Sedimentary Rocks!
Learning Objective: How are sedimentary rocks made?
Explain why a sedimentary
State some properties of Describe how sedimentary rock has a particular
sedimentary rocks. rocks are formed. property based on how it was
formed.
Keywords:
• Sediments
• Strata
• Porous
• Weathering
• Erosion
RECALL: The structure of the Earth
TASK 1: label the
structure of the Earth
TASK 2: Which layer am I?
(A)
1. I’m between 8 km and 40 km thick.
(B) 2. I’m mainly iron and nickel.
(C) 3. I’m made mostly of solid rock, but can flow.
(D) 4. I’m liquid.
5. I’m solid.
6. Lots of different metals can be found here.
ANSWERS
CRUST
MANTLE
OUTER CORE
INNER CORE
ANSWERS
1. I’m between 8 km and 40 km thick. crust
2. I’m mainly iron and nickel. Core
3. I’m made mostly of solid rock, but can flow. Mantle
4. I’m liquid. Outer core
5. I’m solid. Crust, inner core
crust
6. Lots of different metals can be found here.
What are sedimentary rocks?
TASK: Watch the following video and write down
3 facts about sedimentary rocks.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NygkD8uATng
Why do sedimentary rocks have layers?
• Sedimentary rocks are made up of
separate grains. You can see these
with a hand lens.
• Sedimentary rocks are porous. They
have gaps between their grains. Air or
Sandstone
water can get into these gaps.
Q – Describe • Most sedimentary rocks are soft. You
three properties can scratch them easily.
of sedimentary
rocks. Limestone
• The layers of sediment are deposited and form
layers of rock called strata. This process
happens over many years. Conglomerate
How are sedimentary rocks formed?
Sedimentary rocks are made up of
pieces of older rocks. The
process has several stages.
1) Weathering and Erosion
2) Transportation
3) Deposition
4) Compaction and cementation
24/05/2024
STAGE 1: Weathering
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exS9gFXgib0
• Weathering breaks up all types of rock into smaller pieces called sediments.
• Weathering makes sediments but does not move them away from the original
rock. There are different types of weathering.
BIOLOGICAL
PHYSICAL WEATHERING CHEMICAL WEATHERING
WEATHERING
PHYSICAL WEATHERING CHEMICAL WEATHERING
This happens when rain falls on
This occurs because of temperature changes. In
rocks. Acids in the rain react
freeze-thaw weathering, water gets into a crack
with substances in the rock.
in a rock. When the temperature is very cold, the
water freezes. This forms ice. Ice takes up more
space than liquid water. It pushes against the
sides of the crack. This happens many times.
Eventually, the rock breaks.
BIOLOGICAL
WEATHERING
This happens when plants and
animals break up rocks.
STAGE 2: Erosion
Next, sediments move away from their rock. Together, the breaking
of rock into sediments and their movement away, is called erosion.
STAGE 3: Transportation
Next, transport processes
move sediments far from
the original rock. Water,
ice, wind, and gravity can
all move sediments.
STAGE 4: Deposition
Eventually, sediments stop
moving. They settle in one
place. This is deposition.
Layers of different types
of sediment may settle on
top of each other.
STAGE 5: Compaction and cementation
Over many years deposited sediments join together to make new rocks. This
happens by:
• Compaction – the weight of sediments above squashes together the sediments
below.
• Cementation – another substance sticks the sediments together.
QUICK CHECK: Sedimentary Rocks
• Sediments are formed by w_________ and e________
• Sediments are t____________ and d__________ in layers, with
the older ones on the bottom
• The layers become c___________ and c__________ together to
form sedimentary rock.
Describe the difference between weathering and
erosion.
ANSWERS
EASY:
• Sediments are formed by w_________
WEATHERING and e________
EROSION
• Sediments are t____________
TRANSPORTATION and d__________
DEPOSITION in layers, with the older
ones on the bottom
• The layers become c___________
COMPACTION and c__________
CEMENTATION together to form
sedimentary rock.
Describe the difference between weathering and erosion.
Weathering breaks up all types of rock into smaller pieces called sediments.
Weathering makes sediments but does not move them away from the original
rock. Together, the breaking of rock into sediments and their movement away,
is called erosion.
TASK: Sedimentary rock formation storyboard!
INSTRUCTIONS: Complete the USE THE SUPPORT INFORMATION SHEET TO HELP YOU.
storyboard to illustrate the stages
involved in the formation of
sedimentary rock.
In each box draw and explain each
stage. The key words are listed at
the bottom of the worksheet.
EXTENSION: Using your
storyboard write a paragraph to
explain how sedimentary rock are
formed. Use these key words…
sediments, weathering, physical
weathering, freeze-thaw, chemical
weathering, biological weathering,
erosion, transport, deposition,
compaction, cementation.
EXAMPLE:
Sedimentary rock
formation
storyboard!
EXTENSION: Design a flow chart to illustrate the stages
involved in the formation of sedimentary rocks.
EXIT TICKET: Match the keyword to the
correct definition
Weathering ……involves the weight of sediment above
making sediments below stick together.
Erosion
…...moves sediments far away from the
original rock.
Transport
……breaks rock into smaller pieces.
Deposition
……breaks rock into smaller pieces and moves
them away from the original rock.
Compaction
……is the settling of sediments.
