2.5.4

Sedimentary Rocks

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Sedimentary Rocks

Sedimentary rocks are formed by deposition of small rocks and sediment.

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Sedimentary rock

  • Formed after the deposition of small rocks and sediment.
  • Sedimentary rock is formed over millions of years.
  • It is built up layers.
  • Fossils can be found in sedimentary rock.
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Fossilisation

  • If a marine organism dies, falls to the ocean floor and doesn’t rot away, it may form a fossil.
  • Over time, sediment is layered on top of it.
  • The pressure around the organism turns the sediment to rock.
  • The organism is then replaced by minerals.
  • We can find these fossils after the surrounding rock is weathered and eroded and dug out of the ground.
  • In 1957, fossils dating back to over 570 million years ago were found in Leicestershire.
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Examples and their uses

  • Limestone – used for making cement, buildings and making statues.
  • Sandstone – used for building.
  • Shale – can be used for making bricks.

Jump to other topics

1Biology

1.1Cells, Tissues & Organs

1.2Reproduction & Variation

1.3Ecological Relationships & Classification

1.4Digestion & Nutrition

1.5Plants & Photosynthesis

1.6Biological Systems & Processes

2Chemistry

2.1Particles

2.2Chemical Reactions

2.3Atoms, Elements, Compounds

2.4The Periodic Table

2.5Materials & the Earth

2.6Reactivity

2.7Energetics

2.8Properties of Materials

3Physics

3.1Energy

3.2Forces & Motion

3.3Waves

3.4Electricity & Magnetism

3.5Matter

3.6Space Physics

4Thinking Scientifically

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