Home > Processes > Cementation and Compaction

Imagine this: A rock has weathered and eroded. The sediment is deposited in a river delta. Everyday, more and more sediment is deposited on top of the first batch of sediment. As the layers build up, they begin to press down on that first layer of sediment, pushing most of the air and water out of it, pushing the particles closer together. This is the process of compaction. This process occurs underground and is part of the way that sedimentary rocks are formed.

Cementation is the next step in the recipe for making sedimentary rocks. In this step, loose sediments are glued together by natural glues like calcite and silica. Some glues are stronger than others. Click here to find out for yourself.

Did you know that you can make a sedimentary rock? Click here to try it.

Other Processes:

• Metamorphism
• Weathering and erosion (transport and deposition)
  
• Melting
• Cooling and Solidification
  
  

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This page was last updated on December 4, 2000
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