What is the Difference Between Chemical and Detrital Sedimentary Rocks?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚The main difference between chemical and detrital sedimentary rocks lies in their formation processes.
Detrital Sedimentary Rocks:
- Formed from the solid particles or grains that are weathered and eroded from pre-existing rocks.
- Also known as clastic sedimentary rocks.
- Examples include shale, sandstone, and conglomerate.
- Classified and named based on their grain size and sorting.
Chemical Sedimentary Rocks:
- Formed due to chemical processes, such as precipitation of ions in a solution.
- Examples include micritic limestone, fossiliferous limestone, chert, halite, gypsum, and anhydrite.
- Not classified by grain size or sorting, as they do not contain grains that are visible without a microscope.
In summary, detrital sedimentary rocks are formed from weathered and eroded particles of pre-existing rocks, while chemical sedimentary rocks are formed through chemical processes, such as precipitation from a water solution. Most sedimentary rocks have elements formed by both detrital and chemical processes.
Comparative Table: Chemical vs Detrital Sedimentary Rocks
Here is a table comparing the differences between chemical and detrital sedimentary rocks:
Feature | Chemical Sedimentary Rocks | Detrital Sedimentary Rocks |
---|---|---|
Formation | Formed when grains precipitate out of a water solution, either organic or inorganic | Formed from weathered and eroded fragments of pre-existing rocks |
examples | Micritic limestone, fossiliferous limestone, chert, halite, gypsum, and anhydrite | Shale, sandstone, and conglomerate |
Grain | Do not contain grains visible without a microscope, except for grains made from fossils | Composed of discrete particles compacted and cemented together |
Classification | Classified mainly by the composition of minerals in the rock | Classified and named based on grain size and how well the grains are sorted |
Environment | Form in environments where ion concentrations are high, such as lakes and seas | Form from pieces of bedrock, sediment, derived primarily by mechanical weathering |
Chemical sedimentary rocks are formed when grains precipitate out of a water solution, while detrital sedimentary rocks are formed from weathered and eroded fragments of pre-existing rocks. Chemical sedimentary rocks do not contain visible grains, except for fossil grains, while detrital sedimentary rocks are composed of discrete particles compacted and cemented together. Chemical sedimentary rocks are classified by the composition of minerals in the rock, while detrital sedimentary rocks are classified and named based on grain size and sorting.
- Metamorphic Rocks vs Sedimentary Rocks
- Igneous Rocks vs Sedimentary Rocks
- Chemical Weathering vs Mechanical Weathering
- Physical vs Chemical Weathering
- Rock vs Mineral
- Erosion vs Deposition
- Gaseous vs Sedimentary Biogeochemical Cycles
- Sedimentation vs Decantation
- Rocks vs Stones
- Decomposer vs Detritivore
- Limestone vs Sandstone
- Erosion vs Weathering
- Igneous Rocks vs Metamorphic Rocks
- Sedimentation vs Flotation
- Detrital vs Grazing Food Chain
- Physical vs Chemical Change
- Geology vs Petrology
- Silt vs Clay
- Intrusive vs Extrusive Rocks