Which term is defined as the process in which sediments are laid down in new locations?

• A. Deposition
• B. Weathering
• C. Plate Tectonics
• D. Sediment Transfer

Answer: (A)

Deposition is the process by which sediments settle out of air or water and are laid down in a new location. When particles carried by rivers, winds, or ice lose enough energy, they drop out and accumulate, forming layers that can later become sedimentary rocks through compaction and cementation. This is different from weathering, which breaks down rocks in place; plate tectonics describes the movement of Earth's lithospheric plates; and sediment transfer is not the standard term for the laying-down phase of the sediment cycle. Examples include sediments deposited at river deltas, along shorelines, and at the bottoms of lakes and oceans.