EARTH SCIENCE 10-7 What are ocean sediments?

Pg1
OBJ: Describe different kinds of ocean sediments.

I. Sediment Formation - ocean sediments are formed by materials that collect

on the ocean floor.
- eroded land rocks
- remains of living things
- volcanic dust and ash
- space dust

II. Eroded Rock Sediments
- most of the sediments near the shore are eroded rock
particles.
- rivers carry rock particles to the ocean
- waves and wind break off rock particles
- the sediments gradually spread out over the ocean
floor.
- large particles stay close to the shore
- small particles settle farther from shore

III. Nodules = mineral lump found on the ocean floor.

- form very slowly by a chemical process.
- Made of mostly manganese, nickel, and iron.
- Found thousands of meters deep.
- Suction devices are used to gather them.

IV. Ooze - much of the ocean floor is made up of fine, soft

sediment called ooze.
= ocean sediment that contains the remains of many
ocean organisms.
- when ocean organisms die, their shells and
skeletons sink to the ocean floor.
- these remains eventually fall apart or
decompose.
- The material mixes with volcanic dust, clay, and
water to form the ooze.