Question

Place the geologic processes below in the order necessary to form sedimentary rock.

1. rock is weathered to produce sediments
2. sediments are buried
3. compaction removes air from pore spaces
4. chemically rich groundwater flows through pore spaces
5. minerals precipitate in pore spaces
6. sediments are glued together by cement to form sedimentary rock

Answer 1

The order necessary to form sedimentary rock is as follows: rock is weathered to produce sediments, sediments are buried, compaction removes air from pore spaces, chemically rich groundwater flows through pore spaces, minerals precipitate in pore spaces, and sediments are glued together by cement to form sedimentary rock.

Step-by-step explanation:

The order necessary to form sedimentary rock is as follows:

1. Rock is weathered to produce sediments. This occurs when rocks are broken down into smaller pieces by processes such as wind, water, or ice.
2. Sediments are buried. The sediments accumulate and are deposited in layers over time.
3. Compaction removes air from pore spaces. As more sediments are deposited on top, the weight of the overlying sediments squeezes out the air from the pore spaces between the grains.
4. Chemically rich groundwater flows through pore spaces. Groundwater, which is rich in minerals, fills the pore spaces between the sediment grains.
5. Minerals precipitate in pore spaces. As the chemically rich groundwater flows through the pore spaces, minerals precipitate out and fill in the spaces between the grains.
6. Sediments are glued together by cement to form sedimentary rock. The minerals that precipitate from the groundwater act as a glue, binding the sediment grains together to form solid rock.