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1. Sedimentary Rocks and Depositional Environments Lab 1
2. Rock Types - Background Igneous
Metamorphic
Sedimentary
Broken down to form sediments
Sediments fragments of rock, individual mineral grains (quartz), parts of plants or animals, clay minerals, and other minerals
3. Minerals - Background Igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks are made of minerals
Minerals substances that make up rock; the building blocks of rocks
Example minerals quartz, potassium feldspar, biotite mica, muscovite mica, calcite
4. Sedimentary Rock Characteristics Grain size
Rounding
Minerals
Matrix
Color
5. Grain Size The average diameter of the particles
6. Minerals Building blocks of rocks
7. Matrix Sedimentary rocks are composed of large particles (grains) surrounded by smaller particles
The smaller particles are the matrix
The fill in between larger grains
8. Sedimentary Environments A rock will display certain characteristics depending on the environment in which it was formed
The study of the composition and other characteristics of the sed. rocks can reveal info. about the conditions occurring during deposition (helps determine environment)
9. Sedimentary Environments Alluvial Fans
River Channels
Glaciers
Swamps
Deltas
Beaches and Barrier
Islands
Dunes
11. Alluvial Fan Rivers in mountainous areas erode and transport sediment
When meets flat plain deposits sediment in fan-like shape
Common rocks: sandstone, conglomerate, breccia, diamicton
12. River Channels Rivers vary in size and energy level
Contain various sediment types (gravel, sand)
Feldspar less common
Common rocks: sandstone, conglomerate
13. Glaciers Not able to sort sediment size
Glacial sediments (till) are mixtures of gravel, sand, silt, and clay
Rock types: diamicton
14. Swamps Lots of organic matter
Slow decomposition
Buried and compacted organic matter hardens to form coal
Common rocks: coal, shale
15. Deltas Rivers flow into lakes or oceans
Deposit sediment in a fan-like shape
Mississippi River Delta, Nile Delta
Large areas composed of various environments (channels, swamps, bays)
Common rocks: shale, siltstone, sandstone, coal
16. Beaches and Barrier Islands Barrier island is like a beach separated from the mainland by a lagoon
Constant wave action separates sand sized grains from others
Sediment has traveled far from source, so well rounded
Common rocks: sandstone
17. Dunes Form adjacent to beaches and barrier islands
Contain non-marine fossils
Common rocks: sandstone
18. Lagoons Behind a barrier island or reef
Barrier island/reef act as breakwaters protecting the lagoon from wave action
19. Tidal Flats Broad, flat areas that are periodically covered in water when tide rises and dry when tide is low
Variable energy levels
Alternating layers of coarse and fine sediment
Common rocks: siltstone, shale, limestone
20. Reefs Organisms build large, rocky accumulations by cementing their shells or other structures
Common in tropical regions (warm water)
Calcite precipitates
Common rocks: limestone
21. Continental shelf, slope, and rise Shallow marine: extend from beach to water depths of 100 m; low energy; fine grains settle; common rocks are sandstone, siltstone, shale
Deep marine: extend down to thousands of meters; low energy; fine grains settle; fossils are rare; common rocks are shale, sandstone
22. Todays Lab!! List properties of unknown sedimentary rocks
Identify the unknown rock specimens (rock name)
Determine possible depositional environment(s) where the rock formed
23. Rock Names Shale
Siltstone
Sandstone
Conglomerate
Breccia
Diamicton
Limestone
Coal