What is the term used for the process of compacting and solidifying sediment?

The process of compacting and solidifying sediment is known as lithification. This term encompasses the various mechanisms by which sediments are transformed into sedimentary rock. Lithification involves processes such as compaction, where the weight of overlying materials presses down on sediments, reducing their volume and packing them more tightly together. Additionally, cementation, a part of lithification, occurs when minerals precipitate from groundwater and fill the spaces between sediment particles, effectively binding them together.

Understanding lithification is fundamental in geology as it explains how sedimentary rocks form and the conditions necessary for these processes to take place. This concept is pivotal when examining the rock cycle, sedimentary environments, and geological time scales.