Here's a breakdown:
* Sediments: These are loose materials like sand, pebbles, mud, shells, or even the remains of plants and animals. They are formed by weathering and erosion of existing rocks.
* Compression: Over time, layers of sediment accumulate, building up weight and pressure on the lower layers. This pressure compresses the sediments together, squeezing out water and air.
* Cementation: As the sediments are compressed, minerals dissolved in the water that seeped through the layers crystallize and act as a glue, binding the sediment particles together.
So, it's the combination of compression and cementation that turns loose sediments into solid rock.
