Elementary Petrology

Department of Geological Sciences

Jahangirnagar University
Sedimentary Rocks
 Definition
A rock resulting from the consolidation of loose
sediment that has been derived from previously
existing rocks and accumulated in layers.
(clastic, detrital, or terrigenous)
A rock formed by the precipitation of minerals from
solution by either organic or inorganic processes
(chemical)
Sedimentary Rocks:

•Form 75% of the rocks exposed at the Earth’s Surface

•Are the reservoirs for fossil fuels, iron and aluminum ores,
and groundwater

•Record of Earth’s history

Relative proportions of rock groups

Sedimentary rocks:
larger proportion of
land surface
The greater
proportion created
by weathering,
erosion & deposition
 Sediment

Sediment = loose, solid particles and can be:

– Terrigenous = fragments from silicates (igneous

and/or metamorphics)

– Biogenic = fossils (carbonate - reefs; silicates -

forams)

– Chemical = precipates (halite, gypsum,

anhydrite, etc…) -
Types of Sediment
  
Classification of Clastic sediments: The Wentworth
Scale

Grain Size Sediment Grade Rock

>256 mm Boulder  Conglomerate

256 – 64mm Cobble  (rounded clasts)
64 – 2mm Pebble  Breccia
  (angular clasts)

2 – 0.063mm Sand Sandstone

0.063 – 0.002mm Silt Siltstone
< 0.063mm Mud Mudstone / Shale
< 0.002mm Clay Claystone
 
 sediments

gravel sand silt clay

sedimentary
rocks

conglomerate sandstone siltstone shale

 Sediments to sedimentary rocks

Weathering structures
seen in ancient
terranes

Lithification due to:

1. Compaction Transport shown by
(squeezing out water) sedimentary structures
2. Diagenesis
(precipitation of
cements)
 Sedimentary rocks are formed by the lithification of
inorganic and/or organic sediments, or as chemical
precipitates.

 These rock fragments can become a sedimentary rock if

sufficient burial and compaction of the sediment occurs.

Weathering
Erosion
Transportation
Deposition (sedimentation)
Burial
Diagenesis
Lithification

Fig. 8.11
Texture of Sedimentary Rocks
Sorting
Sediment in a Stream
Classification of Sedimentary Rocks
SANDSTONES:

a) 25% of all sedimentary rocks

b) Sandstone particles (1/16-2 mm in

diameter)

c) Practical uses of sandstones: buildings and

reservoir for fossil fuels and groundwater
CONGLOMERATES AND BRECCIAS:

a) Grain diameters larger than 2 mm

b) Conglomerates have rounded grains

c) Breccias have angular grains

MUDSTONES:

a) More than half of all sedimentary rocks

b) Contain the smallest particles (0.004 mm in

diameter)

c) Environments of deposition: lakes, lagoons,

deep ocean basins, river floodplains

d) Color variety of shale represents mineral

composition

e) Practical uses of shale: bricks, ceramics,

cement, and oil shale
 
Chemical Sedimentary Rocks

LIMESTONE
Fig. 8.12