sedimentary
Meaning: Relating to or formed from sediment — particles of rock, mineral, and organic matter deposited by water, wind, or ice and compacted over geological time into solid rock.
Sedimentary rocks are one of the three main rock types, alongside igneous and metamorphic. They include limestone, sandstone, chalk, and shale, and they cover roughly 75 per cent of the Earth's land surface. Much of lowland Britain sits on sedimentary formations: the chalk downs, the limestone Cotswolds, and the sandstone of Cheshire. Sedimentary rocks are uniquely important because they contain fossils and preserve a record of past environments. It collocates with 'rock,' 'basin,' 'layer,' 'deposit,' and 'formation.'
Examples
- The white cliffs of Dover are composed of sedimentary chalk laid down on the floor of a warm, shallow sea during the Cretaceous period. 多佛白崖由沉积白垩构成,是在白垩纪时期温暖浅海的海底沉积而成的。Los acantilados blancos de Dover están compuestos de creta sedimentaria depositada en el fondo de un mar cálido y poco profundo durante el período Cretácico.ドーヴァーの白い崖は、白亜紀に温暖で浅い海の海底に堆積した堆積性チョークで構成されています。도버의 하얀 절벽은 백악기에 따뜻하고 얕은 바다의 해저에 퇴적된 퇴적성 백악으로 이루어져 있습니다.
- The geology field trip examined the sedimentary layers exposed in the cliff face, each representing a different depositional environment. 地质实地考察研究了崖面暴露的沉积层,每一层代表一个不同的沉积环境。La excursión geológica examinó las capas sedimentarias expuestas en la pared del acantilado, cada una de las cuales representaba un ambiente deposicional diferente.地質学の野外巡検では、崖面に露出した堆積層を調べ、各層が異なる堆積環境を表していることを確認しました。지질학 야외 답사에서는 절벽면에 노출된 퇴적층을 조사했으며, 각 층은 서로 다른 퇴적 환경을 나타내고 있었습니다.
- Fossils are almost exclusively found in sedimentary rock, where organisms were buried and preserved before decomposition. 化石几乎只存在于沉积岩中,那里的生物在分解之前被掩埋并保存了下来。Los fósiles se encuentran casi exclusivamente en rocas sedimentarias, donde los organismos fueron enterrados y conservados antes de descomponerse.化石はほぼ例外なく堆積岩中に見られ、そこでは生物が分解される前に埋没し保存されました。화석은 거의 예외 없이 퇴적암에서 발견되며, 그곳에서 생물체가 분해되기 전에 매몰되어 보존되었습니다.
Pronunciation
Usage Guide
Context: academic, general
Tone: neutral
Origin & History
From Latin sedimentum (a settling, sinking down), from sedere (to sit, settle). The geological adjective entered English in the early 19th century.
Cultural Context
Era: Modern
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
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