What is the difference between compaction, cementation, and crystallization?
Compaction happens when weight from the materials above compact sediments together to form a solid rock. Cementation happens when a precipitation from a mineral cements surrounding sediments together making them a solid rock. Crystallization happens when a solid rock is created from a solution. Where do the sediments that make up sedimentary rocks come from? Sediments are the result of weathering which breaks up pre-existing rocks. There are two types of weathering; Mechanical and Chemical. After the rocks are weathered and broken down into sediments they are transported via water, wind, glaciers, or gravity to different depositional environments. Finally after being deposited the sediments accumulate to form a sedimentary rock through lithification. Sediments come in all different shapes, sizes, and sortings. The way sediments are sized, shaped, and sorted can tell us about their depositional environment and how they journeyed to get there. What’s the difference between Clastic, Chemi
