2. Sedimentology
The study of the processes that erode,
transport and deposit sediments
Sedimentary Petrology
The study of the characteristics and origin of
sedimentary rocks.
Stratigraphy
The study of the origin, relationship, and
extent of rock layers (strata).
4. What do Sedimentary Rocks Record?
Magma
Igneous Rocks
Sedimentary Rocks
Metamorphic Rocks
Sediment
Crystallization Melting
Metamorphism
Lithification
Weathering
Erosion
Transport
Deposition
5. What do Sedimentary Rocks Record?
•Source (Provenance) of sediment
•Erosion and Transport Agent
•Depositional Environment
•Paleogeography/Tectonic Setting
•Diagenesis (what happened after deposition)
6. Rock Identification is based on:
• Composition
What minerals make
up the rock?
• Texture
What is the shape, size
and orientation of the
mineral grains that
make up the rock?
7. Types of Sedimentary Rocks
Detrital Chemical
Organic
Clastic
Texture Crystalline
Texture
15. Note About What Causes
Detrital Rock Color
• Grain Size
Smaller is often darker
• Composition
Carbon - black or brown
Quartz - tan, clear, white
Orthoclase - orange
• Depositional Environment
Iron on land - red
Iron in deep, oxygen poor water - green