Formation of

sedimentary rock

Science

Unit Carbon cycle and climate change

:
Outcome

I can describe the formation of sedimentary rock

and suggest information that can be obtained from
its layers.
Keywords

sediment

deposition

compaction

cementation

strata
Keywords

A sediment is a material deposited by water, wind or

ice, such as pebbles, sand, or salts left by evaporation.
Deposition is the process of sediment grains settling out (i.e.
being deposited) from water or wind as their flow slows, or as ice
melts.
Compaction is a process where sediment grains become
compacted (i.e. squashed closer together) during burial.
Cementation is a process by which sediment grains are
cemented (i.e. stuck together) by minerals deposited from
groundwater, turning the sediment into rock.
Strata refers to layers of rock (i.e. several rock beds) formed by
the deposition of sediment.
Lesson outline

Formation of sedimentary rock

Forming sedimentary rocks

Sediment layers
Forming sedimentary rocks
Explanation

Over many years, rock on Earth’s surface is

weathered by biological, chemical or physical processes.

The weakened / broken rock can be eroded (i.e. transported to

a new location) in several ways, including by:

wind glaciers rivers /

streams
Forming sedimentary rocks
Explanation

Faster flowing wind and water can transport more and

larger rock fragments from the rock source.
Smaller, more lightweight, rock fragments are transported easily in
slower flowing wind / water.

“River Taff” by Martyn Harries licensed under CC-BY-2.0

many / larger rock fragments fewer / smaller rock

carried a large distance fragments carried some
distance
Forming sedimentary rocks
Check

Which picture(s) can move bits of rock or sand to another

place?
water b ice
a

c gravity d wind
Forming sedimentary rocks
Explanation

Wind slows when it hits an obstruction,

such as trees or mountains.
Water slows when it flows across
flatter land.
When wind or water slows down, the
rock fragments being carried are
dropped.

Rock fragments are also dropped when glaciers

melt.
Forming sedimentary rocks
Explanation

Material dropped when wind / water slows or ice

melts are known as sediments.

Sediments are small grains and can be composed of many

types of materials:

sand pebbles mud organic salts

remain
s
Forming sedimentary rocks
Explanation

The process of dropping sediments is known as

deposition.

depositio
n
Forming sedimentary rocks
Explanation

When layers of sediments build upon

each other, the weight of the upper
layers
exert pressure on the layers below.

Increasing pressure
The increasing pressure
causes sediments to undergo
compaction.
Forming sedimentary rocks
Explanation

Compaction pushes sediment grains closer together

and squeezes out groundwater that may exist between the
grains. groundwater
groundwater pushed out
Increasing pressure

compaction

sediment grain grains closer

together
Forming sedimentary rocks
Check

Which sediment layer is experiencing the least

compaction and why?

Because it has the

a
fewest layers
above it, so there is
b
less pressure
exerted on it =
c
lower compaction.

d
Forming sedimentary rocks
Explanation

Groundwater moving between sediment grains can

deposit natural minerals (crystal-like substances such as
quartz or calcite) in the pores (i.e. spaces between sediment
grains).
groundwater
containing The increased pressure (and
minerals
temperature) in a compacted
layer provides the conditions for
pore mineral crystals to form in the
pores.
mineral crystal
Forming sedimentary rocks
Explanation

Mineral crystals act like ‘glue’, sticking sediment

grains together.
This is known as cementation.
sediment
grain

A
sedimentary minera
l
rock is now crystal
formed.
"Dolestone breccia" by James St. John licensed
under CC BY 2.0
Forming sedimentary rocks
Explanation

Because there are many steps to making a

sedimentary rock, the process takes millions of years to
occur.
1. weathering and erosion of The oldest
existing rocks sedimentary rock
in the UK was
2. deposition of sediments formed from sand
sediments
3. compaction of sediment deposited 1000
layers million years ago.

4. cementation by minerals
from groundwater
‘Old Man of Stoer’,
"Old Man of Stoer" by Jamesx12345 licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
Scotland
Forming sedimentary rocks
Check

Because sedimentary rock can take millions of years to

form, which mixture(s) would make artificial rock?

a sand and water sand grit cement

b sand and cement water

c sand, cement and water

d grit, cement and water

e sand, grit, cement and water

Forming sedimentary rocks
Explanation

Water flows downhill due to gravity.

Sedimentary rocks, like limestone, tend to contain pores (i.e.
spaces between sediment grains).

Groundwater flowing through

the pores of limestone
dissolves the calcium
carbonate (i.e. calcite mineral)
in the rock and moves the
mineral to another location.
Forming sedimentary rocks
Explanation

In some locations, dissolved minerals are deposited

above ground.

thermal
Here, the calcite
spring
minerals are water
deposited as
thermal spring
deposited
waters overflow minerals
from the basins.

Pamukkale, Turkey - UNESCO World Heritage

Forming sedimentary rocks
Explanation

Underground, if mineral-rich groundwater reaches a cave,

the calcium carbonate mineral is deposited as the water drips
from the ceiling.
This process forms stalactites and stalagmites.

Stalactites form from the

ceiling.

Stalagmites form on the

floor.
stalactites and stalagmites
Forming sedimentary rocks
Check

True or false?
The size of stalactites get smaller over time.

T True F False

Justify your answer

a Minerals from rock dissolve in water and can be
deposited elsewhere.
b Minerals from rock do not dissolve in water and
so cannot be deposited elsewhere.
Task A Forming sedimentary rocks
Practice

1) Match each word to the best description.

sediment crystal-like substance that make up rocks

(e.g. quartz)
compaction
material deposited by water, wind or ice
deposition mineral crystals glue grains together

cementation pushing sediment grains closer together

mineral process of dropping sediments

Task A Forming sedimentary rocks
Feedbac
k

1) Match each word to the best description.

sediment crystal-like substance that make up rocks

(e.g. quartz)
compaction
material deposited by water, wind or ice
deposition mineral crystals glue grains together

cementation pushing sediment grains closer together

mineral process of dropping sediments

Task A Forming sedimentary rocks
Practice

2) Sedimentary rock forms in layers.

Order appropriate statements below to describe
how sedimentary rock is formed.
Some of the statements are not needed.
The mineral crystals cement the Over time the sediment is buried
sediment grains together. under other layers.
It is very hot underground. Groundwater flows through the
sediment.
The sediment grains are Heating cements the sediment
compacted under huge pressure. grains together.
Pressure forces the sediment The temperature is so high that
grains to cement together. the sediment grains melt.
A layer of sediment collects in one Minerals in the groundwater
1 place. form crystals.
Task A Forming sedimentary rocks
Feedbac
k

2) Sedimentary rock forms in layers.

Order appropriate statements below to describe
how sedimentary rock is formed.
Some of the statements are not needed.
The mineral crystals cement the Over time the sediment is buried
6 sediment grains together. 2 under other layers.
It is very hot underground. Groundwater flows through the
4 sediment.
The sediment grains are Heating cements the sediment
3 compacted under huge pressure. grains together.
Pressure forces the sediment The temperature is so high that
grains to cement together. the sediment grains melt.
A layer of sediment collects in one Minerals in the groundwater
1 place. 5 form crystals.
Task A Forming sedimentary rocks
Practice

3) Alex has written some statements describing

sedimentary rocks; however, each contains an error.
Identify and correct each error in Alex’s statements below.
Alex

a) Sedimentary rocks are formed from

many large grains stuck together.

b) Sedimentary rocks often contain

no pores (i.e. gaps between limestone at Malham
grains). Cove
c) Sedimentary rocks can take only a few years to form.
Task A Forming sedimentary rocks
Feedbac
k

3) Alex has written some statements describing

sedimentary rocks; however, each contains an error.
Identify and correct each error in Alex’s statements below.
Alex

a) Sedimentary rocks are formed from

many large grains stuck together.
sma
ll
b) Sedimentary rocks often contain
no pores (i.e. gaps between limestone at Malham
grains). Cove
c) Sedimentary rocks can take only a few years to form.
millions of
Lesson outline

Formation of sedimentary rock

Forming sedimentary rocks

Sediment layers
Sediment layers
Explanation

All sedimentary rocks are formed by the same

processes.

Different sediments form

different sedimentary rocks.

sand sandstone

gravel conglomerate clay shale

Sediment layers
Explanation

Some sedimentary rocks are formed from sediments

that are the remains of living organisms.

microscopic chalk larger shellfish limestone

plankton remains
“Noctiluca scintillans” by Maria Antónia
Sampayo licensed under CC BY 3.0
Sediment layers
Check

Which of these is not a sedimentary rock?

a clay Clay is the sediment that forms

the sedimentary rock shale.
b sandstone

c shale

d limestone
Sediment layers
Explanation

One layer of sediment is known as a stratum.

stratum strata

Multiple layers of sediments are referred to as strata.

Sediment layers
Check

How many strata are shown in this image?

a 3

b 4

c 5

d 6
Sediment layers
Explanation

The position of each stratum helps to build a

relative time scale.
Upper strata were deposited after (i.e. later than) lower
strata.
recent deposition = recent past

early deposition= distant past

"Stratigraphic layers from an excavation at the An Son site, Vietnam" by
Carmen Sarjeant licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
Sediment layers
Explanation

Scientists study strata to gain information about the

past.

Objects found in each stratum

help build an understanding
about organisms living at that
time.

strata of exposed rock face

Sedimentary layers
Check

Which stratum was deposited first and how can you tell?

c Because it is the
lowest labelled
stratum.
d
Sediment layers
Explanation

Strata also provide clues to past environments.

Cross-beds forms due to shifts in

sediment deposition.

This could have been caused by

a change in wind direction, which
resulted in a change in the
direction of deposition.
The strata composition could
cross-bedding at Zion
National Park, Utah, USA indicate an ancient desert.
"Sandstone cross-bedding" by Zion National Park licensed under CC BY 2.0
Sediment layers
Explanation

Ripples in strata suggest a current was present

during sediment deposition.

rippled sandstone, Tennessee, USA

These details could indicate an ancient river, stream or sea
bed.
"Rippled sandstone" by James St. John licensed under
CC BY 2.0
Task B Sediment layers
Practice

1) Use the table below and the statements on the next slide to
label which sedimentary rock is found in each stratum on the
diagram.
Sedimentary
a Sediment deposited
rock formed
b clay shale
gravel conglomerate
c
microscopic plankton chalk
d sand sandstone
c shellfish remains limestone

"Archaeological stratigraphy example" by M.K.H. Eggert licensed under

CC BY-SA 4.0
Task B Sediment layers
Practice

● Gravel, composed of other rock fragments, was the first sediment

deposited.

● A layer of sand was deposited next.

● Shellfish lived in water. Their remains formed a layer of sediment

as they died.

● When the sea level dropped, the water became much shallower.
A layer of very small clay grains were deposited.

● When the sea level rose again, the shallow area became flooded.
Microscopic organisms lived in the warm waters. Their remains
formed another layer of sediment when they died.
Task B Sediment layers
Feedbac
k

1) Use the table below and the statements on the next slide to
label which sedimentary rock is found in each stratum on the
diagram.
a) chalk (microscopic
a
plankton)
b b) shale (clay)

c
c) limestone (shellfish
d
remains)
d) sandstone (sand)
e e) conglomerate (gravel)

"Archaeological stratigraphy example" by M.K.H. Eggert licensed under

CC BY-SA 4.0
Summar
y Formation of sedimentary rock

● Sediments are deposited when wind or waterways

slow down or when glaciers melt.
● Layers of sediment form over many years, leading to
compaction.
● Sedimentary rock forms when sediment is buried and
compressed, and minerals from groundwater cement the
grains together.
● Water in nature always contains minerals.
● Strata can be used to create a relative timeline and provide
clues to the environment when the sediments were
deposited.
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