Conglomerate
A species of Sedimentary Scientific name : Conglomerate RockType : Sedimentary
Conglomerate, A species of Sedimentary
Scientific name: Conglomerate
RockType: Sedimentary
Description
As its name suggests, conglomerate appears as a conglomeration of many smaller rocks. This sedimentary rock is made from stones, pebbles, or grains fused together and surrounded by a matrix of fine-grained sediments. Conglomerates are common and can be found all over the world – if you’ve spent a fair amount of time outdoors, chances are you’ve seen some. The stone has few commercial uses, though some attractive specimens can be used decoratively.
Physical Properties
Colors
Beige, Black, Brown, Buff, Light to Dark Grey, Orange, Rust, White, Yellow
Texture
Clastic
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General Info
Usage
Conglomerate may be used in construction, much like sandstone or gravel, in buildings and outdoor materials. However, this rock is also commonly found just above petroleum and water deposits. As such, it is often used as a good indicator of nearby petroleum.
Formation
Conglomerate form by the consolidation and lithification of gravel. They can be found in sedimentary rock sequences of all ages but probably make up less than 1 percent by weight of all sedimentary rocks. In terms of origin and depositional mechanisms, they are closely related to sandstones and exhibit many of the same types of sedimentary structures, e.g., tabular and trough cross-bedding and graded bedding.
Types
Conglomerate may be named and classified by the:
- Amount and type of matrix present
- Composition of gravel-size clasts they contain
- Size range of gravel-size clasts present
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