Sedimentary rocks form layers over thousands of years as eroded debris from mountains and rivers is deposited in different environments. By studying the composition of sediments and the order of layers, geologists can interpret changes in earth's climate, ecosystems and environment over time. For example, examining sediment layers in the Grand Canyon reveals details about what animals lived there and how the climate changed throughout history. The document discusses how sedimentary rock layers tell the story of earth's past.

1. READING HISTORY
THROUGH LAYERS OF
SEDIMENT
How the earth tells a story

3. What are Sedimentary Rocks?
Remember the 3
types of rocks?...
 Metamorphic
 Igneous
 Sedimentary

4. Eroded
debris is
transported
by rivers
and
deposited
as new
layers of
sedimentary
rock.
A series of
sedimentary
rock layers
may be
thousands

6. Reading Sedimentary Deposits
To interpret the sedimentary record
correctly, we must first understand
something about modern sedimentary
systems.
1) the sources of sediment
2) transportation pathways
3) places where sediment is
accumulating today, such as deltas,
beaches, and rivers.

7. The Earths Story

8. Reading the Story
From the composition of
sediment (what it is
made up of) we can read
exactly what happened
on earth at that time.
This can include:
- Animals
- Temperate Change
- Natural Disasters
- People
Lets have a look at the
Grand Canyon is USA.

9. Slide Show Tips

10. HOMEWORK
Draw and
Label a
diagram
showing how
sediment
layers form.