Lecture 4: Sedimentary Rocks

Question 1

What is a sedimentary rock?

Answer 1

Any rock made out of sediments (chemical, detrital)

Question 2

Define detrital.

Answer 2

Solid particles from preexisting rocks

Question 3

Define chemical sediment rocks.

Answer 3

Minerals that precipitate from solutions and minerals derived from water by organisms to build shells (biochemical sediments)

Question 4

Detrital sedimentary rocks begin with..?

Answer 4

parent material.

Question 5

Define parent material.

Answer 5

rocks acted on by weathering

Question 6

Define weathering.

Answer 6

the physical breakdown and chemical alteration of rocks and minerals at or near the Earths surfaces

Question 7

Name the 5 different types of mechanical weathering.

Answer 7

1. Frost Actions
2. Pressure Release
3. Thermal Expansion/Contraction
4. Salt Crystal Growth
5. Living Organisms.

Question 8

Define mechanical weathering.

Answer 8

Disaggregation of rocks by physical processes that create smaller pieces that retain parent composition

Question 9

What is frost action?

Answer 9

Repeated freezing and thawing of Water. Water expands 9% when it freezes. Frost wedging