SEDIMENTARY ROCK ACTIVITY
Part I: Looking at sediments settling from a river.
Q1: What pattern did you observe each time you flipped
the Sedimentator?
The sediments settle into layers of different-sized
pieces.
Q2: What causes the sediments to settle the way they
do?
The sediments settle according to weight. Heavier
sediments settle first.
Q3: Where along a river do sediments settle?
Sediments settle in the riverbed, in flooded areas and at
river deltas.
Q4: What would happen if you left the Sedimentator
upright overnight?
Most of the suspended plant remains, silt and clay
would settle overnight.
Part II: Looking at sediments that form rocks.
DIAGRAM
Q1: Which of the sediments are closely packed?
The plant and sand layers are closely packed.
Q2: Which sediment has spaces?
The gravel layer has spaces that are filled with sand,
water and air.
Q3: Which sediments would be compacted? Cemented?
Why?
The sand and plant layers would be compacted
because the pieces are close together. The gravel has
too many large spaces to be compacted. The gravel is
cemented by the salts and chemicals from the water.
Conclusion:
Q1: What are the three different groups of rocks?
The three groups of rocks are igneous, sedimentary,
and metamorphic rock.
Q2: Which group of rock is formed from sediments?
Sedimentary rocks are formed from sediments.
Q3: What are three different materials that form
sediments?
Explain how each changes into rock. Give the name of
the kind of rock formed from each sediment.
Gravel formed from rock pieces is cemented to form
conglomerate (Clastic). Plant remains are compacted
to form soft coal (Organic). Ocean water evaporates
leaving salts that form limestone (Chemical).