Sedimentary Rocks

Roundness (or angularity) refers to how smooth or sharp

are the edges of particles.

1.Roundness

1.Roundness is due to abrasion in streams or waves

1.Roundness takes both energy and time

Degree of roundness helps in knowing the distance of transportation

•Angular clasts- short distance transport from the source and vice-versa
ROUNDNESS
Sorting - Degree to which the particles are the same
size, i.e. if all the particles are the same size, then
they are well-sorted.

The degree of sorting may also indicate the energy,

rate, and/or duration of deposition, as well as the
transport process (river debris flow, wind, glacier, etc.)
responsible for laying down the sediment.

Long distance transport= well-rounded and well-sorted

sediments,
Short distance transport = poorly sorted angular grains.
POOR SORTING : GLACIAL FLOW, MODERATE SORTING: TIDAL
CURRENT, RIVER, WELL SORTING: WIND
 conglomerate

These rocks are characterized by the presence of round to sub-

angular-shaped mineral clasts that have been embedded in the
matrix

The clasts can be of any type of rock, i.e., igneous,

metamorphic, or sedimentary.
Classification According to percentage of cement

Conglomerate can be classified into Para conglomerate/matrix-

supported conglomerate and Ortho conglomerate/ clast supported.
This rock type mainly consists of
more than 15% matrix of the total
rock composition. The clasts
mostly do not touch each other, and
appear like they are floating in the
matrix.
consist of less than 15% of matrix
content, and shows numerous
large-sized mineral grains that are
embedded in less content of matrix.
The sides of the clasts are also
touching each other.
Classification According to Resistance of Clasts

• Petromict
The conglomerates that consist of clasts that are not very
much resistant to erosion and can be easily weathered are
known as petromict conglomerates. For example, in such
rocks, the clasts present are of limestone, dolomite, shale, etc.

•Oligomict
. The rocks that show the presence of high-resistance clasts
that are not very susceptible to weathering and erosion are
known as oligomict conglomerates. For example, mineral
grains that are made up of basalt, quartz, chert, etc., are found in
these rocks.
According to Variation in Parent Material

These conglomerates are characterized by the presence of

numerous types of clasts, i.e., the minerals are made from a
number of host or parent rocks. For example, in the
accompanying image, the clasts are made up of basalt, quartz,
limestone etc., and are embedded in the calcareous matrix.
Classification Based on Clast and Cement / matrix Composition

• Intraformational Conglomerates

These are characterized by the

presence of clasts that almost
have the same composition
as that of the cement/
matrix. This indicates that the
mineral grains have originated
from the same environment of
deposition, or close to it, with
regards to the area where the
cement was formed. For
example: quartz and jasper
clasts embedded in a
These rocks are characterized by
the presence of clasts that have a
very different composition as that
of the cement or matrix. This
indicates that they have formed in a
different environment and were
transported to a completely
different area, where the cement
was formed. For example: basalt
clasts embedded in calcareous
cement.
When clastic fragments are
cemented or undergo consolidation Similarly when angular clasts
they are called undergo consolidation they are
CONGLOMERATES called BRECCIA
 Classification of Sandstone

The rock breakdown products detrital mineral

lithic fragments/ sand.

Arkose is a type of sandstone containing at least 25% feldspar.

Quartz is commonly the dominant mineral component, and some

mica is often present.

Arkose usually contains small amounts of calcite cement, which

causes it to 'fizz' slightly in dilute hydrochloric acid; sometimes
the cement also contains iron oxide. Arkose is typically grey to
reddish in colour.
Arkose is generally formed from the weathering of feldspar-rich
igneous or metamorphic, most commonly granitic rocks,
which are primarily composed of quartz and feldspar (potash).
These sediments must be deposited rapidly and/or in a cold
environment such that the feldspar does not undergo significant
chemical weathering and decomposition; therefore arkose is
designated a texturally immature sedimentary rock.

Arkose (Feldspar)
Arenite - Rock composed of any material that is sand sized

Lithic sandstone/ lithic arenites/ litharenites, are sandstones

with a significant (>5%) component of lithic fragments,
though quartz and feldspar are usually present as well, along
with some clayey matrix. Lithic sandstones can have a speckled
(salt and pepper) structure and gray color

Lithic arenite
 Quartz Sst. Graywacke

Greywacke is a variety of sandstone characterised

by its hardness , dark colour, poorly sorted angular
grains of quartz and feldspar. The matrix is fine
clay.
Shale is a fine-grained, clastic sedimentary rock composed of mud
that is a mix of flakes of clay minerals and tiny fragments (silt-
sized particles) of other minerals, especially quartz and calcite.

Shale is characterized by breaks along thin laminae or parallel

layering or bedding less than one centimeter in thickness, called
fissility.

Clays are the major constituent of shales and other mudrocks. The
clay minerals represented are largely kaolinite, montmorillonite
and illite.

Shales and mudrocks contain roughly 95 percent of the organic

matter in all sedimentary rocks.
.
 SHALE
Oil shale, also known as
kerogen shale, is an organic-
rich fine-grained sedimentary
rock containing kerogen (a
solid mixture of organic
chemicalcompounds) fro m
which liquid hydrocarbons
called shale oil occurring
Shale-fissile naturally in shales can be
produced.

Shale and mudstone together

known as MUDROCKS.
•But due to surface tension phenomenon of water and extremely fine
intergranular space shales are impermeable, hence does not yield water
when tapped
Mudstone, a type of mudrock, is a fine grained sedimentary
rock whose original constituents were clays or mud. Individual
grains too small to be distinguished without a microscope.

The lack of fissility or layering in mudstone may be due either

to original texture or to the disruption of layering by burrowing
organisms in the sediment prior to lithification.

Mudstones, on the other hand, are similar in composition but do

not show the fissility.
Marl or marlstone is a calcium carbonate or lime-rich mud or
mudstone which contains variable amounts of clays and silt. The
dominant carbonate mineral in most marls is calcite, but other
carbonate minerals such as aragonite, dolomite, and siderite may
be present.

Marlstone is an indurated rock of about the same composition as

marl, more correctly called an earthy or impure argillaceous
limestone.
CLASSIFICATION OF SANDSTONE
 EVAPORITIC ROCKS
These rocks are formed within the a depositional basin
from chemical substances dissolved in the seawater or
lake water.

Gypsum Halite

CaSO4.2H20
(NaCl)
 CARBONATE ROCKS
 Limestone: It is a non-clastic rock formed either
chemically or due to precipitation of calcite (CaCO3)
from organisms usually (shell).  These remains will result
in formation of a limestone.

 Limestones formed by chemical precipitation are usually

fine grained, whereas, in case of organic limestone the
grain size vary depending upon the type of organism
responsible for the formation