3 Questions
What is the process through which sediment turns into rock?
Lithification
What happens during cementation?
Minerals dissolved in surrounding water crystallize between grains of sediment, holding them together.
What occurs during compaction?
The weight from the layers of sediment forces out fluids and decreases the space between grains.
Study Notes
Lithification and Sediment Formation
- Sediment deposition leads to the accumulation of layers over time, with younger layers burying older ones.
- As more layers are deposited, the weight of overlying sediment forces out fluids and reduces the space between grains through compaction.
Compaction and Cementation
- Compaction decreases the space between grains, preparing the sediment for cementation.
- Cementation occurs when minerals dissolved in surrounding water crystallize between grains of sediment, holding them together.
- Mineral cement acts as a binding agent, solidifying the sediment into a cohesive unit.
Learn about the process of lithification, where sediment turns into rock, and how compaction plays a role in this transformation.
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