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Questions and Answers
What is the primary process involved in the formation of sedimentary rocks?
What is the primary process involved in the formation of sedimentary rocks?
Which type of weathering involves the physical breakdown of rocks without changing their chemical composition?
Which type of weathering involves the physical breakdown of rocks without changing their chemical composition?
What is the classification criterion for clastic sedimentary rocks?
What is the classification criterion for clastic sedimentary rocks?
Which of the following is NOT a type of sedimentary rock?
Which of the following is NOT a type of sedimentary rock?
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Which sedimentary structure indicates that conditions changed during the deposition process?
Which sedimentary structure indicates that conditions changed during the deposition process?
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What is the term for the total sum of physical and chemical changes that occur to sediment after it is deposited?
What is the term for the total sum of physical and chemical changes that occur to sediment after it is deposited?
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What type of sedimentary rock forms predominantly from organic material?
What type of sedimentary rock forms predominantly from organic material?
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What process is described by the compaction and cementation of sediment?
What process is described by the compaction and cementation of sediment?
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What type of sediment is commonly found in mountain stream environments during low-flow conditions?
What type of sediment is commonly found in mountain stream environments during low-flow conditions?
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What characterizes the sediment deposition in alluvial fan environments?
What characterizes the sediment deposition in alluvial fan environments?
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Which type of environment is associated with wind-blown, well-sorted sand dunes?
Which type of environment is associated with wind-blown, well-sorted sand dunes?
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What is typically found in river environments related to sediment deposition?
What is typically found in river environments related to sediment deposition?
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What sediment type accumulates in deeper waters of lake environments?
What sediment type accumulates in deeper waters of lake environments?
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What process leads to the accumulation of sediment in marine delta environments?
What process leads to the accumulation of sediment in marine delta environments?
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In which environment would you expect to find skeletons of planktonic organisms forming chalk or chert?
In which environment would you expect to find skeletons of planktonic organisms forming chalk or chert?
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What distinguishes rift basins from other types of sedimentary basins?
What distinguishes rift basins from other types of sedimentary basins?
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What type of sedimentary structure is formed by the gentle piling of sand on the crest and slipping down the steep face?
What type of sedimentary structure is formed by the gentle piling of sand on the crest and slipping down the steep face?
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Which of the following describes a characteristic of turbidity currents?
Which of the following describes a characteristic of turbidity currents?
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What do ripple marks indicate about the environmental conditions?
What do ripple marks indicate about the environmental conditions?
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In which type of environment are sediments transported and deposited by moving glacial ice?
In which type of environment are sediments transported and deposited by moving glacial ice?
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How are formations described in geology?
How are formations described in geology?
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Which condition is indicated by the presence of mud cracks?
Which condition is indicated by the presence of mud cracks?
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What do scour marks result from?
What do scour marks result from?
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What distinguishes graded beds formed by turbidity currents?
What distinguishes graded beds formed by turbidity currents?
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Study Notes
Diagenesis
- Describes the changes that occur to sediment after deposition, such as lithification, dissolution, recrystallization, and bacterial action
Sedimentary Structures
- Features that help understand conditions during deposition
- Examples include bedding, stratification, ripple marks, dunes, cross bedding, graded beds, mud cracks, and scour marks
Bedding and Stratification
- Sedimentary rocks are often layered in beds, separated by bedding planes
- Bedding reflects changing conditions during deposition, like variations in transporting medium, sediment source, or grain size
Ripple Marks
- Ridges and troughs formed perpendicular to flow in sandy sediments
- Used to determine flow direction
Dunes
- Larger versions of ripple marks, ranging from 50 cm to over 100 m
- Form due to wind or water currents
Cross Bedding
- Created by the movement of ripples and dunes
- Shows the direction of ancient winds or currents
Turbidity Currents
- Occur in deep basins with pulses of turbid water
- Form graded beds where coarse material settles first, followed by medium and then fine material
Mud Cracks
- Form when wet mud dries out, indicating alternating wet and dry environments
Scour Marks
- Created when debris is dragged along the bottom of a river or stream
Depositional Environments
- Places where sediments accumulate, characterized by unique energy regime, sediment transport, and biological components
- Examples include glacial, mountain stream, alluvial fan, desert, river, lake, delta, shallow-water carbonate, and deep-marine environments
Glacial Environments
- Sediments are transported and deposited by glacial ice
- Often contain glacial till, a poorly sorted mix of all grain sizes
Mountain Stream Environments
- Carry large clasts during floods, resulting in coarse conglomerate deposits
Alluvial Fan Environments
- Cone-shaped sediments deposited at mountain fronts due to rapid decrease in stream velocity
Desert Environments
- Characterized by wind-blown sand, resulting in well-sorted sandstones with large cross beds
River Environments
- Show evidence of channelized sediment transport, with sand and gravel filling channels, and fine sediments deposited on floodplains
Lake Environments
- Form from large bodies of freshwater, with coarser sediments near shore and fine muds deposited in deeper water
Marine Delta Environments
- Occur where rivers enter the sea, resulting in sediment accumulation and various sub-environments
Shallow-Water Carbonate Environments
- Form in tropical, warm, clear, shallow marine waters, with lagoons, reefs, and mud deposits
Deep-Marine Environments
- Accumulate fine sediments like silt and clay, resulting in shale, chalk, and chert
Sedimentary Basins
- Areas where sediments accumulate, with thicknesses ranging from zero to 20+ km
- Form due to tectonic processes, such as rifting or passive margins
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Description
Explore the fascinating world of sedimentary processes and structures through this quiz. Learn about diagenesis, bedding, stratification, and features like ripple marks and dunes. Test your understanding of how these elements reveal past environmental conditions and flow directions.
