Where are sedimentary rocks found?

Question

Aaron Anderson · Accepted Answer

Sedimentary rocks are usually found in clastic or carbonate basins.

Clastic or carbonate sediments usually accumulate in low areas next to continental land masses and over time become turn to rock (called lithification) in sedimentary basins. Basins can be found on continents or next to continents in the oceans. See pic of sedimentary basins in Australia. They can be of just about any geological age too. Geologists usually explore for oil and gas in sedimentary basins.

Technically, the term "formation" in geology is a sequence of sedimentary rocks that have similar characteristics, some times color, and can be easily mapped in the field.

As some people might think, a "formation" is not any unusual erosional feature in a series of rocks. See 2nd pic. The yellowish rocks look quite different from the underlying reddish rocks and so each would probably be defined as different "geological formations" regardless of how they looked!

Maya Adams · Answer

undefined Sedimentary rocks are found in various locations around the world, often forming in environments where sediments can accumulate over time. These environments include riverbeds, ocean floors, deserts, and lakes. Sedimentary rocks are also commonly found in layers beneath the Earth's surface as part of the Earth's crust. In addition, areas that were once covered by oceans or other bodies of water but have since dried up are prime locations for finding sedimentary rocks. Such rocks can also be found on mountain sides, in cliff faces, and in places where ancient seas or lakes once existed.