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The most obvious way to tell whether or not a rock is sedimentary is to look at its texture. Remember, sedimentary rocks are formed when sediments, fossils, shells, etc. are weathered and then lithified together. The lithification of those materials creates somewhat of an eclectic mix of particles. For instance, coquina looks as if someone cemented a bunch of shells together. Sedimentary rocks will have varying grain sizes, ranging from the larger gravel-sized grains to the microscopic microcrystalline grain sizes. These grains will vary in shape, from angular to well-rounded. Additionally, the grains will be arranged in varying manners, from being poorly sorted (a mix of different sizes) to well sorted (all generally the same size). When compared side by side with metamorphic or igneous rocks, the textural differences presented by sedimentary rocks become very clear.

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15y ago
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14y ago

The simplest way to tell if it is sedimentry is to look for layers. In shale it is very simple to see them. If you know the location of where you found it that can help too. Alot of sedimentary rock is also flaky of dust such as sandstone.

The best way is to look at the rock using a hand lens or magnifying glass and determine whether it is made up of interlocking crystals or of grains. If it is made of grains, it is sedimentary, since both igneous and metamorphic rocks are crystalline.

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9y ago

Sedimentary rocks are mainly identified by their structure which involves distinct horizontal layering. These rocks can be divided into biologic, chemical and clastic rocks based on their texture.

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14y ago

Shale is layered with clay minerals and quartz and is formed underwater.

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10y ago

igneous rocks usually contain grains of crystals, like granite.

sedimentary rocks sometimes have stratification or fossil remains, for example, limestone.

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10y ago

if it is sedimentary by lines all over it

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Q: How do you identify sedimentry rocks?
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Related questions

Hints that help identify sedimentry rocks?

ut ju


What does sedimentary rocks have to do with water?

What do sedimentry rocks have to do with water


Why are some rocks called sedimentry rocks?

because they are


What places are sedimentry rocks found?

In the desert


How does sedementry rocks form?

how does sedimentry rock forms


Which rocks contain fossils sedimentary or igneous?

sedimentry


The average size of a sedimentary rock?

sedimentry rocks can vary depending of the rock. But most sedimentry are between 12-100cm


Are sedimentary rocks softer than igneous rocks?

yes because it is sedimentry isnt it ]


When water evaporates and the minerals glue the rocks together sedimentry rocks formed by?

Cementation.


What is residual parent material?

ROCKS are residual or in_place parent material.The rocks may be..Igneous rocks,Sedimentry rocks and Metamorphic rocks..


What materials do you get from the Earth?

it is the materials on the periodic table and rocks such as ignous rocks sedimentry and metamorphic rocks and many many more!


What is the order sedimentry rocks go through?

i mean in the rock cycle