Compaction (geology)

With compaction geology refers to the solidification and volume reduction of sediments by the pressure of overlying ( "hang forming " ) rock layers.

In the mid to deep sedimentary basin can be up to several millimeters per year. The density increases accordingly - for example, in the tertiary base of the Pannonian and the Vienna Basin by about 0.01 to 0.02 g / cm ² per year million. Thus, the density of deposited in the Miocene mixture of sand, clay and gravel in the course of 15 million years ago from the original 1.5 to 2 g / cc to about 2.2 g / cm ³, for example, has risen, while squeezing of pore water and cementing the aggregate by water solution (see chemical weathering and cementation (geology) ). The compaction is strongly dependent on the particle size or the particle size distribution of the sediment. Fine-grained sediments such as clays and silts can be more compacted than about sandstones or Karbonatsande ( differential compaction ). The chemical composition of the sediment as well as the early diagenesis affect the degree of compaction.

In cosmology Compaction means the densification of cosmic dust and gas clouds, such as the formation of stars and solar systems -. Available in other sciences, the term can occur naturally in a general sense.

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