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Lithification identification and geology

The process by which loose, unconsolidated sediment is transformed into solid sedimentary rock, primarily through compaction and cementation. Compaction reduces porosity as overlying sediment weight squeezes out pore water and packs grains more tightly. Cementation fills remaining pore spaces with minerals precipitated from pore fluids. Lithification is a key stage in diagenesis. Field: sedimentology. Example: Beach sand along the coast of Bermuda has been rapidly lithified by calcite cementation into beachrock, a process that can occur within decades in warm, carbonate-saturated marine environments.. Related terms: Diagenesis, Compaction, Cementation, Sedimentary rock.

Sources, scope & corrections

These authoritative resources support category-level nomenclature, terminology, identification methods, and safety. When a specimen-specific safety warning appears, the public-health source listed here directly supports that precaution. They are not line-by-line citations for every other property on this entry, and natural specimens vary.

Editorial owner
GeoMiner
Last updated
2026-03-30T15:19:42.027557+00:00
Review status
Published; not independently peer-reviewed
  • USGS Thesaurus — U.S. Geological Survey. Controlled earth-science terminology used to describe USGS information resources.
  • Glossary of Geologic Terms — U.S. National Park Service. Geologic definitions prepared by the NPS Geologic Resources Inventory.

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Common questions

What does Lithification mean in geology?
The process by which loose, unconsolidated sediment is transformed into solid sedimentary rock, primarily through compaction and cementation. Compaction reduces porosity as overlying sediment weight squeezes out pore water and packs grains more tightly. Cementation fills remaining pore spaces with minerals precipitated from pore fluids. Lithification is a key stage in diagenesis.
What is an example of Lithification?
Beach sand along the coast of Bermuda has been rapidly lithified by calcite cementation into beachrock, a process that can occur within decades in warm, carbonate-saturated marine environments.
Which earth-science field uses the term Lithification?
Lithification is used in sedimentology.
Which terms are related to Lithification?
Related terms in this reference are Diagenesis, Compaction, Cementation, Sedimentary rock.

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