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Sedimentary Rock Worksheet

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Sedimentary Rock Worksheet

Use the following table to describe and distinguish between the effects of weathering and erosion. Each response must be at least 200 words.

|Effects of Weathering |Effects of Erosion |What are the Differences? |
|Weathering is a process in which the |Erosion is a natural process and can be |The main difference between these two |
|surface of rock starts to break down. Two |healthy for the ecosystem. When material is|processes seems to be that while weathering|
|types of weathering exist: chemical and |removed from one location, it is inevitably|causes effects at the site of the rock, |
|mechanical. |placed somewhere else; this is called |erosion causes effects at a site other than|
|Chemical weathering occurs when the rock |deposition. Both erosion and deposition are|that which was weathered. Weathering |
|begins to break down and the chemical |natural processes. But when human |involves two processes that often work in |
|composition changes as a result. These |activities substantially alter, increase or|concert to decompose rocks. Both processes |
|chemical reactions break down the bonds |impede the natural movement of sediment, |occur in place. No movement is involved in |
|holding the rocks together, causing them to|serious damage can occur. As stated, human |weathering. Chemical weathering involves a |
|fall apart, forming smaller and smaller |involvement such as overgrazing, unmanaged |chemical change in at least some of the |
|pieces. Chemical weathering tends to be |construction or building of roads can |minerals within a rock. Mechanical |
|more common in locations where there is a |severely impact erosion. In addition to the|weathering involves physically breaking |
|lot of water, due to water being such an |processes listed above, vegetation plays an|rocks into fragments without changing the |
|important part of the chemical reactions |important part in the erosion process. |chemical make-up of the minerals within it.|
|that can take place. In addition to water |Plants can bind sediments in their dense |It’s important to keep in mind that |
|being a factor, warmer temperatures also |roots preventing erosion. Erosion is |weathering is a surface or near-surface |
|add to the chemical weathering process. The|defined as the movement of weathered |process. As soon as a rock particle is |
|most common types of chemical weathering |material from the site of weathering. This |loosened by one of the two weathering |
|are oxidation, hydrolysis and carbonation. |movement can occur by gravity, wind, rain, |processes, and is then moved, we call it |
|Other factors that affect the rate of |vegetation, or even mammal involvement, |erosion. Simply movement down a slope due |
|chemical weathering include the amount of |albeit purposefully or coincidentally. |to gravity or a number of more complex, |
|vegetation around the rock because this |Sedimentary rocks are thereby formed from |involved methods which cause the sediment |
|would expose the rock to more chemical |this process of erosion. Rock near the |to become mobile can cause this movement. |
|agents, and the actual composition of the |surface weathers, erodes, becomes |So with this in mind, we call it erosion if|
|rock itself would affect how quickly its |transported elsewhere, and is then |some flowing agent such as air, water or |
|chemical composition changes. Mechanical |deposited, and the cycle recommences. |ice moves the rock particle, and call it |
|weathering on the other hand is the |Without this cycle, sedimentary rock would |weathering if there is a change in the rock|
|decomposition of the rock into smaller and |be non-existent. However, erosion allows |(either physical or chemical) but there is |
|smaller pieces, while the chemical make up |for rocks to be eroded into tiny particles |no movement. |
|of the rock does not change. The rocks are |which are then transported and deposited | |
|essentially torn apart by physical force, |along with other pieces of rock known as | |
|rather than by chemical breakdown. Some of |sediments. These sediments are then | |
|the main culprits of this breakdown include|cemented together, compacted and hardened | |
|constant freezing and thawing of water, |over time by the weight and pressure of | |
|roots growing around/into rocks, or |thousands of feet of additional sediments | |
|temperature changes. |above them. Eventually, the sediments then | |
| |form solid sedimentary rock once again. | |

In the following space, explain the role of plate tectonics in the origin of sedimentary rock. Your explanation must be between 250 and 450 words.

Sedimentary rocks are probably more familiar than the other major rock types. Few people, however, are aware of the true nature and extent of sedimentary rock bodies. The constituents of sedimentary rocks are derived from the mechanical breakdown and chemical decay of preexisting rocks. This sediment is then compacted and cemented to form solid rock bodies, with the original sediment being comprised of many various substances. Sedimentary rocks form only on the surface of the Earth and form in two main ways: either from pieces of other rocks or fragments which become cemented together, or by chemical mechanisms including precipitation and evaporation. There are many environments associated with sedimentary rock formation, including oceans, lakes, deserts, rivers, beaches, and glaciers. And although sedimentary rocks may form at all types of plate boundaries, the thickest sedimentary rock accumulations occur at convergent plate boundaries. Plate tectonics control sedimentary systems by creating uplifted source areas, shaping depositional basins, and moving continents into different climate zones. Although the nature of sedimentary rocks depends on many factors such as depth and rate of water, ocean currents, biology, and sediment source area, plate tectonics play a major role of sediment deposition and the structures of rock that are produced. Tectonics also controls not only the extent of shallow seas, but also the distribution of continental margins and the development of sedimentary basins. Since aspects of geography are linked to plate tectonics, and sediments accumulate in tectonic basins, these basin rocks provide information about the size of the basin, directions of depositional systems, and relation to highlands being eroded. Therefore, sedimentary rocks can be used in interpreting the history of plate tectonics.

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