Detrital sedimentary rocks are classified according to clast size, whereas chemical sedimentary rocks are classified based on their dominant minerals.

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Detrital (or clastic) sedimentary rocks are classified based on the size of the sediment particles they contain, such as sandstone (sand-sized particles) and shale (clay-sized particles). Chemical sedimentary rocks, on the other hand, are classified according to the mineral composition that results from the chemical precipitation of minerals from solution, such as limestone (primarily composed of calcite) and chert (composed of silica).

Detrital Sedimentary Rocks Are Classified According to Clast Size, Whereas