When dissolved minerals are deposited in tiny spaces among sediments, a process called cementation takes place. This is a crucial step in the formation of sedimentary rocks. Here's what happens:

1. Dissolution: Minerals in the surrounding environment, like groundwater, dissolve into their ionic components.

2. Transportation: These dissolved minerals are transported by water or other fluids through the spaces between sediment grains.

3. Precipitation: As the water carrying these dissolved minerals evaporates or encounters changes in temperature or pressure, the minerals become supersaturated and precipitate out of solution.

4. Crystallization: The precipitated minerals crystallize in the spaces between sediment grains, effectively binding the grains together.

This cementation process:

* Hardens and strengthens the sediment: It transforms loose sediments into a solid rock.

* Changes the texture and properties of the rock: The type of minerals deposited influences the rock's color, hardness, and other characteristics.

* Preserves fossils: The cemented rock can protect fossils from weathering and erosion.

Examples of cemented sedimentary rocks:

* Sandstone: Cemented by quartz, calcite, or iron oxides.

* Limestone: Cemented by calcite.

* Conglomerate: Cemented by various minerals, depending on the composition of the gravel.

In summary, cementation is a fundamental process in the formation of sedimentary rocks, where dissolved minerals bind sediment particles together, forming a solid and often durable rock.