CHAPTER 5.3: SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
NAME __________________________________________________PERIOD _______ DATE ____________
DIRECTIONS:
1. Obtain samples of the sedimentary rocks in the table below and place them on your desk.
2. Use a hand lens to analyze each rock.
a. Use the key provided and your book pages 146 to describe the grain size, grain shape, and grain pattern of
each rock. Complete the chart in the space provided.
ROCK SAMPLE
Quartz Conglomerate
Red Sandstone
Argillaceous Shale
Shell Limestone (Coquina)
Coal
Dolomitic Limestone
3.
GRAIN SIZE
Define the following vocabulary words:
i. Sediment
ii. Erosion
iii. Deposition
iv. Compaction
v. Cementation
vi. Clastic Rock
vii. Organic Rock
viii. Chemical Rock
GRAIN SHAPE
GRAIN PATTERN
4.
Based on your definitions above, and from the information on pages 152-155, determine which of the following
rocks are CLASTIC SEDIMENTARY , ORGANIC SEDIMENTARY or CHEMICAL SEDIMENTARY in
nature. Then, provide a short description as to how each sedimentary rock in the table was formed. Use pages 152155 to help you.
ROCK SAMPLE
CLASTIC, ORGANIC or
CHEMICAL
DESCRIPTION AS TO HOW
THEY WERE FORMED
Quartz Conglomerate
Red Sandstone
Argillaceous Shale
Shell Limestone (Coquina)
Coal
Dolomitic Limestone
5.
Complete the Assessment Questions below:
a.
What is sediment?
b.
Place these steps in the formation of sedimentary rock in the proper sequence: compaction, erosion,
cementation, deposition.
c.
In layers of sedimentary rock, where would you expect to find the oldest sediment? Explain your answer.
d.
What are the three main types of sedimentary rock?
e.
Which type of sedimentary rock forms from the remains of living things? Explain how this sedimentary
rock form.
f.
What process causes deposits of rock salt to form? What type of sedimentary rock is rock salt?
g.
What are come uses of sedimentary rocks?
h.
The particles of sediment that make up shale are not usually well cemented. Would shale be a good choice
of building material in a wet climate?