Ask AI: explain how loose sediments (rocks, sand, etc.) can get turned into sedimentary rocks.

Loose sediments, like rocks, sand, and other fragments, can be turned into sedimentary rocks through the process of lithification. Lithification begins with the breakdown of larger rocks into smaller particles as a result of weathering and erosion, which yields sedimentary material. This sediment can then be transported via wind or water to different locations, where it is then deposited in layers. Over time, these particles can become cemented together and/or recrystallized, forming sedimentary rocks, such as sandstone, shale, and limestone.