A sediment comes into existence when pieces of rock are deposited at the surface of the Earth – be it on dry land or in the water. Wind may blow a sand dune together, gravel is deposited by a river, fine mud is deposited in a lake, a glacier carries large boulders together to form a moraine: in each case, bits and pieces of rocks are brought together. There are countless types of sediment with different properties: they have different colour, ability to resist erosion or to store water, gas or oil etc. Sediments often have a clearly visible layering, which is usually horizontal unless they have later been deformed. The lowest layers are the oldest ones.
Sand- and Siltstone in original, approximately horizontal position
The above examples are all ‘clastic’ sediments. In all cases, pieces of rock (‘clasts’) have been eroded somewhere and brought together somewhere else. There are still other types of sediment: biogenic and chemical ones.
An important biogenic sediment is limestone in most of its many variations. It can originate from a coral reef or by slow deposition from calcareous shells from mussels or algae. Another important biogenic sediment is coal, which is derived from vegetation over various stages such as peat and brown coal.
Examples for chemical sediments are gypsym and halite (salt). Both come into existance, when lagoons evaporate and the water is not being replaced sufficiently. Also, some variations of limestone may originate from anorganic processes, without involving organisms.
All sediments have in common that they come into existance at the surface of the Earth (including the sea floor).
Once this sandstone layer was straight, it has later been deformed by compressive tectonic movements (size ca. 15 cm. Antarctic Peninsula).
This and other publishing products of the Spitsbergen publishing house in the Spitsbergen-Shop.
Norwegens arktischer Norden (1): Spitzbergen
Photobook: Norway's arctic islands. The text in this book is German. [shop url="https://shop.spitzbergen.de/en/polar-books/70-norwegens-arktischer-norden-1-aerial-arctic-9783937903262.html"] ← Back
Lofoten, Jan Mayen and Spitsbergen from the air - Photobook: Norway's arctic islands. The text in this book is German, but there is very little text, so I am sure that you will enjoy it regardless which languages you read (or not).
The companion book for the Svalbardhytter poster. The poster visualises the diversity of Spitsbergen‘s huts and their stories in a range of Arctic landscapes. The book tells the stories of the huts in three languages.
Comprehensive guidebook about Spitsbergen. Background (wildlife, plants, geology, history etc.), practical information including travelling seasons, how to travel, description of settlements, routes and regions.
Join an exciting journey with dog, skis and tent through the wintery wastes of East Greenland! We were five guys and a dog when we started in Ittoqqortoormiit, the northernmost one of two settlements on Greenland’s east coast.
12 postcards which come in a beautifully designed tray. Beautiful images from South Georgia across Antarctica from the Antarctic Peninsula to the Ross Sea and up to Macquarie Island and Campbell Island.