Sedimentology Lecture Notes

These flashcards encompass key vocabulary and concepts from the sedimentology lecture notes.

Sedimentology

The study of sediments, sedimentary rocks, and the processes that result in their formation.

Compaction

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

Cementation

The process in which minerals precipitate from groundwater and fill the spaces between sediment grains, effectively gluing them together.

Lithification

The process of converting loose sediment into solid sedimentary rock.

Clastic Rocks

Sedimentary rocks formed from fragments of pre-existing rocks that have been weathered, transported, and cemented together.

Biochemical Rocks

Sedimentary rocks formed from the remains of living organisms, such as shells.

Organic Rocks

Sedimentary rocks composed of carbon-rich remains of plants.

Chemical Rocks

Sedimentary rocks that form through the precipitation of minerals directly from water.

Grain Size

A key characteristic used to classify clastic sedimentary rocks, ranging from very coarse to very fine.

Sorting

A measure of the range of grain sizes in a sediment sample; well-sorted sediments contain grains of similar size, while poorly sorted sediments contain a wide range of sizes.

Angularity

The degree of edge smoothness of clasts; angular grains have sharp edges, while rounded grains are smooth.

Maturity

A measure of the degree of processing of sediment, which includes textural maturity (roundness and sorting) and mineral maturity (removal of unstable minerals).