1. Weathering and Erosion:
* Weathering: The original rock (igneous, metamorphic, or even existing sedimentary rock) is broken down into smaller pieces. This can be caused by:
* Physical weathering: Processes like freezing/thawing, wind abrasion, or plant roots breaking the rock apart.
* Chemical weathering: Reactions with water, acids, or oxygen that alter the rock's composition.
* Erosion: These weathered pieces are transported away from their original location by wind, water, or ice.
2. Transportation: The weathered fragments are moved and carried by agents like rivers, glaciers, or wind. During transport, they are further rounded and sorted by size and density.
3. Deposition: Eventually, the transported fragments settle and accumulate in a new location. This can be in a lake, ocean, desert, or other depositional environment.
4. Burial and Compaction: As more sediment accumulates, the layers underneath are buried deeper. The weight of the overlying layers compresses the sediment, squeezing out water and air.
5. Cementation: Dissolved minerals in the water between sediment grains precipitate and crystallize. These mineral crystals act like glue, binding the sediment particles together.
6. Lithification: This is the final stage where the cemented and compacted sediments become solid rock. This process marks the transformation of loose sediment into a solid sedimentary rock.
Key point: The rock cycle is continuous, so the newly formed sedimentary rock can then be uplifted, eroded, and potentially become part of a new sedimentary rock formation in the future.
