Sediment Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What is authigenic sediment?

Sediment formed by biological processes

Sediment consisting primarily of siliceous material

Sediment formed directly by precipitation from seawater (correct)

Sediment derived from the land

What type of sediment is biogenous sediment?

Sediments of biological origin

What is calcareous ooze primarily composed of?

Hard remains of organisms containing calcium carbonate

What does carbonate composition depth (CCD) refer to?

The depth at which the rate of accumulation of calcareous sediments equals the rate of dissolution of those sediments Signup and view all the answers

What is a clamshell sampler used for?

To take shallow samples of the ocean bottom Signup and view all the answers

What size category do clay sediment particles belong to?

Smaller than 0.004 millimeter in diameter Signup and view all the answers

What is a coccolithosphere?

A very small planktonic alga carrying disks of calcium carbonate Signup and view all the answers

What is cosmogenous sediment?

Sediment of extraterrestrial origin Signup and view all the answers

What is a diatom?

Earth's most abundant single-celled phytoplankton that possesses silica valves Signup and view all the answers

What are evaporates?

Deposits formed by evaporation of ocean water Signup and view all the answers

What is a foraminiferan?

A planktonic amoeba-like animal with a calcareous shell Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes hydrogenous sediment?

Formed directly from precipitation from seawater Signup and view all the answers

What does lithification refer to?

Conversion of sediment into sedimentary rock Signup and view all the answers

What are microtektites?

Translucent oblong particles of glass Signup and view all the answers

What defines a mineral?

A naturally occurring inorganic crystalline material Signup and view all the answers

What is neritic sediment primarily composed of?

Terrigenous material Signup and view all the answers

What is a nodule in sedimentology?

A solid mass of hydrogenous sediment Signup and view all the answers

What are oolite sands?

Hydrogenous sediment formed when calcium carbonate precipitates from seawater Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of biological origin must ooze have?

At least 30% Signup and view all the answers

What is paleoceanography?

The study of the ocean's past Signup and view all the answers

What does pelagic sediment refer to?

Sediments of the slope, rise, and deep-ocean floor that originate in the ocean Signup and view all the answers

What is a piston corer?

A seabed sampling device capable of penetrating sediment Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes poorly sorted sediment?

A sediment with many sizes of particles Signup and view all the answers

What is a pteropod?

A small planktonic mollusk with a calcareous shell Signup and view all the answers

What is a radiolarian?

A group of planktonic amoeba-like animals with a siliceous shell Signup and view all the answers

What is the size range of sand sediment particles?

Between 0.062 and 2 millimeters in diameter Signup and view all the answers

What does sediment refer to in geology?

Particles of organic or inorganic matter that accumulate in loose form Signup and view all the answers

What is siliceous ooze primarily composed of?

Hard remains of silica-containing organisms Signup and view all the answers

What size category does silt belong to?

Between 0.004 and 0.062 millimeter in diameter Signup and view all the answers

What is stratigraphy?

The branch of geology dealing with the analysis of rock strata Signup and view all the answers

What is terrigenous sediment derived from?

The land Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes a turbidite?

A terrigenous sediment deposited by a turbidity current Signup and view all the answers

What is well-sorted sediment?

A sediment in which particles are uniform size Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Sediment Types and Definitions

Authigenic sediment: Formed directly by precipitation from seawater, categorized as hydrogenous sediment.
Biogenous sediment: Composed of biological materials; includes calcareous (calcium-based) and siliceous (silicon-based) residues deposited by organisms.
Calcareous ooze: Comprised mainly of hard remains from organisms that contain calcium carbonate.
Cosmogenous sediment: Originates from extraterrestrial sources.
Diatom: Abundant single-celled phytoplankton with silica valves, contributing to biogenous sediments.
Foraminiferan: Planktonic amoeba-like creatures with calcareous shells that add to biogenous sediment.
Pteropod: Small planktonic mollusks with calcareous shells, contributing to biogenous sediment.
Radiolarian: Planktonic organisms with siliceous shells that contribute to biogenous sediments.

Sediment Formation and Composition

Carbonate Composition Depth (CCD): Depth where calcareous sediment accumulation matches dissolution rate; below this depth, calcium carbonate is scarce.
Evaporate: Sediment formed by the evaporation of seawater.
Ooze: Sediment with at least 30% biological material.
Siliceous ooze: Mainly consists of hard remains of silica-containing organisms.
Terrigenous sediment: Derived from land and transported to oceans via wind and water.

Sampling and Analysis Techniques

Clamshell sampler: Device for collecting shallow ocean bottom samples.
Piston corer: Device designed to penetrate up to 25 meters of sediment, retrieving an intact material plug.
Well-sorted sediment: Consists of particles that are uniform in size, while poorly sorted sediment includes a variety of sediment sizes.

Sediment Characteristics

Clay: Sediment with particles smaller than 0.004 millimeters; the smallest size category.
Silt: Sediment particles ranging from 0.004 to 0.062 millimeters in diameter.
Sand: Sediment particles that measure between 0.062 and 2 millimeters.
Nodule: Solid mass formed from hydrogenous sediment, commonly manganese or ferromanganese nodules.
Oolite sands: Hydrogenous sediment formed by calcium carbonate precipitation from warm seawater.

Geological Studies

Paleoceanography: Study of historical ocean conditions.
Stratigraphy: Focuses on defining and analyzing rock strata and their relationships.

Additional Information

Lithification: The process where sediment is transformed into sedimentary rock through pressure and mineral cement introduction.
Turbidite: Terrigenous sediment laid down by a turbidity current, characterized by coarse-grained layers mixed with finer sediment.

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Description

This quiz covers key concepts related to sediment types, including authigenic and biogenous sediments. Each term is explained with definitions to enhance your understanding of sedimentary processes. Ideal for students studying geology or marine science.