cementation
The process in which minerals precipitate into pore spaces between sediment grains and bind sediments together to form rock. User-contributed
lithification
converts sediment into rock. Compaction caused by pressure generated from weight of overlying sediment. Cementation is binding of sediment by mineral agents. Common cementing agents hematite, limonite, calcite and silica User-contributed
sediment
Consists of solid material that has been depositied on Earth's surface by wind, water, ice, gravity, or chemical precipitation
chemical weathering
When the chemicals is a rock are dissolved or otherwise chemically charged
physical weathering
When minerals remian chemically unchanged, and rock fragments simply break off of the solid rock along fractures or grain boundries
unsorted deposits
a mess of rock with no organization, no clear lines or layering (ex landslide, Glaciers) User-contributed
clastic sediments
When sediments become cemented together
sedimentary rock
A type of rock that forms when particles from other rocks or the remains of plants and animals are pressed and cemented together User-contributed
deposition
the natural process of laying down a deposit of something
sorted deposits
Characteristic of sediments transported by water and wind. User-contributed
cross-bedding
formation created by wind that changes direction User-contributed
ripple marks
small parallel ridges and toughs formed in sediment by wind or water currents and waves, They may then be preserved when the sediment is lithified User-contributed
graded bedding
A bed that formed horizontal or nearly horizontal layers at the time of deposition, in which the coarsest particles are concentrated at the bottom and grade gradually upward into fine silt. User-contributed
fossils
the perserved trace, imprint, or remains of a plant or animal User-contributed
sand dunes
Wind-blown deposits of sand sized particles laid down in ridges or mounds, typically asymmetrical. User-contributed
transport
send from one person or place to another verb
bedding
sedimentary rocks' primary feature of horizontal layering User-contributed
clastic sedimentary
rock made of fragments often of other rocks and minerals User-contributed
porosity
The amount of open space between the particles that make up the rock User-contributed
evaporites
sedimentary rocks formed from minerals left after water evaporates User-contributed
regional metamorphism
a change in the texture, structure, or chemical composition of a rock due to the changes in temperature and pressure over a large area, generally as a result of tectonic forces. User-contributed
contact metamorphism
a change in the texture, structure, or chemical composition of a rock due to contact with magma. User-contributed
hydrothermal metamorphism
Occurs when hot water and ions dissolved in the hot water react with a rock to change it's chemical composition and minerals. User-contributed
foliated
Term used to describe metamorphic rocks whose grains are arranged in parallel layers or bands. User-contributed
nonfoliated
the metamorphic rock texture in which mineral grains are not arranged in planes or bands. User-contributed
porphyroblasts
when new metamorphic minerals grow while surrounding minerals do not User-contributed
rock cycle
sequence of events in which rocks are formed, destroyed, altered, and reformed by geological processes User-contributed