Final answer:
Yes, lithostatic pressure does cause a rock to be compressed equally in all directions due to the nature of how this pressure is applied from the weight of overlying material.
Step-by-step explanation:
Will lithostatic pressure cause a rock to be compressed equally in all directions? In geological contexts, lithostatic pressure is the pressure exerted on a rock by the weight of overlying rocks or sediments. Given its nature, lithostatic pressure indeed causes compression equally in all directions.
As the weight of the overbearing material grows, the pressure imposed increases, compressing the subsurface material. This uniform pressure can lead to the reduction of porosity as particles are pushed closer together, akin to compaction in sediment layers. This process is vital in the lithification process, helping to transform sediments into sedimentary rock through a combination of compaction and cementation.
Bulk compression examples of solids and liquids include the formation of industrial-grade diamonds by placing carbon under high pressure, which forces the atoms into a denser, diamond crystal structure. Similarly, in deep oceanic environments, the pressure from the overlying water column can compress water itself. These examples illustrate how matter can be altered under the influence of uniform, intensive pressure.