Assignment 12: An Introduction to Sedimentary Rocks

Introduction

Sedimentary rocks are types of rock that are formed by the accumulation or deposition of small particles and subsequent cementation of mineral or organic particles on the floor of oceans or other bodies of water at the Earth's surface. Sedimentation is the collective name for processes that cause these particles to settle in place. The particles that form a sedimentary rock are called sediment and may be composed of geological detritus (minerals) or biological detritus (organic matter). Before being deposited, the geological detritus was formed by weathering and erosion from the source area and then transported to the place of deposition by water, wind, ice, mass movement or glaciers, which are called agents of denudation. Biological detritus was formed by bodies and parts (mainly shells) of dead aquatic organisms, as well as their fecal mass, suspended in water and slowly piling up on the floor of water bodies (marine snow). Sedimentation may also occur as dissolved minerals precipitate from water solution.

Directions: 

1) This assignment is designed to assist you in learning the concepts of this module as well as assess your understanding and application of the content. Since this assignment is a combined Formative and  Summative Assessment of the module, it is considered a high-stakes assignment and will have a significant impact on your grade. To ensure that you understand and can apply the content, you will be provided two (2) opportunities to complete this assignment with the highest grade being kept as your final grade. Both attempts must be completed and submitted before the due date or the late policy will be applied to both submissions. This is a setting in Canvas I cannot control. No modifications will be made as you have been made aware of this setting. 

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