Clastic rock

A thin section of a clast (sand grain), derived from a basalt scoria. Vesicles (air bubbles) can be seen throughout the clast. Plane light above, cross-polarized light below. Scale box is 0.25 mm.

Clastic rocks are composed of fragments, or clasts, of pre-existing minerals and rock. A clast is a fragment of geological detritus,[1] chunks, and smaller grains of rock broken off other rocks by physical weathering.[2] Geologists use the term clastic to refer to sedimentary rocks and particles in sediment transport, whether in suspension or as bed load, and in sediment deposits.

  1. ^ Essentials of Geology, 3rd Ed, Stephen Marshak, p. G-3
  2. ^ Essentials of Geology, 3rd Ed, Stephen Marshak, p. G-5

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