Sedimentary Rocks Facts for Kids – 5 Strong Facts about Sedimentary Rocks

Avatar of Youstina Zakhary
Updated on: Educator Review By: Michelle Connolly

Where can we find sedimentary rocks?! Let’s discover five strong sedimentary rocks facts for kids.

Sedimentary Rocks Facts for Kids Fact Number 1: Sand and Shells

Sedimentary rocks are rocks that are made up of layers of different materials that have been pressed together over time. These materials might include things like sand, mud, shells, and even tiny bits of plants and animals. The layers in sedimentary rocks can tell us about the environment that existed when the rock was formed, such as whether it was a desert, a beach, or a shallow sea.

Sedimentary Rocks Facts for Kids LearningMole
White Conch shell

Sedimentary Rocks Facts for Kids Fact Number 2: Lithification

Sedimentary rocks are formed in a variety of ways, such as when layers of sand or mud are pressed together by the weight of water or ice, or when shells and other materials pile up on the bottom of the ocean. For example, when a river carries sediment to the ocean and the sediment settles on the ocean floor, the sediment will eventually turn into rock. This process is called lithification.

Sedimentary Rocks Facts for Kids Fact Number 3: Limestone

One of the most interesting types of sedimentary rock is called limestone. Limestone is made from the shells and skeletons of marine animals that lived a long time ago. It is often used to build roads and buildings because it is durable and easy to cut into blocks. Limestone can also form caves and caverns underground.

Sedimentary Rocks Facts for Kids Fact Number 4: Quartz

Another type of sedimentary rock is sandstone, which is made from tiny bits of rock and mineral called sand. Sandstone can be different colors depending on the type of mineral that makes up the sand. For example, if the sand is mostly made up of a mineral called quartz, the sandstone will be light colored, but if the sand is mostly made up of a mineral called iron oxide, the sandstone will be red or brown.

Sedimentary Rocks Facts for Kids
Close-up photo of crystal quartz

Sedimentary Rocks Facts for Kids Fact Number 5: Earth’s Past

Sedimentary rocks can tell us a lot about the Earth’s past. By studying the layers in these rocks, scientists can learn about the climate, environment, and the types of plants and animals that existed in the past. For example, if scientists find a layer of rock that is made mostly of shells, they can conclude that the environment was once a shallow sea, and if they find a layer of rock that is made mostly of sand, they can conclude that the environment was once a desert.

Sedimentary Rocks Facts for Kids LearningMole
Shallow sea

We hope you enjoyed learning more things about sedimentary rocks as much as we loved teaching you about it. Now that you know how majestic these rocks are, you can move on to learn more about our amazing Earth like: Rocks and Igneous Rocks.

Why not subscribe to our LearningMole Library for as little as £1.99 per month to access over 3100 fun educational videos.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *