Clastic Sedimentary Rocks Essay

The rock cycle is a process that describes the formation, breakdown, and reformation of a rock as a result of sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic processes. The rock cycle can involve changes which may include the changes of a rock to igneous, to sedimentary and to metamorphic. Even though the process is called cycle the rock cycle does not or may not truly

Foliation occurs when a rock is composed of several minerals with various melting points. When the rock is heated, minerals migrate throughout the rock. Bands are formed when the rock cools. Foliation also happens when a rock is compressed from one direction and partially ... ... middle of paper ... ...rocks is the most complex since it involves the most steps. Any igneous, sedimentary, or metamorphic rock can become a sedimentary rock if it goes through the following process: uplift, weathering and erosion, turning into sediments, deposition, burial and compaction, and cementation.

This can take place by mass wasting events such as landslide or rock falls, by running water, wind, or moving ice. Erosion involves the moving of solid material by transport agents. After erosion is the transportation step. In transportation, s... ... middle of paper ... ...t a thicker, more porous limestone or sandstone, called reservoir rock. The movement in the Earth captured the oil and natural gas in the reservoir rocks between layers of imperable rock, or cap rock.

Sedimentary rocks can also contain individual grains of minerals which have been eroded out of older rocks. Igneous rocks are formed from the cooling of magma - molten rock. They are the rocks that form from volcanoes. Metamorphic rocks are a result of heat and pressure on pre-existing rocks which undergo changes in the solid state. No melting occurs.

* The folding of rocks shows the compression of layers due to plate movement. * When fractures or fault signs are present in rocks, it shows evidence of earthquakes in the past.

First ocean waves, rivers, glaciers, wind or landslides transport loose, solid particles from weathering and erosion of preexisting rock. The particles are named sediment (Rocks of Idaho). Next the loose sediment is converted into sedimentary rock in compaction, cementation, and recrystallization. Compaction is when the air and water is pushed out of the bottom layer of sediment as more layers build up and press down on it. Cementation is when the sediment is cemented together with natural cements like calcite and silica.

Igneous rock is formed when molten rock (magma) cools and solidifies, with or without crystallization. Igneous rock is then further classified into intrusive and extrusive; this phenomenon will affect the grain texture of the rocks. Intrusive igneous rock is rock that formed below the Earth surface whereas extrusive igneous rock is erupted onto the surface, hence this leads to the formation of coarse-grained and fine-grained rocks respectively. Sedimentary rock is formed from several ways; (i) the deposition of the weathered remains of the other rocks, (ii) the deposition of the results of biogenic activity, and (iii) the precipitation of solution. As for metamorphic rock, it is the formation of new rock from the transformation of an existing rock through metamorphism, i.e.

The Rock Cycle The Rock Cycle is a group of changes. Igneous rock can change into sedimentary rock or into metamorphic rock. Sedimentary rock can change into metamorphic rock or into igneous rock. Metamorphic rock can change into igneous or sedimentary rock. Igneous rock forms when magma cools and makes crystals.

A sedimentary rock is made up of chemical, mechanical, or organic sediment. Some important types of Sedimentary rock which are distinguished by texture and chemical composition are sandstone, conglomerate, tillite, shale, sedimentary breccia, chalk, marl, coal, lignite, rock salt, gypsum. Igneous rock is rock that is formed by the solidification of a molten magma. If the rock is made from lava on the earth's surface, it is called extrusive rock, but if the igneous rock solidified beneath the earth's surface it is called intrusive rock. Metamorphic rocks start from the changing in the texture and mineral whole of sedimentary, igneous, and older metamorphic rocks under excessive pressure and heat within the earth.

Clastic rocks are the most common type of sedimentary rocks. Clastic rocks are composed of clasts or rock fragments which affect by weathering and erosion. Geologists used to identify sediments by looking at the textures and compositions of sediments, the grain sizes, grain morphology and more. The concepts of sediment maturity are the different types of maturity, the grain morphology of sediments and the environment which sediments are deposited. Sediment maturity is due to the transportation and environment of sediment.