9.1. Sedimentary Rocks – Learning Outcomes

After reading this chapter of the textbook, learning the vocabulary, and working through the review questions, students should be able to:

• Provide examples of sedimentary rocks and explain how they form.
• Name the common types of sediments.
• Describe the source materials, how each type of sediment forms, and common minerals in each type of sediment.
• Describe how water, wind, and ice can transport sediments.
• Draw and label a cross-section showing the types of sedimentary basins and describe how each one forms.
• Describe the various terrestrial and marine sediment depositional environments. Describe the processes that transport sediments in each environment. Describe what types of sediments are generally found in each setting.
• Draw and describe how sedimentary structures form.
• Describe how sediments move from their source zone to the place where they are deposited.
• Describe the various processes that transport sediment in streams.
• Describe how the energy of stream water influences the size of particles a stream can carry.

Learning outcomes not covered in the textbook chapter in detail, but we may discuss them in class (depending on your professor):

• Describe how sedimentary rocks are classified, and describe the common sedimentary rock types.
• Describe the processes of burial, lithification, and diagenesis.
• Describe how the size, mineralogy, and angularity of particles change as they are transported downstream in a river.