sedimentation
Matter settling downward
Sedimentation is the process by which particles settle and accumulate at the bottom of a liquid or body of water.
Rivers carry sediment that deposits in deltas; water treatment plants use sedimentation tanks to let impurities sink.
The term extends to any gradual accumulation or layering: the sedimentation of cultural influences over centuries.
Waterborne earth particles
- alluviumWater-deposited loose sediment
- mudWet soil mixture
- clayMoldable earth for ceramics
- sandFine rock particles
gravel · settling · accumulation · residue · sludge · ooze · dregs · precipitate
Parallel geological layers
- beddingMaterials covering a mattress
- laminationBonding sheets together
- stratificationDivision into distinct levels
- superpositionCoexisting in multiple states
horizontality · sequential · grading · facies · compaction · cementation · overburden · unconformity
Making meaning plain
- coagulationLiquid solidifying into mass
- flocculationParticles clumping into aggregates
- turbidityCloudiness from suspended particles
- filtrationSeparating solids from liquids
sludge · effluent · wastewater · purification · clarifier · alum · basin · retention
Preserved ancient organism
- preservationMaintaining something's condition
- burialPlacing deceased underground
- petrificationBecoming rock-like
- carbonizationConversion to char
impression · remains · paleontology · stratigraphy · amber · coprolite · extinction · ancient
Spinning to separate densities
- settlingReaching resolution or rest
- decantationSeparating liquid from sediment
- filtrationSeparating solids from liquids
- fractionationSeparating mixture into components
precipitation · separation · supernatant · pellet · gradient · clarification
silt
Waterborne earth particles
sand · gravel · settling · accumulation · residue · sludge · ooze · dregs · precipitate · delta
strata
Parallel geological layers
- beddingMaterials covering a mattress
- laminationBonding sheets together
- stratificationDivision into distinct levels
superposition · horizontality · sequential · grading · facies · compaction · cementation · overburden · unconformity · cross-bedding
clarification
Making meaning plain
- coagulationLiquid solidifying into mass
- flocculationParticles clumping into aggregates
- turbidityCloudiness from suspended particles
filtration · sludge · effluent · wastewater · purification · clarifier · alum · basin · retention · overflow
fossil
Preserved ancient organism
- preservationMaintaining something's condition
- burialPlacing deceased underground
- petrificationBecoming rock-like
carbonization · impression · remains · paleontology · stratigraphy · amber · coprolite · extinction · ancient · prehistoric
centrifugation
Spinning to separate densities
- settlingReaching resolution or rest
- decantationSeparating liquid from sediment
- filtrationSeparating solids from liquids
fractionation · precipitation · separation · supernatant · pellet · gradient · clarification
- purificationchromatography, centrifugation, filtration, electrophoresis, dialysis
- earth scienceatmosphere, earthquake, geology, volcano, crust
- environmental harmair pollution, water pollution, pollution, oil spills, acid rain
- Natural Processesphotosynthesis, decomposition, evaporation, erosion, carbon cycle
- sanitationsewage, sewers, cleaning, sewer, disinfecting
- gradual processesaging, erosion, learning, evolution, growth
sedimentationerosion
Gradual wearing away
weathering · denudation · corrosion · degradation · dissolution
sedimentationsuspension
Temporary halt or exclusion
flotation · dispersion · agitation · emulsification · buoyancy
president, session, sediment, supersede, sedate, sediments, sedimentary, sedimenting, sedimentary rock