Sedimentary Rocks

A Virtual Practical
I.G.Kenyon
 The following slides are all
sedimentary rocks
From the information displayed
Decide if the rock is:
clastic, organic or chemical
Identify each rock
as accurately as possible
Suggest a sedimentary environment
in which it may have formed
Identify this Sedimentary Rock 1
1cm
Poorly Sorted

40% Muddy Matrix

Rock Fragments

Mineral Grains
Identify this Sedimentary Rock 2

Reacts with dilute

hydrochloric acid

Comprises over 70%

broken bivalve shells

Remainder of rock is
silt and iron oxides

2cm
 Identify this Sedimentary Rock 3
2cm

Comprises entirely clay minerals and carbonaceous material

Well preserved graptolites are found in the rock
Splits into thin layers easily (Fissile)
 Identify this Sedimentary Rock 4

1cm

Reacts with dilute hydrochloric acid

Comprises entirely of spherical grains 0.51.0mm in diameter
Identify this Sedimentary Rock 5
Made up entirely 1cm
of clay minerals
such as kaolinite,
illite and bentonite

Homogenous or
massive with no
trace of bedding
or laminations
Identify this Sedimentary Rock 6
4cm

Comprises angular fragments 0.5mm 8cm in diameter

All parts of the rock react with dilute hydrochloric acid
 Identify this Sedimentary Rock 7

5mm

Comprises mainly sub angular quartz and feldspar grains

20% of the rock has fragments 2 - 4mm in diameter
 Identify this Sedimentary Rock 8

Fibrous appearance

Very low density

Clearly visible remains

of organic matter

Rich in carbon

1cm
Identify this Sedimentary Rock 9
2cm

Composed entirely of silica

Broken surfaces show conchoidal fracture
Identify this Sedimentary Rock 10
1cm

Comprises some clay minerals such as kaolinite and illite

Has a gritty feel when rubbed on the teeth, >10% quartz present
 Identify this Sedimentary Rock 11

Well rounded flint pebbles 8mm 6cm in diameter

Cement does not react with dilute hydrochloric acid
 Identify this Sedimentary Rock 12

1cm

Rich in carbon, makes a black mark on paper

No recognisable traces of organic material evident
Identify this Sedimentary Rock 13
1cm

Grain size <1/256mm

Comprises almost entirely clay minerals, chiefly kaolinite

No bedding or laminations evident. Plastic when wet
Identify this Sedimentary Rock 14

1cm

Comprises well rounded quartz grains 0.25 0.5mm in diameter

Weak iron oxide cement-crumbles in the fingers (friable)
Identify this Sedimentary Rock 15

Fossil replaced
2cm by flint

Reacts with dilute hydrochloric acid

Rock is made up of coccoliths
Identify this Sedimentary Rock 16

1cm

Reacts with dilute hydrochloric acid

Made up mainly of broken crinoid stems
 Identify this Sedimentary Rock 17

1cm

Comprises entirely well rounded quartz grains 0.250.75mm in diameter

Very well cemented together by silica
Identify this Sedimentary Rock 18

1cm

Reacts with dilute hydrochloric acid

Comprises angular fragments 0.5mm 5cm in diameter
Identify this Sedimentary Rock 19

Comprises angular to
sub angular grains of
quartz and feldspar

Contains more than

25% feldspar

Iron oxide cement

1cm
 Identify this Sedimentary Rock 20
Particle size varies 1cm
from 1mm 4cm

Comprises fragments
of limestone, basalt,
slate and quartz

All particles are angular

Red iron oxide cement

Identify this Sedimentary Rock 21

1cm

Comprises quartz and muscovite grains

Splits readily into slabs 3-6cm thick
Identify this Sedimentary Rock 22
1cm

Reacts with dilute hydrochloic acid

Made up entirely of angular shell fragments 0.5-3mm
Identify this Sedimentary Rock 23
Has a woody ring
to it when tapped

Rich in carbon

Low density

1cm
1cm
Organic structure
clearly visible
Identify this Sedimentary Rock 24

2cm

Made up entirely of hydrated calcium sulphate

This variety is called Desert Rose
Identify this Sedimentary Rock 25

Mica flakes
concentrated on
lamination
surfaces

1cm

Contains some clay minerals, chiefly kaolinite

Over 10% quartz present plus mica flakes
Feels gritty when rubbed on the teeth
Identify this Sedimentary Rock 26

Jet black colour

Contains over
95% carbon
Vitreous lustre
Marks paper
No recognisable
traces of any
organic matter
1cm
 Identify this Sedimentary Rock 27
2cm

Made up entirely of clay minerals, chiefly kaolinite

No obvious laminations or bedding present
Contains well preserved trilobite pygydium
Identify this Sedimentary Rock 28

2cm

2cm

Reacts with dilute hydrochloric acid

Has an internal concentric banded structure
Specimen obtained from the roof of a limestone cave
Identify this Sedimentary Rock 29

Majority of clasts are rounded to well rounded

Poorly sorted, grain size varies <1mm to 10cm
Identify this Sedimentary Rock 30

1cm Composed entirely

of sodium chloride
Occurs in thin, near
horizontal beds
Often grey, white
colourless, orange
or brown
Tastes salty
 Identify this Sedimentary Rock 31
1cm

All parts of the rock react with dilute hydrochloric acid

Comprises shell fragments, faecal pellets and large ooliths
Identify this Sedimentary Rock 32
1cm

Comprised of clay minerals and carbonaceous material

Lacks distinct laminations
Contains well preserved plant fragment
Identify this Sedimentary Rock 33

1cm

Comprises mainly quartz grains <0.25 in diameter

Brown colour due to 10-15% clay content
Contains external moulds and casts of brachiopods
Identify this Sedimentary Rock 34

Contains a high 1cm

percentage of sub-
rounded to rounded
quartz grains
Some rock fragments
Poorly sorted, particle
size ranges from
<0.5mm 1cm
Finer matrix makes
up 15-20% of the rock
No reaction with dilute
hydrochloric acid
 Identify this Sedimentary Rock 35

1cm

Rich in iron, hence brownish colour (limonite)

Cannot be found forming anywhere on earth today
Name this Sedimentary Rock 36

Reacts with dilute hydrochloric acid

Contains corals preserved in life position
 Identify this Sedimentary Rock 37
Locally known as 1cm
Haggis Rock

Sub-angular to
sub-rounded particles

Mixture of rock fragments and quartz grains 0.5mm to 5mm in diameter

Matrix consists of mud and silt and makes up over 20% of the rock
Identify this Sedimentary Rock 38

1cm

Particle size 1mm up to 8mm, quite poorly sorted

Mineralogy mainly sub-angular to sub-rounded quartz and feldspar
Identify this Sedimentary Rock 39

1cm

Reacts with dilute hydrochloric acid

May contain a small percentage of clay minerals
 Identify this Sedimentary Rock 40

1cm

Comprises quartz grains 0.25 0.75mm in diameter

Moderately well cemented by glauconite, a pale green mineral
 Answers 1.
1. Greywacke 11. Conglomerate
2. Bioclastic Limestone 12. Bituminous Coal
3. Black Shale 13. Clay
4. Oolitic Limestone 14. Desert Sandstone
5. Mudstone 15. Chalk
6. Limestone Breccia 16. Crinoidal Limestone
7. Millstone Grit 17. Orthoquartzite
8. Peat 18. Limestone Breccia
9. Flint 19. Arkose
10. Siltstone 20. Breccia
 Answers 2.
21. Micaceous Sandstone 31. Biochemical Lst.
22. Calcareous sandstone 32. Mudstone
23. Lignite(Brown Coal) 33. Fine Sandstone
24. Rock Gypsum 34. Conglomerate
25. Micaceous Siltstone 35. Ironstone
26. Anthracite 36. Coral Limestone
27. Mudstone 37. Greywacke
28. Tufa 38. Grit
29. Conglomerate 39. Micrite/Marl
30. Rock Salt 40. Orthoquartzite
The End