Sedimentary rocks - lithification
Sedimentary rocks are formed through
lithification. Shown in (A) are
unconsolidated particles. When
subjected to lithification, they become
sedimentary rock shown in (B).
Classification of sedimentary rocks
Detrital
Sedimentary
rocks
Chemical
Sedimentary rocks are primarily grouped into two main types according to
how they were formed. Detrital sedimentary rocks were formed through
physical means (pressure) while chemical sedimentary rocks were
chemically formed.
Detrital sedimentary rocks – fissility
Fissility refers to the property of detrital sedimentary rocks that enables
them to be split into thin sheets.
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Detrital sedimentary rocks – sorting
The particles that make up detrital
sedimentary rocks undergo sorting.
Rocks upstream tend to be angular and
poorly sorted while rocks downstream
are rounded and well sorted.
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Classification of sedimentary rocks
Detrital rocks are classified according to the size of Coarse
their particles.
(>2mm)
Medium (1/16
to 2mm)
Detrital
Sedimentary Fine (1/16 to
rocks 1/256mm)
Chemical
Very fine (less
than 1/256
mm)
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Classification of sedimentary rocks home
Conglomerate
(Rounded
Coarse particles)
Gravel
(>2mm) Breccia
(Angular
particles)
Quartz
sandstone
Medium (1/16 (little feldspar)
to 2mm) Sand
Arkose
(abundant
feldspar)
Fine (1/16 to
Mud Siltstone
1/256mm)
Very fine (less
than 1/256 Mud Shale
mm)
Classification of sedimentary rocks
Calcite,
CaCO3
Quartz,
Detrital
Sedimentary SiO2
rocks
Gypsum,
Chemical
CaSO4
Halite, NaCl
Chemical sedimentary rocks are classified
according to their predominant component. Plant
fragments
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Classification of sedimentary rocks
Crystalline
limestone
Nonclastic: fine to
Inorganic limestone
coarse crystalline
Travertine
Calcite, CaCO33 Clastic: visible shell
fragments loosely Coquina
cemented
Clastic: various size
Biochemical coral fragments Fossiliferous
limestone cemented with limestone
calcite
Clastic: Microscopic
Calcite rocks are grouped according to how shells and clay Chalk
they were formed (inorganic or via
biochemical processes). Inorganic
limestones are described as nonclastic
which means that they are not made of
particles. Biochemical limestones on the
other hand, are made of particles and so
are clastic. home
Classification of sedimentary rocks
Chert
Nonclastic: (light colored)
Quartz, SiO2 very fine
crystalline Flint
(dark colored)
Gypsum, Nonclastic:
fine to coarse Rock gypsum
CaSO4 crystalline
Nonclastic:
Halite, NaCl Fine to coarse Rock Salt
crystalline
Nonclastic:
Plant Bituminous
Fine-grained
fragments coal
organic matter
Sedimentary rocks, environments and structures
Conglomerate (detrital, gravel, rounded particles)
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Breccia (detrital, gravel, angular particles)
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Quartz sandstone (detrital, sand, mostly quartz)
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Arkose (detrital, sand, abundant felspar)
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Siltstone (detrital, fine-sized particles, mud)
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Shale (detrital, very fine particles, mud, may contain fossils)
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Crystalline limestone (chemical, nonclastic, fine to coarse
crystalline)
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Travertine (chemical, nonclastic, fine to coarse, cavewaters)
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Coquina (chemical, clastic, shell fragments, loosely
cemented)
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Fossiliferous limestone (chemical, clastic, coral fragments,
calcite cement)
Fossiliferous limestone are made of coral reef
fragments cemented strongly by calcite.
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Chalk (chemical, clastic, microscopic shells and clay)
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Chert (chemical, nonclastic, quartz, light colored)
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Flint (chemical, nonclastic, quartz, dark colored)
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Rock gypsum (chemical, nonclastic, CaSO 4)
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Rock salt (chemical, nonclastic, NaCl, evaporite)
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Rock salt (chemical, nonclastic, NaCl, evaporite)
Halites are known as evaporites because
they are formed through the evaporation
of water from chemically-concentrated
solutions.
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Coal (chemical, nonclastic, home
plant remains)
Coal exists in many forms. The first form is peat which is still impure and damp
(and hence contains a low amount of stored energy). Peat that has undergone
burial and pressure becomes lignite or bituminous coal (which is now more
concentrated and hence has more energy). Anthracite is the metamorphic form of
coal which is formed after intense pressure and heat.
Peat
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Lignite or bituminous coal home
Bituminous coal can be metamorphosed into anthracite
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