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sed. and meta. rocks
sedimentary and metamorphic rocks
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| bedding | horizontal layering in sedimentary rock that can range from a millimeter thick to several meters thick. |
| cementation | process of sedimentary rock formation that occurs when dissolved minerals precipitate out of groundwater and either a new mineral grow between the sediment grains or the same minerals grows between and over the grains. |
| clastic | describes rock and minerals fragments produced by weathering and erosion and classified according to particle size and shape. |
| cross-bedding | depositional feature of sedimentary rock that forms as inclined layers of sediment are carried forward across a horizontal surface. |
| deposition | occurs when sediments are laid down on the ground or sink to the bottom of a body of water |
| graded bedding | depositional feature of sedimentary rock in which particles are progressively heavier and coarser toward the bottom layers of bedding. |
| lithiification | transformations of sediments into rock through compaction and cementation. |
| sediment | solid particles deposited on Earth's surface that can form sedimentary rocks by processes such as weather, erosion, deposition and lithification. |
| clastic sedimentary rock | most common type of sedimentary rock, such as breccia, sandstone, and shale, formed by lithification of clastic sediments. |
| evaporite | chemical sedimentary rock that forms mainly in restricted ocean basins in areas with high evaporation rates. |
| porosity | percentage of open spaces between grains in a rock. |
| contact metamorphism | local effect that occurs when molten rock meets solid rock |
| foliated | metamorphic rock, such as schist or gneiss, whose minerals are squeezed under high pressure and arranged in wavy layers and bands |
| hydrothermal metamorphism | occurs when very hot water reacts with rock, altering its mineralogy and chemistry. |
| nonfoliated | metamorphic rock that lacks mineral grains with long axes in one direction. |
| porphyroblast | large crystals that form in solid rock by the reorganization of atoms during metamorphism |
| 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 rocks, temperature , and depth below the surface. |
| rock cycle | continuous, dynamic set of processes by which rocks are changed into other types of rock |