are broken down by chemical reactions, resulting in the formation of new minerals.

Frost Wedging

A form of physical weathering where water seeps into cracks, freezes, and expands to break the rock apart.

Saprolite

Extremely chemically weathered rock that looks solid on the surface but crumbles easily.

Erosion

The process by which sediment is transported from one place to another, requiring energy.

Basin

A depression on Earth's surface that can hold sediment.

Accommodation Space

The amount of space in a basin available to hold sediment.

Subsidence

The sinking of ground level due to the weight of overlying sediment.

Strata

Layers of sedimentary rock formed from deposited sediments.

Lithification

The process of turning loose sediment into solid rock through compaction and cementation.

Detrital Sediment

Sediment formed from the physical weathering of pre-existing rocks.

Grain Size

The size of individual particles in sediment, used to classify sedimentary rocks.

Sorting

The degree of uniformity of grain sizes in a sedimentary sample.

Rounding

The degree to which the edges of sediment particles have been smoothed by erosion.

Chemical Sediments

Sediments formed from dissolved materials that re-precipitate after evaporation or other chemical reactions.

Biogenic Sediments

Sediments formed from the remains of living organisms.

Mass Wasting

The downslope movement of soil and rock under the influence of gravity.

Angle of Repose

The steepest angle at which a sloped surface formed of a particular material is stable.

Creep

A very slow type of mass wasting where sediment moves downhill gradually.

Retaining Wall

A structure built to support and stabilize a slope and prevent landslides.

Rock Bolts

Large bolts installed into rock to stabilize slopes and prevent falling debris.

Risk Assessment Maps

Maps that identify and categorize areas according to their risk of landslides.

Preventative Measures

Actions taken to stabilize slopes and prevent mass wasting events.