Sedimentary Environments: Chapter 7
1. Be able to describe the kinds of sediments and resulting sedimentary rocks
deposited in the following environments:
a. Mountains
h. Beach
b. Streams (steep, gradual)
i. Tropical reef
c. Deserts
j. Lagoon
d. Lakes
k. Shallow ocean
e. Deltas
l. Submarine canyon
f. Glacier
m. Deep ocean
g. Swamp or marsh
2. Summarize the main processes of physical weathering : Abrasion, frost wedging,
biologic activity, pressure or thermal expansion
3. Summarize the main processes of chemical weathering: dissolution, oxidation,
hydrolysis, acids
4. Summarize how rocks can be affected during transport.
5. Sketch and describe how sediments are classified according to size, sorting, and
shape of clasts.
6. Distinguish among the following sizes: boulder, cobble, pebble, granule (part of
gravel), sand, silt and clay
7. Describe what happens to clastic sediment as it becomes buried and converted
into rock.
8. Summarize the natural cements that are common in sedimentary rocks.
9. Summarize or diagram the classification of the following clastic sedimentary
rocks: Sandstone, shale, conglomerate, breccia, arkose
10. Describe how some sedimentary rocks form through evaporation, precipitation, or
other chemical reactions.
11. Know and be able to explain the formation of the following non-clastic rocks:
peat, coal, chert, limestone, chalk, rock salt, ironstone
12. Describe how sedimentary rock layers form, including horizontal beds, graded
beds and cross beds.
13. Know what a sedimentary facies is, and how the facies of a stratigraphic column
can be used to determine whether transgressions and regressions have occurred.
14. Define a geologic “formation” and explain how it differs from a facies.
15. Summarize the important uses of sedimentary rocks and the resources that are
found within sedimentary rocks.
16. Explain the formation of all fossil fuels
17. Explain how oil is mined, and how it is separated into different petrochemical
products.
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Labs and Homework Assignments:
Calcarious Precipitate
Sediments Lab
Exercise 6: Sedimentary Rocks
Sedimentary Environments Google Earth Lab
Sedimentary History and podcast
Assignments
Assignment #1: Read 7-1 to 7-3
Assignment #2: Read 7-4 to 7-9
Assignment #3: Clastic Sedimentary Rocks Podcast
Assignment #4: Finish chapter - ARIS chapter 7
Assignment #5: Sedimentary Facies Podcast
Assignment #6: Sedimentary History Worksheet (homework quiz likely)
Assignment #7: Review Worksheet
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