topic: Rocks
activity: Sedimentary rocks
Question 1
Assign a number to each of the five steps of clastic sedimentary rock formation shown here to indicate the
correct order in which they occur.
____ Lower layers compact under the weight above.
____ Erosion transports the weathered material.
____ Rock is broken down into pieces by weathering.
____ Minerals dissolve, cementing sediment into rock.
____ Sediment settles and is deposited into layers.
Question 2
Observe the following sedimentary rocks and comment on how their features help explain how they were
formed.
ADD SANDSTONE/LIMESTONE & CONGLOMERATE
Show rocks, provide text input space
Question 3
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topic: Rocks
activity: Sedimentary rocks
(a) Taken from the mast camera instrument on NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover, this image
shows a series of sedimentary deposits in the wind-prone Glenelg crater. The rover drilled rock
samples at the Sheepbed mudstone (shown lower left) and scientists estimated they have only
been exposed at the surface for approximately 80 million years. This is unexpectedly quite
young. Which process would likely explain the exposure of these younger layers of rock?
(circle one)
Tectonic plate uplift from the ocean floor
Weathering and erosion
Folding due to high temperature and pressure
Current volcanic activity
(b) Describe the features of the Gillespie Lake sandstone that might indicate that this is a
sedimentary rock?
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topic: Rocks
activity: Sedimentary rocks
(c) How do you think sedimentary rocks provide evidence that water has existed on Mars?
(d) Research what layers of Martian sedimentary rocks tell us about the history of Mars.
(e) Do you believe the presence of sedimentary rocks on Mars provides evidence that life on Mars once
existed?
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