5.5 Putting It All Together: Depositional Environments

Environments Where Sedimentary Rocks Form

A fundamental principle in understanding sedimentary rocks is determining the types of geological environments that lead to their deposition. The pictures below represent different types of landscapes that lead to the deposition of sedimentary rocks. You will be asked to identify the name of the sedimentary rock you think will form in the environment and give a brief justification for why you think it will form there.

Environment 1

The above environment is an evaporating lake that is in a warm desert environment.

Environment 2

The above environment is a very sandy beach.

Environment 3

The above environment is a steep mountain slope that is prone to landslides.

Environment 4

The above environment is a high-velocity mountain stream.

Environment 5

The above environment is a tidal pool. Tidal pools often contain a lot of shelly organisms that are prone to significant wave action.