Here's a breakdown of the steps involved in lithification:
1. Weathering and Erosion: Rocks are broken down into smaller pieces (sediment) by weathering (physical or chemical breakdown) and erosion (transporting the sediment).
2. Transportation and Deposition: The sediment is transported by wind, water, or ice and eventually deposited in a new location.
3. Compaction: As layers of sediment accumulate, the weight of the overlying layers compresses the lower layers, squeezing out water and air.
4. Cementation: Dissolved minerals in the water that permeates the sediment precipitate out and crystallize between the sediment grains, binding them together.
The type of rock formed depends on the type of sediment and the conditions of lithification. For example, sandstone is formed from cemented sand grains, while shale is formed from cemented clay particles.
