Cementation is the process where sediments and minerals become glued together, helping to form sedimentary rocks. This process occurs alongside compaction, which reduces the porosity of sediment layers. It results in the creation of clastic, chemical, and organic sedimentary rocks.
When sediments and minerals become glued together, it is referred to as cementation. This process, along with compaction, plays a crucial role in the formation of sedimentary rocks. Sedimentary rocks can be classified into clastic, chemical, and organic based on how they form.
Clastic sedimentary rocks form when fragments of pre-existing rocks are compacted and cemented together. On the other hand, chemical sedimentary rocks are the result of minerals precipitating from a solution and becoming cemented, while organic sedimentary rocks form from the accumulation of organic debris.
During the cementation process, the sediments that have been compacted have the water squeezed out from their pore spaces. This water, upon leaving, precipitates minerals such as calcite, quartz, and pyrite within those spaces, acting as a glue that holds the grains together.
Over time, with the addition of more sediment and the continuous process of compaction and cementation, clastic rock is formed, making up various sedimentary rock formations.