The term lithification is derived from the Greek language. And it could help you remember the meaning of this term if you remember that the prefix ‘lithos’ is Greek for ‘rock’. So, we are really looking at rock making when we study lithification. There are two main ways in which lithification occurs: compaction and cementation.
Compaction is the consolidation of sediments due to the intense pressing weight of the superimposed deposits. Compaction occurs when sediments are buried. This literally crushes the sediment grains together, compressing them into a dough. With enough pressure and the passage of time, the beans are reorganized and organized more, as well as winning a Tetris game where most of the falling chips fit perfectly together. As the sediments consolidate, the original pore space that divided them is reduced and the water that was in those spaces is squeezed.
Another way in which sediment lithification occurs is through cementation. Cementation is the process by which dissolved minerals crystallize and stick the sediment grains.
