17.01.2023 Views

Laboratory Manual for Introductory Geology 4e

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

FIGURE 6.9 Sedimentary rock beds.

(a) Horizontal beds of sandstone and siltstone in the Painted Desert of Arizona. White, dark red, and light red beds

contain different amounts of hematite cement.

(b) Horizontal beds of sandstones, siltstones, and limestones in the Grand Canyon in Arizona. Beds are

distinguished by differential resistance to weathering as well as color.

submarine avalanche when poorly sorted sediment speeds down a submarine slope.

When the avalanche, called a turbidity current, slows, the coarsest grains settle first,

whereas the finer materials remain in suspension longer. Over time, the finer sediments

settle, and the finest ones settle last. To make a graded bed in the lab, put

FIGURE 6.10 Graded bedding.

Top

Top of bed

Bottom

Silt- and mud-sized clasts

Fine sand-sized clasts

Pebble- and granule-sized

clasts

Bottom of bed

162 CHAPTER 6 USING SEDIMENTARY ROCKS TO INTERPRET EARTH HISTORY

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!