Sedimentary Rocks and Depositional Environments

A set of flashcards focusing on key vocabulary and concepts related to sedimentary rocks and their interpretation in geological contexts.

Law of Uniformitarianism

The principle that current geological processes operate in the same manner as they did in the past.

Grain Size

The size of particles in sedimentary rocks that can indicate energy levels during deposition.

Sorting

The distribution of grain sizes in sediment; well-sorted sediments indicate a constant energy environment, while poorly sorted ones suggest variable energy conditions.

Cross Bedding

Sedimentary structure formed when sediment is deposited on an inclined surface, indicating the direction of paleocurrents.

Graded Bedding

Sedimentary layers with coarser grains at the bottom and finer grains at the top, indicating rapid deposition during high-energy events.

Ripple Marks

Small, wave-like features found on sediment surfaces, indicating the movement of water or air over the sediment.

Mud Cracks

Features that form when fine-grained sediment dries out and contracts.

Carbonate Rocks

Sedimentary rocks such as limestone that typically form in warm, marine environments.

Facies

A body of rock with specific characteristics that can provide information about the depositional environment.

Bowen's Reaction Series

A conceptual model that shows the relationship between cooling temperature and the crystallization of minerals in igneous rocks, relevant for understanding mineral stability.