1. Weathering and Erosion:
* Weathering: The igneous rock is exposed to the elements (rain, wind, ice, temperature changes). This breaks it down into smaller pieces (sediments).
* Erosion: The weathered sediments are then picked up and transported by wind, water, or ice.
2. Transportation and Deposition:
* The sediments are carried away from their original location and deposited in a new place, such as a riverbed, lake bed, or ocean floor.
3. Compaction and Cementation:
* Compaction: As more and more sediments accumulate, the weight of the overlying layers presses down on the lower layers, squeezing out water and air. This process compacts the sediments together.
* Cementation: Minerals dissolved in the water between the sediment particles precipitate out, acting like glue to bind the sediments together. This process creates a solid rock.
4. Lithification:
* This is the overall process of turning sediments into rock. It involves compaction, cementation, and sometimes, recrystallization.
Example:
Imagine a granite rock (igneous) exposed on a mountainside. Over time, it gets broken down into sand and pebbles by weathering and erosion. These sediments are then carried by a river and deposited at the river's mouth. As more sediments are deposited, the weight compacts the layers, and dissolved minerals cement them together, eventually forming a sandstone (sedimentary rock).
Key Point: This is a long and slow process, taking millions of years to complete.
