Clast Shape

Another sediment property that can be detected by the texture of the rock is the grain shape. Grain shape stores a tremendous amount of information about the geologic history of the sediment. Whether particles in the sediment are rounded or angular is determined by the amount of abrasion the particles have undergone. Abrasion occurs as sediment is moved throughout the environment and bounces or rubs against other material. This abrasion slightly wears down the edges of the sediment. Therefore, the further a material travels from its point of origin, the more abrasion occurs and thus the more rounded the material should be.