1. Compaction: As layers of sediment accumulate, the weight of the overlying layers presses down on the lower layers. This pressure squeezes out water and air from the spaces between sediment grains, causing them to pack closer together.
2. Cementation: Dissolved minerals in groundwater precipitate out between the sediment grains. These minerals act as a glue, binding the grains together and forming a solid rock.
These two processes work together to transform loose sediment into a hard, cohesive sedimentary rock.
