1. Sedimentary Rock (pg.30) Strata
Rock that formed through a sequence of processes: weathering, erosion, deposition, compaction and cementation.
weathering: effects of freezing & thawing, plant roots, acid and other forces on rock
Erosion: the process by which running water, wind, ice carry away bits of broken rock
Sediments come from weathering and erosion of igneous and metamorphic rock – even other sedimentary rock
Rock fragments – called sediment, make up sedimentary rock (pg. 37)
The layers of sedimentary rock
New layers of sediment are deposited and compressed – compacted
Minerals dissolve into natural glue
i.e. the Grand Canyon

2. Composition of Sedimentary Rock
Clastic
Chemical
Classified by the way it forms
3 main catagories
Clastic
Chemical
Organic
Made from the fragments of other rocks & minerals
Fragments in clastic influence the names
i.e. sandstone, siltstone
Forms solutions of minerals and water
i.e. Limestone is calcium carbonate – or calcite that is crystallized with sea water

3. Sedimentary Rock Structures
Organic
Sedimentary Rock Structures
Most limestone forms from remains of animals that once lived in the ocean
Shells or skeletons (calcium carbonate)
Fossils are the remains or traces of plants or animals preserved in sedimentary rock
Fossils give us information about ancient life forms
The way the rock is formed
Tells you a lot about the sedimentary rock

4. Stratification Layering of the rock
Different depending on size, kind & color of sediment
How fast the sediment is deposited also effects the stratification
Can be record of wind and water waves