machiniema, and they contain
ofthe same Linds of sedimentary structures (eg. tabula and tough cross
¢.paded bedding).
may contain gravel-size pieces of individual minerals such as
er howower, mast of the gravel-size framework grains are rock fragments
Individual sand- or madesize mineral grains are commonly present as a
Figure 5.8
A-Chist supported conspomerate utelyng lminated
‘ands. Terrace depoute (Holocene) ofthe Umpaq Rive
southwest Oregon, 8, Lage breccia clasts (dar
‘with ealete Nevada Lisstane (Devaran),
Peak, Nevada, Photograph courery of Walter
Yourgayst.
matt. Any ind of igncous metamorphic or sedimeniary rockmay be presen in
2 conglomerate depending upon soutereck and depeaional conditions Some
Conglomerates ape composed of only the most sable and duable hinds of las
(quartnte, hort, vein quartz) Sableconglomerstes composed tainly Of gle
-clast type are referred to by Pettijoin (1975) as oligomict conglomerates, Most|
‘oligomict conglomerates were probably derived from mixed parent-rock sources
‘that included less stable rock types, Continued recycling of mixed ultrastable and
tevable ces heap sree! goeerlione al conglomerates inal te op
iS eta of hoa ant ance bd Co
1 contain an awrtment of many hinds of clasts ave polymit
Scponmse Payee couiencones Gal awesee yaa mapan of largely
unstable or metastable clasts such ax basalt, limestone, shale, and metamorphic
Phyl are commonly called promi conglomersis (Petphn, 1979) Almost
{ny combination of thse cast types is poate na petri conglomenste The
‘muatrie of conglomerates commonly consists of various kinds of clay minerals andl
fine ian anor nit or ansesae quart edgar, rock ramet and esky
minerals, The matrix may be cemented with quartz, calcite, hematite, clay, orother
Classification
Conglomerates can originate by several processes, as shown ie Table 5.3. Wi ate
Interested most in eniclastic conelomerates. which farm by beeakclaws of alder53 Conglomerates
(slauconitic sands}, phosphatic sandstones, and calcarenaceous
pris (composed of sand-ize carbonate grains). Thew rocks are not true sane!
(ilciclastic rocks) but rather are cherical/biochemical sedimentary 1ocks
pters 6 and 7).
CONGLOMERATES
termonglomerates is used in this book as a general class name for sedimen-
ocks that contain a substantia! fraction (at Feast 30 percent) of gravelsize
mm) particles (Fig. 5.8), Breccias (Fig, SSB), which are composed of very
pravelsize fragments, are not distinguished from conglomerates in the
ding discussion, Conglomerates are common in stratigraphic successions of
Jages but probably make up lew than | percent by weight of the total seins
Teck mass (Gartels and MeKenzie, 1971, p. 40) They are closely related to
anes in terms of origin and depositional mechanisms, and they contain
sol the same kinds of sedimentary structures (eg tabular andl trough