Sedimentary Rocks and Fossils

Explore the process that led to sedimentary rock formation

Vocabulary Words

Sediment
Compaction(pressure)
Cementation(glue)
weathering
erosion
deposition
process
fossil

Step 1

Rock is broken down into sediments by WEATHERING

Over the course of millions of years, rocks are weathered down by forces of wind, water and ice. Fine particles of rock begin to cover the landscape. These little bits of rock and sand are called sediments.

Step 2

Wind and water carry the sediment downstream by EROSION

Step 3

sediment ends up being trapped in water, and eventually falls/settles (DEPOSITION) to the bottom of lakes, streams, and oceans.

The layers of sediment on the bottom of lakes, and especially on the bottom of the ocean grows deeper and deeper, reaching depths of thousands of feet. Over many years, the rock bits settle into different layers.

Step 4

The weight of the layers has great pressure causing the loose sediment to compact

Step 5

This compacted sediment at the bottom of the lake or ocean is exposed to dissolved minerals in the water, these minerals work to cement(or glue) the material together, this is known as CEMENTATION

AND SEDIMENTARY ROCK IS FORMED

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Fossils

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Sedimentary Rock

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Sedimentary Rock

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Sedimentary Rock

Fossils

are the remains or impressions of left by organisms living a very long time ago

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Plant imprint

by looking at the leaves you can tell that the climate was wet and that the area received average amounts of rain

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Animal Fossil

By looking at the shape of the teeth you can tell the animal ate meat

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Fish Fossil

By seeing that this FOSSIL you can tell that this area was once covered by water

Fossil Layer Questions

1.What observations can you make from the above fossil picture?

2. What occurs to the organic material that is trapped in the sedimentary rock? Is a fossil the actual remains of the plant or animal? What does it become? How do you think this happens?