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ES Ch 6
Vocab.
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| sediment | small pieces of rock that are moved and deposited by water, wind, glaciers, and gravity. |
| lithification | the physical and chemical processes that transform sediments into sedimentary rock. |
| cementation | acts like the glue that puts the sediment grains together. |
| bedding | is a horizontal layering |
| graded bedding | has particle sizes become progressively heavier and coarser toward the bottom layers |
| cross-bedding | is formed as inclined area |
| clastic sedimentary rock | most common type of sedimentary rock, formed from the abundant deposits of loose sediments that accumulate on Earth's surface; classified according to the size of their particles |
| clastic | rock and mineral fragments produced by weathering and erosion and classified according to particle size and shape |
| porosity | percentage of open spaces between grains in a material |
| evaporite | the layers of chemical sedimentary minerals in a body of water reach saturation due to the evaporation of water; crystal grains precipitate out of solution and settle to the bottom |
| foliated | metamorphic rock, such as schist or gneiss, whose minerals are squeezed under high pressure and arranged in wavy layers and bands |
| nonfoliated | metamorphic rocks like quartzite and marble, composed mainly of minerals that form with blocky crystal shapes |
| regional metamorphism | process that affects large areas of Earth's crust, producing belts classified as low, medium, or high grade, depending on pressure on the rock, temperature, and depth below the surface |
| contact metamorphism | local effect that occurs when molten rock meets solid rock |
| hydrothermal metamorphism | occurs when very hot water reacts with rock, altering its mineralogy and chemistry |
| rock cycle | continuous, dynamic set of processes by which rocks are changed into other types of rock |