Cementation (geology)

In geology, the cementation indicates a certain process of diagenesis, ie the change of sedimentary deposits.

Carbonization is a predominantly chemical process that leads to Lithifizierung (Greek fossilization ) of the original loosely deposited material. This hardening is achieved by the supply of mineral cements (usually quartz or calcite ). These are supplied mostly dissolved in water transported in the pore spaces of unconsolidated sediment and cases out there. The porosity of the starting material is thereby reduced, while at the same time, the grains of the sediment to be cemented together.

Together with the compaction, a physical process of diagenesis, which causes a pressure-induced increase in the density by auflastendes material cementation thus leads to the transformation of a loose unconsolidated sediment mass into a solid rock.