SEDIMENTARY

ROCKS

BY: MARY JOANNA

TIBUS
Learning objectives
• What is sedimentary rock?
• How are sedimentary rocks formed?
• What are the types of sedimentary rocks?
• Sedimentary rock structure
SEDIMENTA
RY ROCKS
• Sedimentary rocks comes
from the latin word
“sedimentum” meaning
settling
• Generally, sedimentary form
from the compaction and
cementation of sediments.
• They are the only type of
rocks that may contain
fossils, or evidence of past
life.
 WHAT ARE SEDIMENTS?
Sediments are fragments of
rock that have been broken
down as a result of
weathering(wind, ice , running
water, etc)
 WHAT ARE FOSSILS?
Remains of organisms that had lived
millions of years ago that are preserved
in sedimentary rocks.
1.Weathering- is the process of
breaking down rocks and minerals into
smaller pieces.
Types of weathering
2.Mechanical weathering(physical
weathering)
• Involves the physical breaking apart of
rocks without changing what they are
made of.
Ex: frost action
Types of weathering
2. Chemical weathering
• A process that changes the minerals
in rocks through chemical reaction.
Ex: dissolving limestone and rusting
2. Transport
• as the process of weathering
proceeds the products are carried
off. The most important
transporting agent is water. Water
carries or rolls particles in rivers ,
from the smallest suspended clay
particles to the largest boulders.
3. Deposition
• Is the geological process in which
sediments, soil, and rocks are added to
a landform or landmass.
• Occurs when the forces transporting
these materials(water, wind , or ice)
lose energy and can no longer carry
them, leading to the settling and
accumulation of these materials.
4. Compaction and cementation
• As sedimentation continues, the earlier
deposited sediments are laden with an
increasing overburden. The pressure
causes the sediments to pack tightly
together, reducing the spaces between
the grains.
• Calcite(calcium carbonate),silica, and
hematite(red iron oxide) are the most
common cementing agents.
 TYPES OF
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
1.CLASTIC SEDIMENTARY
ROCKS
• Made up of fragments(clasts) of
pre existing rocks. Clastic
sedimentary rock is formed when
the sediment is buried, then
compacted and cemented.
• Ex: conglomerate, breccia,
sandstone, shale
 • Is a clastic sedimentary
Conglomerate rock rock that shaped from
rounded gravel and
boulder sized clast
cemented or In a matrix
supported.
• Can be formed at an
area where strong water
currents exists like a
mountain down slope
where water has enough
current flow that it can
carry the rock fragment.
 Breccia
• Is a clastic
sedimentary rock
that shaped from
angular and boulder
size clasts
cemented or in a
matrix.
• Use in construction
as decorative stone.
Sandstone • One of the most
common type of
sedimentary rock
• Composed of
sand grain rock
fragment,
mineral and
organic material.
• Used in
• Laminated or fissile clastic
sedimentary rock that
Shale
composed of predominance
of salt and clay and other
minerals especially quartz
and calcite.
• Characteristic properties of
shale are breaks along thin
laminae or parallel layering
or bedding called fissility
• Shale are typically
deposited I a very slow
moving water.
• Often contains organic
material and sometimes
fossil.
2. CHEMICAL SEDIMENTARY
ROCKS
• Are formed by chemical
precipitation from solutions. The
process begins when water passess
through rock dissolving some of the
minerals and carrying them away
from their source.
• Ex: rock salt
2. CHEMICAL SEDIMENTARY
ROCKS
The precipitation of the material can
take place in two ways:
1. Organic processes such as
activities of water dwelling
organisms.
2. Inorganic processes such as
evaporation and chemical
 Limestone
• Is a sedimentary rock
noted for its calcium
carbonate
composition.
• Usually light
colored,ranging from
white to gray or tan.
• Widely used in
construction.
Rock stone • Also known as halite
• Forms from the
evaporation of saline(salt
rich)water in enclosed
basins such as lakes and
seas.
• Colorless or white,
though it can have
impurities that give it
shades of gray, yellow,
or pink.
 Gypsum
• Usually white or gray,
sometimes with a pink,
brown, or yellow hue. It
has soft, crystalline
structure.
• Soft(can be scratched
with a fingernail)and
lightweight.
• Plays a role in soil
conditioning for
agriculture.
3. ORGANIC SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
• Are formed when large quantities of
living plants or organism die and
accumulate.
• Ex: coal
 Coal
• Coal forms from
accumulation and
compaction of plant
material.
• Black or dark brown with
a shiny or dull luster,
depending on type.
• A major source of energy
used for electricity
generation(coal fired
power plants)
SEDIMENTARY
ROCK
STRUCTURE
STRUCTURE OF SEDIMENTARY ROCKS

• Sratification
• Lamination
• Cross bedding
• Graded bedding
• Ripple marks
• Minor structure
 STRUCTURE OF SEDIMENTARY ROCKS

1. Sratification
The deposition of the sediments into
layer or bends. The plane dividing
different beds are called bedding
planes. The piles of layer of rocks
called strata
STRUCTURE OF SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
Sratification
 STRUCTURE OF SEDIMENTARY ROCKS

2. Lamination
The thin bedding less than 1 cm in
thickness. Lamination is found in very
fine grained rocks such as shale, and
fine sandstone.
STRUCTURE OF SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
Lamination
 STRUCTURE OF SEDIMENTARY ROCKS

3. Cross bedding
in this structure minor beds or
laminations lie at angle to the planes of
the general stratification.
STRUCTURE OF SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
Cross bedding
 STRUCTURE OF SEDIMENTARY ROCKS

4. Graded bedding
In graded bedding each bed shows a
gradation in grain size from course
below to fine above. This result by
rapid sedimentation in water.
STRUCTURE OF SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
Graded bedding
 STRUCTURE OF SEDIMENTARY ROCKS

5. Ripple marks
The surface of some sedimentary
deposits show undulation or ripple
marks. These are produced by the
action of waves and current in shallow
water, as well as o the surface due to
wind action.
STRUCTURE OF SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
Ripple marks
 STRUCTURE OF SEDIMENTARY ROCKS

6. Mud cracks
Some bedding planes shows minor
structure such as mud crack, rain prints
etc. these are found in fine grained
sedimentary rocks.
STRUCTURE OF SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
Mud cracks
THANK YOU