Clastic rocks, such as sandstone, shale, and conglomerate, are composed of fragments or clasts of other rocks that have been eroded, transported, and deposited by wind, water, or ice. The size and composition of the clasts in a clastic rock can provide important information about the source rock and the environment in which it was formed. Weathering plays a critical role in the formation of clastic rocks by breaking down rocks into smaller fragments that can be transported and deposited as sediment.
Non-clastic rocks, such as limestone, dolomite, and gypsum, are formed through chemical processes rather than the deposition of sediment. These rocks can be formed by precipitation of minerals from solution, or by the alteration of existing rocks through chemical reactions. Weathering can also play a role in the formation of non-clastic rocks by altering the chemical composition of existing rocks, creating new minerals through chemical reactions, or dissolving rocks and transporting their dissolved components to other locations where they can be precipitated as new minerals.
In summary, clastic rocks are formed through the deposition of eroded and transported sediment, while non-clastic rocks are formed through chemical processes. Weathering plays a critical role in the formation of both types of rocks by breaking down existing rocks and creating new minerals through chemical reactions.
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