Petrology – Session 3

SEDIMENTATION:
Rocks Formed by Surface Processes
 About Sedimentation
• Sediments are produced on the Earth’s
surface as a result of weathering.
• Sediments are transported and become
sedimentary rocks after they come to
rest.
• Sedimentary rocks give evidence of
ancient sedimentary environments
where they formed.
Surface Processes and
the Rock Cycle

Weathering

Physical weathering

Chemical weathering
Surface Processes and the Rock Cycle

Processes forming sedimentary

rock:
Weathering
Erosion
Transportation
Deposition (sedimentation)
Burial and compaction
Diagenesis
Surface Processes and the Rock Cycle
Surface Processes and the Rock Cycle

Current strength and distance of

transport affect:
Size of clastic particles
Sorting of clastic particles
Rounding of clastic particles
 Sedimentary Basins
Sediments tend to accumulate in
depressions in the Earth’s crust.

Depressions are formed by subsidence.

Sedimentary basins are depressions

filled with thick accumulations of
sediment. They are sinks for sediment.
Sedimentary basins
form on rifted
continental
margins
Sedimentary
Environments
Sedimentary Environments
 Sedimentary Structures

Sedimentary structures – all kinds

of features in sediments formed at
the time of deposition.
Bedding (stratification)
Cross-bedding
Graded bedding
Ripples
Bioturbation structures
Cross-
bedding
Ripples – modern and ancient
Bioturbation Structures
 Sedimentary Structures

Bedding sequences – vertically

stacked layers of sedimentary rock
with different types of sedimentary
structures in each layer.
Example of a Bedding Sequence
 Burial and Diagenesis

Burial is the preservation of

sediments within a sedimentary
basin.

Diagenesis is the physical and

chemical change that converts
sediments to sedimentary rocks.
Burial and Diagenesis

Lithification includes:

Compaction

Cementation
 Classification of Siliciclastic
Sediments and Sedimentary Rocks

Classification of sediments by
particle size

Classification of sedimentary
rocks by texture and composition
 Classification of Siliciclastic
Sediments and Sedimentary Rocks
 Classification of Siliciclastic
Sediments and Sedimentary Rocks

Four major compositional groups

of siliciclastic sediments:
Arkose
Lithic
Quartz arenite
Graywacke
 Classification of Chemical
and Biological Sediments,
Sedimentary Rocks

Chemical sedimentary rocks

Limestone
Chert
Organics
Phosphorite
 Classification of Chemical
and Biological Sediments,
Sedimentary rocks

Biological sedimentary rocks

Dolostone
Iron formation
Evaporite
Organic Reef Rock