Sedimentary Rock Formation

Models
5.7 A Explore the processes that led to
the formation of sedimentary rock and
fossil fuels.
 The Formation Process Explained
•

Formation of these rocks is one of the important parts of the rock cycle. For millions of years, the process of deposition and formation
of these rocks has been operational in changing the geological structure of earth and enriching it. Let us now see how sedimentary
rocks are formed.

Weathering
The formation process begins with weathering of existent rock exposed to the elements of nature. Wind and water are the chisels and
hammers that carve and sculpt the face of the Earth through the process of weathering. The igneous and metamorphic rocks are
subjected to constant weathering by wind and water. These two elements of nature wear out rocks over a period of millions of years
creating sediments and soil from weathered rocks. Other than this, sedimentation material is generated from the remnants of dying
organisms.

Transport of Sediments and Deposition

These sediments generated through weathering are transported by the wind, rivers, glaciers and seas (in suspended form) to other
places in the course of flow. They are finally deposited, layer over layer by these elements in some other place. Gravity, topographical
structure and fluid forces decide the resting place of these sediments. Many layers of mineral, organics and chemical deposits
accumulate together for years. Layers of different deposits called bedding features are created from them. Crystal formation may also
occur in these conditions.

Lithification (Compaction and Cementation)

Over a period of time, as more and more layers are deposited, the process of lithification begins. Two sub-processes that are a part of
lithification are compaction and cemenation. Compaction is the compression of the sediments under overlying weight of sediments.
Cementation is the process of filling in the gaps in sediments with minerals that gel them together. Crystal formation may occur here
too. With these two processes at work, what was a loose layer of deposits, hardens and solidifies to become rock. This is the conclusive
stage.
The Rock Cycle
 Weathering
Oh no! I'm breaking up...
That's right, it doesn't look good - I'm weathering away fast!
All rocks on the Earth's surface weather - though some weather faster
than others. Three different forces work together to break up rocks
into smaller pieces.
1. Physical weathering - cycles of hot and cold temperatures make rocks
expand and contract, and rain may freeze and expand in cracks in the
rock. These processes eventually lead to rocks cracking and breaking
up.
2. Chemical weathering - different chemicals can dissolve rock, helping to
break it up; even water can dissolve some rocks. Polluted 'acid rain'
causes chemical weathering.
After hundreds of years I have broken down into a pile of rubble, gravel
and sand. What's in store for me next?
http://www.oum.ox.ac.uk/thezone/rocks/c
ycle/stage1.htm
 Erosion
I'm being swept off my feet!
Yep - now that I have weathered into small pieces, it is easy for me to be
moved around.
As rocks weather, they are broken up into small, easily transportable pieces
or particles.
The movement of these particles is called erosion. There are four major
ways erosion can occur:
1. By gravity - broken pieces of rock fall to the ground, and roll or slide
down slopes.
2. By water - rivers and streams can transport all sizes of particles.
3. By wind - small grains of sand can be picked up and moved by the wind in
dust storms.
4. By ice - ice rivers, called glaciers, can transport very large pieces of stone.

I'm still being picked up and transported by a river. What happens next?
 Deposition
I've got a sinking feeling...
The river that has carried me along has now reached the
sea - I think I'm being dumped.
Particles of rock cannot be transported forever. Rivers reach
the sea, the wind stops blowing and glaciers melt - they
dump the load of particles they were carrying. This process
is called deposition.
During deposition particles of rock are laid down in layers.
Heavier particles are normally dumped first and then
covered by finer material. Layers of sediment build up over
time. These layers form a sedimentary sequence.
I have sunk to the bottom of the sea floor - buried by particles
falling from above. What's in store for me next?
 Sediments make
Sedimentary Rock
Oh no, what's happening now?
This might not be so bad after all - I'm feeling whole again.
As the layers of sediment build up, the pressure on the lower layers
increases. The layers are squeezed together and any water mixed in with
the sediments is forced out. This process is called compaction.
At the same time the particles of sediment begin to stick to each other - they
are cemented together by clay, or by minerals like silica or calcite.
After compaction and cementation the sedimentary sequence has changed
into a sedimentary rock. Sedimentary rocks like sandstone, shale and
limestone differ from other rocks in that they:
1. Are formed from layers of sediment built up over many years.
2. Are grains of sediment cemented together by various minerals.
3. May contain fossils - remains of plants and animals that were caught up in
the sediment.
4. Sediments formed with dead / decaying plants and animals may turn to
fossil fuels when HEAT and PRESSURE from the Earth are added
Well I'm feeling much better now that I can call myself a sedimentary rock.
What next? There's a choice this time - up or down, you decide!
 ROCKS AND LAYERS
Most of the rocks exposed at the surface of Earth
are sedimentary--formed from particles of older
rocks that have been broken apart by water or
wind.
These sedimentary particles may bury living and
dead animals and plants on the lake or sea
bottom.
The sediments at the bottom of the pile become
rock.
The animal skeletons and plant pieces can become
fossils.
 Fossils and Rock Record
Each layer of sedimentary rock is a record (story) of
the past
Some layers have fossils in them.

Scientist can look at the fossils and the rock they

were found in, and learn . . .
- How old is that fossil?
- What kinds of lived in this place long ago?
- Was there a lake, river, or ocean here?
 Fossil Fuels / Coal

Dead plants and animals in a

swamp form layers of sediment.
 Fossil Fuels

Tiny plants and animals died and fell to the sea floor
(1). Here they were buried under sediment and other rock
(2). The rock squeezed the plants and animals and the energy in their bodies could
not escape.
(3). The carbon eventually turned into oil under great pressure and heat.
(4). As the earth changed and moved and folded, pockets where oil and natural
gas can be found were formed
Explain how sedimentary rock is formed. Include these words:

river, deposit, deposition, pressure,

time, cemented together,
formation, fossils, processes
Sequence the events that show the most logical order for a sedimentary rock called
sandstone to form. Then write the steps in order in the flow map.
First to happen -----------------------------------------------------------Last to happen

Events

new layer of sandstone is

formed by the earth

sediments are deposited

in a new location

old rock is weathered

into sediments

sediments are pressed

and sealed together
 lego relay race that reinforces the
weathering process!
•

1. First, 2 teams build a lego landform

2. Next, a member from each team pulls a piece
off of the landform (weathering) and brings it to
the other side (erosion) to start building a new
landform (deposition)!
3. Kids continue taking turns transporting pieces
from one side of the room to the other until their
original landform is completely weathered away!
 Ronnie Rock’s Homemade Sedimentary Rock
Rockhttps://www.quirkles.com/e-newsletter/000092011/Ronnie-Rocks-Homemade-Sedimentary-Rock-Science-Activity/index.htm

• Materials:
– Clear glass jar with lid (quart jar works best)
– Small pebbles
– Sand
– Twigs
– Leaves
– Epsom salt
– Measuring cup
– Water
• Procedure:

– Fill the jar with equal amounts of pebbles, sand, broken twigs, and crushed leaves. Pour one-
fourth cup Epsom salt over the mixture. Add water until there is approximately two inches of
space at the top of the jar. Put the jar lid on tight and shake vigorously. Once the ingredients
are completely mixed (sediments should be floating in the water), place the jar on a flat
surface. Check the jar every hour. After the layers have settled, pour all the water out of the
jar and let it dry completely.

• Conclusion:

– You have made a sedimentary rock! You have layers as a result of different types of sediment
settling at different times. Epsom salt is made from the dissolved minerals of magnesium and
sulfur. This is the “glue” that holds the homemade rock together.
 Sedimentary Rock Model
Graham Cracker Crust!

• First, We weathered Graham crackers in tiny

crumbs!
• We then added other types of sediment
(Sugar!) and Fossil fuels (butter)! We pressed
our sediments in the pie pan and put them
into the toaster oven to bake.
• Our rocks came out hard and tasty!
 Fossil Bread
5.7A Explore the processes that led to the formation of fossil
fuels.
•

- Why do you think oil and natural gas are called “Fossil Fuels?”
- How long do you think it takes for fossil fuels to form?
SET UP MATERIALS
You will need three slices of different kinds of bread, gummy animals (Ex: Gummy worms or fish), paper towels, a stack of heavy books and
a science buddy.
STEPS
1. On a paper towel layer three pieces of bread on top of each other like a pancake stack. The bread layers will represent sediment layers
that form over millions of years.

2. Next, insert a few gummy animals in a middle layer. (The gummy animals represent animals that died, became trapped in
sediments and later fossilized.)
3. Wrap the entire bread fossil in a paper towel.
4. Then stack a layer of heavy books on top of the bread fossil. For best results, apply more pressure.
Let it sit overnight. Do not disturb or peek!
5. On the following day: Predict how you think the bread fossil will look. Uncover the bread fossil and observe very closely.
•
THINK ABOUT IT
How has the bread fossil changed? What eventually happened to the animal material when it was trapped in the porous bread layers? Try
to pull the layers apart. What do you see in the pores of the bread?
EXPERIMENT AGAIN?
Look for a fossil in your own backyard. Check out one of these books in your school library to help you learn more about fossils. “Aliki’s
Digging up Dinosaurs” and “The Magic School Bus: Journey to the Center of the Earth.”
-Adapted from Fossils to Fuel
 Fossil fuel process
• Sequence the following sentences so that they describe the formation of the
fossil fuel, coal. Write numbers 1-5 in the correct blank to show the correct order
of the formation.
•
• _____over time, pressure inside the Earth changes the plant material
• into a fossil fuel called coal
•
• _____ the coal is burned and the energy stored inside the prehistoric
• Plant material is released
•
• _____ the plants die and are buried under deep deposits of sediment
•
• _____ humans mine the coal by digging it out of the Earth
•
• _____ plants growing in prehistoric swamps and forests store energy
• received from the sun
 Starburst Model
1. Unwrap the three candies and stack them one on
top of the other.
2. Describe the model you built using your scientific
observations. (stay away from color and smell).
3. We will record your adjectives on the board.
4. This is a model of SEDIMENTARY
5. Explain how sedimentary rock is formed.
Include these words:
river, deposition, pressure, time, cemented
together