1. Weathering and Erosion:
* Weathering: Igneous rocks exposed at the surface are broken down by wind, rain, ice, and chemical reactions. This creates smaller pieces of rock called sediment.
* Erosion: The weathered sediment is then transported by wind, water, or ice to a new location.
2. Deposition:
* The transported sediment is deposited in a new location, usually in layers. This could be a lake bed, ocean floor, or riverbed.
3. Compaction and Cementation:
* Compaction: The weight of overlying sediment compresses the layers, squeezing out water and air.
* Cementation: Minerals dissolved in the water precipitate between the sediment grains, acting like glue to bind them together.
4. Lithification:
* The compacted and cemented sediment becomes solid rock, forming a sedimentary rock.
In summary:
Igneous rocks are broken down into sediment by weathering and erosion. This sediment is then transported, deposited, compacted, cemented, and finally lithified to form sedimentary rocks.
Important Note: This process is known as the rock cycle, which is a continuous process where rocks are transformed from one type to another.
