What is the process of lithification?
Quick Answer
Lithification is the process by which sediment turns into hardened rock. There are three ways in which lithification can occur. These processes are called compaction, recrystallization and cementation.
Continue ReadingFull Answer
Compaction is a process of lithification that works for finer particles only. Compaction occurs when particles such as clay minerals are compressed. Coarser particles are not able to be hardened with this process because compression does not make them stick together.
Minerals such as limestone and aragonite can harden through the process of recrystallization. These minerals are easily dissolved in water, and the crystals that form from those dissolved minerals are much harder than the original substances.
Cementation is the process where coarser grain sediments become hardened rock. Water fills into the empty space between the particles, and the ions in the water create new crystalline formations among the sediments. When the water evaporates, the sediment eventually seals and hardens, leaving behind a solid piece of rock.
The creation of new minerals during the cementation process is an example of authigenesis. Authigenesis is a term that describes a process in which new minerals are created inside a rock, or that the deposited minerals react and combine with the minerals already present in the rock or sediment.
Learn more about GeologyRelated Questions
-
Q:
How do petrified fossils form?
A: According to the Oxford University Museum of Natural History, petrified fossils form when mineral deposits replace the bones of dead creatures inside harde... Full Answer >Filed Under: -
Q:
What is a layer of organic sediment?
A: Organic matter in soil is compacted by the weight of new soil, created by decaying matter, into an organic sediment layer called peat. Given enough time, t... Full Answer >Filed Under: -
Q:
What are small pieces of rock called?
A: Small pieces of rock are called sediment, although sediment is found in a wide range of sizes. Sediment is created from the weathering and erosion of large... Full Answer >Filed Under: -
Q:
What is diatomaceous earth?
A: Diatomaceous earth is a sediment composed of the fossilized skeletons of ancient aquatic microorganisms known as diatoms. These microscopic skeletons are c... Full Answer >Filed Under:
