14 Questions
What are the three general classifications of rocks?
Sedimentary, metamorphic, igneous
Which type of rocks make up about three-quarters of all rocks on Earth's surface?
Sedimentary rocks
What is the main characteristic that makes sedimentary rocks unique compared to the other rock types?
They contain fossils
Which of the following is NOT a component that can be found in sedimentary rocks?
Volcanic glass
During which process do sedimentary rocks experience the settling of clasts on a surface?
Deposition
What is the process by which layers of rocks compress closer together called?
Compaction
Which of the following processes involves the breaking apart of larger rocks?
Weathering
What is the main characteristic that makes sedimentary rocks unique compared to metamorphic and igneous rocks?
They contain fossils
Which process involves the movement of rock pieces?
Erosion
What is the term for the breaking apart of larger rocks?
Weathering
Which type of rocks are often formed from pieces or chunks of other rocks known as clasts?
Sedimentary rocks
What is the final step in the formation of sedimentary rocks?
Lithification
Which step involves the settling of clasts on a surface?
Deposition
Why do sedimentary rocks contain a historic record of the environment?
Because they contain fossils
Study Notes
- There are three general classifications of rocks: sedimentary rocks, metamorphic rocks, and igneous rocks, each with unique characteristics and formation processes.
- Sedimentary rocks make up about three-quarters of all rocks on Earth's surface and are the only rocks that contain fossils, preserving a historic record of the environment at the time of their formation.
- Sedimentary rocks are often formed from pieces or chunks of other rocks, referred to as clasts, which can vary in size and composition including mineral crystals and organic materials like bones, skeletons, shells, or plants.
- Sedimentary rocks form through five basic steps: weathering, erosion, deposition, compaction, and lithification, with weathering being the breaking apart of larger rocks, erosion as the movement of rock pieces, deposition as the settling of clasts on a surface, compaction as the layers of rocks compress closer together, and lithification as the cementing of rock pieces together by minerals dissolved in water.
- The five processes required to make any sedimentary rock are weathering, erosion, deposition, compaction, and lithification.
Discover the unique characteristics and formation processes of sedimentary rocks, including the role of clasts and fossils. Learn about the five basic steps involved in the formation of sedimentary rocks.
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