Which term refers to the sediment composed mainly of clay particles?

Which term refers to the sediment composed mainly of clay particles?

• A. Calcareous ooze
• B. Clay
• C. Authigenic Sediment
• D. Biogenous Sediment

Answer: (B)

Sediment texture is defined by grain size, and clay refers to extremely fine mineral particles less than about 0.004 mm in diameter. When sediment is dominated by these tiny particles, its texture is clay, which gives it high cohesion, very low permeability, and a slow-sinking behavior in water. The other terms describe different origins or compositions: calcareous ooze is mainly calcium carbonate from shells, authigenic sediment consists of minerals formed in place, and biogenous sediment comes from the remains of organisms. Because the question asks for a term that specifically means sediment composed mainly of clay particles, the appropriate term is clay.

Sediment texture is defined by grain size, and clay refers to extremely fine mineral particles less than about 0.004 mm in diameter. When sediment is dominated by these tiny particles, its texture is clay, which gives it high cohesion, very low permeability, and a slow-sinking behavior in water. The other terms describe different origins or compositions: calcareous ooze is mainly calcium carbonate from shells, authigenic sediment consists of minerals formed in place, and biogenous sediment comes from the remains of organisms. Because the question asks for a term that specifically means sediment composed mainly of clay particles, the appropriate term is clay.