Download Reading Guide for Chapter 6

Geology 101
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Reading Guide for Interlude B and Chapter 6
The purpose of the reading guides is to help you sort out the most important topics in the
text. I recommend you answer the following questions while reading the text. Remember,
you may use your reading guides for reference while taking the quizzes.
Interlude B and Chapter 6—A Surface Veneer: Sediments, Soils, and Sedimentary Rocks
Introduction 1. Let’s begin with some basic definitions.
a. Sediment:
b. Sedimentary rock:
Weathering: the formation of sediment
2. Define weathering:
3. What are the differences between physical weathering and chemical weathering?
4. Explain how joints form and how they are important in terms of weathering.
Soil
5. Define the following…
a. Soil:
b. zone of leaching:
c. zone of accumulation:
6. Describe the different soil horizons in a typical soil profile:
7. What are the six major soil-forming factors?
Classes of sedimentary rocks
8. List and define the four major types of sedimentary rocks:
9. List all of the steps in the formation of a clastic sedimentary rock:
10. What does it mean if someone describes sediment as being well sorted?
11. The textbook lists six main types of clastic sedimentary rocks. List them below (you
can count shale and mudstone as one type).
12. Describe how limestone forms and why its classified as a biochemical sedimentary
rock.
13. How are evaporites formed? What type of sedimentary rock are they classified as?
Sedimentary structures
14. What is a sedimentary structure?
15. Describe a sedimentary bed:
16. What are ripple marks and cross beds a consequence of?
Sedimentary environments
17. Geologists refer to conditions in which sediment was deposited as the sedimentary
environment.
a. The textbook lists six main terrestrial (land-based) sedimentary environments.
List these six environments and describe the type of sedimentary rock is most likely
produced in these environments. One example is provided.
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Example. Mountain stream environment. You can find large boulders and gravel in
a mountain stream. When these settle out they will lithify and form conglomerate.
b. The textbook lists five main marine (ocean-based) sedimentary environments.
List these five environments and describe the type of sedimentary rock is most likely
produced in these environments.
Sedimentary basins
18. What type of geologic feature or structure would you find the thickest deposits of
sedimentary rocks?
19. Define subsidence:
19. What types of tectonic conditions are required to create basins?
Diagenesis
20. Define diagenesis:
21. What do most geologists consider to be the boundary between diagenesis and
metamorphism?