Oceanic Sediments and Sedimentary Processes

Terrigenous sediments are derived from the weathering and erosion of continental rocks and are transported to the ocean by rivers, wind, and glaciers.

Biogenic sediments are formed from the accumulation of the hard parts of marine organisms, such as shells, tests, and bones.

Hydrogenesis is the process by which dissolved minerals in seawater precipitate and form solid particles, contributing to the formation of hydrogenous sediments.

Cosmogenic sediments are formed from extraterrestrial material, such as micrometeorites and cosmic dust, that enter the Earth's atmosphere and eventually settle on the ocean floor.

Lithification is the process by which sediments are compacted and hardened into solid rock through the action of pressure, temperature, and chemical reactions.

Ripple marks are sedimentary structures formed by the movement of water currents over the sediment surface, creating small, wave-like features.

Diagenesis refers to the chemical alteration of sediments after deposition, including processes such as cementation, dissolution, and replacement.

Cross-bedding is a sedimentary structure formed by the rapid deposition of sediment from a high-energy event, such as a turbidity current, resulting in inclined layers of sediment.

Mass wasting refers to the process by which sediments are transported by gravity down a slope, including processes such as landslides, debris flows, and rockfalls.

Mud cracks are sedimentary structures formed by the shrinkage and cracking of mudflats during periods of drought, creating polygonal patterns on the sediment surface.

Deposition refers to the process by which sediments are deposited from a moving fluid, such as water or wind, marking the end of the transportation phase in the sedimentary cycle.

Slump structures are sedimentary structures formed by the sliding or slumping of sediment down a slope, often due to oversteepening or instability, resulting in deformed and folded layers.

Aeolian processes refer to the processes by which sediments are eroded and transported by the action of wind, including processes such as deflation, abrasion, and saltation.

Varves are sedimentary structures formed by the accumulation of sediment in a sheltered environment, such as a lagoon or bay, resulting in alternating layers of fine-grained sediment deposited during calm periods and coarser-grained sediment deposited during high-energy events.

Glacial processes refer to the processes by which sediments are eroded and transported by the action of glaciers, including processes such as plucking, abrasion, and meltwater erosion.