Concretion

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Concretion

Concretion (/kɒnˈkriːʃən/) is a hard, compact mass of matter formed by the precipitation of mineral cement within the spaces between particles, and is found in sedimentary rock or soil.

Etymology

The term "concretion" is derived from the Latin concretio ("condensation, coagulation"), itself from con ("together") and crescere ("to grow").

Formation

Concretions are formed from mineral precipitation around some kind of nucleus while a sedimentary rock is still buried and lithifying. They can form around organic material, such as leaves, twigs, shells, and fossils, or around minerals or mineraloids, such as pyrite.

Types of Concretions

There are several types of concretions, including:

  • Septarian concretions, which have a network of cracks filled with minerals.
  • Moqui marbles, iron oxide concretions which occur in the Navajo Sandstone of southern Utah.
  • Kansas Pop Rocks, a type of concretion found in Kansas, which is known for their unusual popping or cracking sound when heated.

Related Terms

  • Sedimentary rock, a type of rock that is formed by sedimentation of material at the Earth's surface and within bodies of water.
  • Mineral precipitation, the process by which a solid forms where previously there was only a solution.
  • Nucleation, the first step in the formation of either a new thermodynamic phase or a new structure via self-assembly or self-organization.

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