Sedimentary rocks are formed when material at the Earths surface go through

subsequent cementation and deposition within bodies of water. Accumulated sediment particles

help form these rocks. Before sediments are deposited, they were formed through weathering and

erosion while being transported to the place of deposition by water, wind, ice, mass movement or

glaciers. Sedimentation may also happen due to minerals precipitating from water solution or

shells of aquatic creatures settle out of suspension.

Sedimentary rocks can be categorized into four groups based on the process involved to

form them such as the clastic sedimentary rocks, biochemical sedimentary rocks, chemical

sedimentary rock and other sedimentary rocks formed from processes such as volcanism.

Sandstones, mudrocks, conglomerates and breccias are subcategories of clastic

sedimentary rocks. Conglomerates are composed mostly of rounded gravel. Breccias are

composed of angular gravel. Sandstones are classified by their abundance of quartz, feldspar, and

lithic grains with an emphasis on the abundance of muddy matrix between these large grains.

Mudrocks may refer to all rocks that are composed mostly of mud but may also refer to any

sedimentary rock composed of at least 50% silt and clay sized particles.