Economic Importance of Marine Sediments

Bellwork questions:

Some products that come from sediments are toothpaste, paint, swimming pool filters, and building materials for roads and structures.

1/3 of the worlds energy comes from sediments (oil & gas)


Sand and Gravel is extremely important because they are valued at more than $510 Million!

Webquest Questions

Sediments are classified by two groups, either clastic or chemical. Then from there it differentiates between the type of rock, texture, composition and type.

There are four types of sediments. Lithogenous, Biogenous, Hydrogenous, and Cosmogenous. 

Lithogenous- derived from rock, which is also pelagic so it settles away from the water column and will be most prevalent away from land
Biogenous- A sediment consisting of the shells and skeletons of dead organisms. (Calcium carbonate)
Hydrogenous- are formed by precipitation of minerals from the ocean’s water or can be formed as a new mineral
Cosmogenous- extraterrestrial in nature and are generally like miniature meteorites. These sediments are the remains of impacts of large bodies of space material (such as comets and asteroids). 

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Abyssal Plains & Hills

The definition of an abyssal plain is an underwater plain on the deep ocean floor.

Abyssal plains are usually found at depths between 3000 and 6000. Lying generally between the foot of a continental rise and a mid-ocean ridge,

 Abyssal plains cover more than 50% of the Earth’s surface.

 They are among the flattest, smoothest and least explored regions

Adaptations of Sea Caves

1. Some typical adaptation for these animals are lack of pigmentation, reduction in the size of eyes or absence of eyes altogether, development of sensory mechanisms that do not depend on light for detecting food or predators.

 2. Oxygen is not plentiful in the caves because photosynthesis does not exist because of the lack of light; as well as low water circulation, yet the creatures still adapt.

3. Adaptations occur because they happen at random events and if there's an advantage the organisms is more likely to survive and reproduce than other organisms

4. This happens because anchialine caves tend to be oxygen depleted because no photosynthesis does not occur.