From the image above you'll probably instantaneously notice that many of Earth's natural monuments are made of sedimentary rock. Well, that's to be expected as the Earth is covered in a thin veneer of sedimentary rock. What exactly are sedimentary rocks? How do they form? Oh, the questions! Read further down to find out all about sedimentary rocks.
THE FORMATIONSedimentary rocks form at and near the Earth's surface. They form through the processes of:
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The formation explained process by process:
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The processes that form sedimentary rocks take many years to complete. As there are many processes involved in the making of sedimentary rock it's to be expected that none would form from beginning to end in our short lifespans. Sedimentary rocks take thousands to millions of years to form.
CHARACTERISTICS OF
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Sedimentary rocks serve as an economic importance as they are a source of ores, fossil fuels, drinking water, natural gas, phosphates, salt deposits , groundwater, coal and natural resources and natural gas.
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CLASTIC SEDIMENTARY ROCKSExamples: Conglomerate, sandstone, and siltstone
These rocks are composed of pre-existing rocks of any rock type. They are classified by the size of their particles of sediment, but can also be classified by the composition of their sediment, the cement, or their matrix (the smaller particles present in the spaces between the larger particles.
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BIOCHEMICAL SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
Biochemical sedimentary rocks are also known as organic sedimentary rocks. These rocks form when large numbers of living organisms die, pile up into layers, compact and cement to form rocks. This means that they are solely composed of biological fragments from plants and/or animals.
Examples: Chalk, Coal, Coquina and Crinoidal Limestone
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CHEMICAL SEDIMENTARY ROCKSExamples: Dolomite, Chert, and Rock Salt (Halite)
Chemical sedimentary rocks form when minerals in a solution become supersaturated and inorganically precipitate. These rocks have a crystalline texture and are solely composed of minerals, crystals, and elements that have precipitated out of water.
Examples: Sylvite, Barite, and Gypsum
Gypsum is one of the most common examples of chemical sedimentary rock.
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