Which processes occurs when rocks, stones, sand, and mud are laid down on Earth’s surface?(1 point)
Responses
chemical weathering
chemical weathering
physical weathering
physical weathering
Erosion
Erosion
deposition
deposition
4. Deposition
The process that occurs when rocks, stones, sand, and mud are laid down on Earth's surface is called deposition. Deposition is a geological process where sediment, which is eroded and transported by agents like wind, water, or ice, is deposited or settled in a new location. This can happen in various environments, such as rivers, beaches, deltas, or glaciers.
To understand this process further, we can break it down into the following steps:
1. Weathering: Before deposition can occur, there is typically some form of weathering. Weathering refers to the breakdown and fragmentation of rocks into smaller particles through physical or chemical processes. This can include mechanical actions like freezing and thawing or chemical reactions involving water, oxygen, or acids.
2. Erosion: Once the rocks are weathered, the next step is erosion. Erosion involves the transportation of the fragmented particles (sediment) away from their original location by agents such as water, wind, or ice. Erosion can occur on mountainsides, riverbeds, coastlines, or anywhere there is a force to move the sediment.
3. Transport: During erosion, the sediment particles are carried by the erosional agents. Sediment can be transported through rivers, streams, ocean currents, wind patterns, or glacier movements. The speed and force of the erosional agent will determine how far and how fast the sediment is transported.
4. Deposition: Finally, when the erosional agents lose energy, they no longer have the force to carry the sediment particles and they are deposited or settled. Deposition occurs in areas where the velocity of the transporting agent decreases, such as river banks, ocean floors, deltas, or the base of mountains. The sediment particles then accumulate and form layers over time.
So, in summary, deposition is the process where weathered and eroded sediment is transported by agents like water, wind, or ice and then settled or laid down on Earth's surface. This process plays a crucial role in shaping our landscape and forming various geological features.