9.3. Sedimentary Rocks – Review Questions

  • What are the four types of sedimentary rock?

 

  • What are the steps in forming a sedimentary rock?

 

  • Describe the relationship between plate tectonics and sedimentary basins.

 

 

 

  • Describe sedimentary depositional environments you would find in Canada. What are key characteristics of depositional environments?

 

 

 

  • Describe the differences and similarities between the various types of clastic sedimentary rocks, in terms of formation environment, particle size, mineral composition, and other features.

 

 

 

  • Draw and label a cross-section diagram illustrating the various basin environments generated through tectonic processes. What are the sources of sediments that accumulate in each basin?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • Test yourself on depositional environments by filling in the following tables.
Terrestrial Depositional Environments (After Table 9.1, Physical Geology 3rd Adapted Edition)
Environment Key Transport Processes Depositional Settings Typical Sediments
glacial
alluvial
fluvial
aeolian
lacustrine
evaporite
Source: Karla Panchuk (2018) CC BY 4.0, modified after Steven Earle (2015) CC BY 4.0 view source.
Marine Depositional Environments (After Table 9.2, Physical Geology 3rd Adapted Edition)
Environment Key Transport Processes Depositional Settings Typical Sediments
deltaic
beach
tidal
reef
shallow marine
lagoonal
submarine fan
deep water
Source: Karla Panchuk (2018) CC BY 4.0, modified after Steven Earle (2015) CC BY 4.0 view source.

Extra review questions that may be covered in lecture (depending on your professor) that are not completely covered in the the textbook readings:

  • How are sedimentary rocks used by people:
    • in buildings

 

    • when building roads

 

    • for other purposes

 

 

  • Draw and label cross-sectional diagrams illustrating the following sedimentary structures. What environments do each of the structures form in? What do they look like in the rock record? bioturbation structures, cross-bedding, graded bedding, bedding, symmetrical ripples, bedding sequence from a river, asymmetrical ripples.

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Physical Geology Workbook Copyright © 2019 by Joyce M. McBeth is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.

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