FORMATION OF SEDIMENTARY ROCKS

SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
Sedimentary rocks are derived from the weathered waste products of the preexisting rocks. These rocks form an extensive part of the earth crust and cover about three-four of the contents sedimentary rocks have economic importance for people all over the world. These rocks are contains economically valuable deposits such as coal, petroleum, natural gas, aluminum, iron ore and copper. Sedimentary rocks are generally deposited as beds or strata.

FORMATION
These are formed in the following four different Stages. 1. Weathering 2. Transportation 3. Sedimentation/Deposition 4. Lithification

1) WEATHERING
Igneous sedimentary rocks and metamorphic rocks are the ultimate source of the sediments of which sedimentary rocks are formed .Under the combined effect of producing weathered material after this the material is ready to be transported to some place of accumulation .Like ocean.

2) TRANSPORTATION
The products of rock weathering are generally transported in large amounts by the running water (rivers) moving ice & wind. Out of these agents, rivers are the most important.

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By: Izhar Mithal Jiskani

FORMATION OF SEDIMENTARY ROCKS

3) SEDIMENTATION OR DEPOSITION
The transportation of the weathered products continuous as long as the velocity of the transporting medium remains unchecked. but when the products are brought at rest into big water bodies like oceans, their deposition will start. The general process by which the rock forming material is laid down is termed as sedimentation

4) LITHIFICATION
The process of lithification converts loosely deposited sediments into a rock. This job is generally done in two ways a) Compaction and b) Cementation

A) COMPACTION
As the deposition of sediments continuous, it automatically goes on compacting and consolidating due to its own weight with the squeezing out of water e.g. Shale, Silt Stone.

B) CEMENTATION
Coarse sediments do not stick together as fine sediments, however they will stick to one another if they are cemented together .Ocean and lake waters contain dissolved minerals such as silica, lime and iron compounds these are natural cement. As they soak into the layers of sand and gravels, they cement the fragments into rock. The common examples of Sedimentary rocks are limestone, sand stone shale etc. In cementation water carrying mineral matter in solution passes through the sedimentary layers. This minerals matter crystallizes and holds the layers together like glue.

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By: Izhar Mithal Jiskani