Final answer:
Sedimentary rock formation is a multi-step process that involves weathering, erosion, transportation, deposition, and diagenesis, ultimately leading to compaction and cementation into solid rock.
Explanation:
The process of sedimentary rock formation begins with weathering, where pre-existing rocks break down into smaller particles through mechanical or chemical means.
Following weathering, erosion carries these particles away, typically by wind or water.
Transportation refers to the movement of these particles to new locations, and deposition is when the particles settle in layers after transport.
The accumulated sediments are then buried under additional layers. Diagenesis is the final stage where these sediments undergo compaction and cementation, turning them into solid rock.
Each process is unique but collectively they form the sedimentary rock cycle.
Final answer:
Sedimentary rocks form through the processes of weathering, erosion, transportation, deposition, burial, and lithification, which compact and cement sediments into rock.
Explanation:
Sedimentary rock formation begins with weathering, the process of breaking down rocks into smaller pieces either by physical means, like freeze-thaw cycles, or by chemical alteration. This is followed by erosion, where these loosened materials are carried away from their source by forces such as wind, water, or ice. Transportation then moves these sediments, often sorting them by size, until they reach a site where they can no longer be carried, leading to deposition. Over time, more layers of sediment accumulate on top, burying the older layers, which leads to burial and increasing pressure that compacts the sediments. Finally, lithification occurs, transforming the compacted sediments into solid rock through the processes of compaction and cementation.