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GEO 101 > sedimentary rocks (7) > Flashcards

sedimentary rocks (7) Flashcards

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1
Q

Sedimentary Rock

A

Rock formed from the weathered products of preexisting rocks that have been transported, deposited, and lithified

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2
Q

Clastic Sedimentary Rock

A

Transported accumulations of rocks weathered by both mechanical and chemical processes

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3
Q

Chemical Sedimentary Rock

A

Sedimentary rock consisting of material that was precipitated from water by either inorganic or organic means

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4
Q

Organic Sedimentary Rock

A

Sedimentary rock composed of organic carbon from the remains of plants that died and accumulated on the floor of a swamp (COAL)

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5
Q

How does the volume of sedimentary rocks in Earth’s crust compare to the volume of igneous and metamorphic rocks?

A

Its a lot less

Only about 5% of rocks

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6
Q

List two ways in which sedimentary rocks are important.

A

They tell us about the past

Economically important for resources

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7
Q

Shale

A

The most common sedimentary rock, consisting of silt and clay size particles

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8
Q

Fissility

A

The property of splitting easily into thin layers along closely spaced, parallel surfaces, such as bedding planes in shale

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9
Q

Sandstone

A

An abundant, durable sedimentary rock primarily composed of sand-size grains

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10
Q

Sorting

A

The degree of similarity in particle size in sediment or sedimentary rock

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11
Q

Conglomerate

A

A sedimentary rock composed of rounded, gravel-size particles

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12
Q

Breccia

A

A sedimentary rock composed of angular fragments that were lithified

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13
Q

What minerals are most abundant in clastic sedimentary rocks? In which rocks do these minerals predominate?

A

Clay minerals and quartz

Shale and sandstone

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14
Q

What is the primary basis for distinguishing among clastic rocks?

A

Particle size

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15
Q

How do sediments become sorted?

A

Currents

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16
Q

Biochemical

A

A type of chemical sediment that forms when material dissolved in water is precipitated by water-dwelling organisms. Shells are common examples.

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17
Q

Limestone

A

A chemical sedimentary rock composed chiefly of calcite. Can form from biochemical processes or inorganically

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18
Q

Dolostone

A

A chemical sedimentary rock formed from dolomite, a calcium-magnesium carbonate mineral

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19
Q

Chert

A

A durable sedimentary rock formed of microcrystalline quartz

20
Q

Evaporite

A

A sedimentary rock formed of material deposited from solution by evaporation of the water

21
Q

Salt Flat

A

A white crust on the ground that is produced when water evaporates and leaves behind its dissolved materials

22
Q

How do evaporites form?

A

When seawater evaporates

23
Q

Coal

A

A sedimentary rock consisting primarily of organic matter, formed in stages from accumulations of large quantities of undecided land material. It is used as a fossil fuel.

24
Q

What is the “raw material” for coal?

A

Dead plants (typically accumulated in still water)

25
Q

What are the stages of the formation of coal?

A

Accumulation of large amounts of plant remains
Formation of peat and lignite
Formation of bituminous coal
Formation of anthracite coal

26
Q

Diagenesis

A

A collective term for all the chemical, physical, and biological changes that take place after sediments are deposited and during and after lithification

27
Q

Lithification

A

The process, generally involving cementation and/or computation, of converting sediments to solid rocks

28
Q

Compaction

A

A type of lithification in which the weight of overlying material compresses more deeply buried sediment. It is most important in the fine-grained rocks such as shale

29
Q

Cementation

A

One way in which sedimentary rocks are lithified. As a material precipitates from water that percolates through the sediments, open spaces are filled, and particles are joined into solid mass

30
Q

Clastic

A

A sedimentary rock texture consisting of broken fragments of preexisting rock

31
Q

Nonclastic/Crystalline

A

A term for the texture of sedimentary rocks in which the minerals form a pattern of interlocking crystals

32
Q

What is the primary basis for distinguishing different chemical sedimentary rocks?

A

Chemical-composition

Clastic-particle size

33
Q

Environment of Deposition

A

A geographic setting where sediment accumulates. Each site is characterized by a particular combination of geologic processes and environmental conditions

34
Q

Facies

A

A portion of a rock unit that possesses a distinctive set of characteristics that distinguishes it from other parts of the same unit

35
Q

Stata

A

Parallel layers of sedimentary rock

36
Q

Bedding Plane

A

A nearly flat surface that separates two beds of sedimentary rock. Each bedding plane marks the end of one deposit and the beginning of another one that has different characteristics

37
Q

Cross-Bedding

A

A structure in which relatively thin layers are inclined at an angle to the main bedding. Cross-bedding is formed by currents of wind or water

38
Q

Graded Bed

A

A sediment layer characterized by a decrease in sediment size from bottom to top

39
Q

Ripple Marks

A

Small waves of sand that develop on the surface of a sediment layer by the action of moving water or air

40
Q

Mud Crack

A

A feature in some sedimentary rocks that forms when wet mud dries out, shrinks, and cracks

41
Q

What are the 3 categories of sedimentary environments?

A

Continental- landslide
Marine-reef
Transitional-beach

42
Q

Why might a single sedimentary layer be made up of different types of sedimentary rock?

A

Near shore to off shore sediments

43
Q

What is the single most characteristic feature of sedimentary rocks?

A

Stratification

44
Q

How might mud cracks and ripple marks be useful clues about the geologic past?

A

Show where water was

45
Q

Carbon Cycle

A

An earth system in which carbon moves through the atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, and geosphere, in different directions

46
Q

Describe how chemical weathering and the formation of biochemical sediment remove carbon from the atmosphere and store it in the geosphere.

A

Carbonic acid helps break down (Granite) which produces ions of calcium

47
Q

Example in which carbon moves from the geosphere to the atmosphere.

A

Eruption of volcanoes

GEO 101 (19 decks)

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