Why Study Sediments

 The study of sediment layers is called stratigraphy.

 Scientists use deep-sea stratigraphy to look for clues,
such as rock composition, microfossils, deposition
patterns, and other physical properties.
 Scientists can estimate the age of the sediment layers
because the oldest layer is on the bottom and the
youngest layer is on the top.
 Stratigraphy also provides evidence
used by scientists to understand
changes in the ocean and
atmosphere. These include previous
circulation patterns, former sea
Objective: levels, and trends in biological
OC4c productivity.
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 Texture
 Sediment texture can be examined through
several variables. The first is grain size.
 Sediments are classified by particle diameter
size:
Clay- <0.002 mm
Silt- 0.002-0.05 mm
Sand- 0.05-2.0 mm
Pebbles- 2.0-64 mm
Boulders- >64 mm
Objective:
OC4a
 Texture
 Sediment texture also can be described based on its
maturity, or how long the particles have been
transported by water or other vectors.
 Maturity can be reflected by the degree of rounding of
the particles, the amount of sorting, and the
composition of the sediment.
 Sorting refers to how uniform the particles are in
terms of size.

Objective:
OC4a
 Texture
 In the case of rounding, the more mature the
sediment, the rounder the particles, as a result of the
particles being abraded over time.

Objective:
OC4a
 Sediment Origins
Scientists learn a great deal by classifying
sediments based on where they come
from.
Sediments may be classified into four
origin categories: lithogenous,
biogenous, hydrogenous, and
cosmogenous.

Objective:
OC4a
 Lithogenous Sediments
 Lithogenous sediments are derived from preexisting
rock.
 They are also called terrigenous sediments since
most of it comes from the land masses and makes
its way into the ocean.

Objective:
OC4a
 Biogenous Sediments
 Biogenous sediments are composed of the remains
of marine organisms: shells and hard skeletons.
 Includes oozes and fecal pellets
 Dominant on the deep ocean floor

Objective:
OC4a
 Biogenous Sediments
Over time, biogenous sediments accumulate into layers.
 Under the right conditions, the organic molecules in
these sediments form crude oil (petroleum) and
natural gas.

Objective:
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 Oozes
Siliceous oozes are formed by organisms that contain
silica in their shells.
 Silica dissolves so slowly that
siliceous oozes can build up
 Common in cold polar regions or
along the equator where
upwelling of cold water takes
place. Diatoms are
photosynthetic algae.
Calcareous oozes are formed by
organisms, such as foraminifera,
which contain calcium carbonate in their
shells.
Objective:  Dissolve in acidic water.
OC4a
 Found more often in warm water. foraminifera
 Hydrogenous Sediments
 Hydrogenous sediments result from chemical reactions
within water. The reactions cause minerals to come out of
solution and form particles that settle on the bottom
(precipitate).
 Evaporites precipitate as evaporation occurs.
 Include many salts.
 Rock candy is also an example.

Objective:
OC4a
 Cosmogenous sediments
 Cosmogenous sediments come from outer space. They are
primarily made up of small particles the size of sand or
smaller called cosmic dust.
 Some of these are thought to result from collisions
between objects in space, such as asteroids and comets.

Objective:
OC4a Microtektites