Final answer:
The three main classes of sedimentary rocks are clastic, chemical, and organic, with examples including sandstone, halite, and coal respectively.
Step-by-step explanation:
The major classes of sedimentary rocks are clastic, chemical, and organic. Clastic rocks, like sandstone and shale, are formed from weathered rock fragments. Chemical sedimentary rocks, such as salt deposits from evaporated water, crystallize from dissolved minerals. Organic sedimentary rocks, including coal, arise from the accumulation and compression of organic material.
Examples of each class include:
- Clastic: Sandstone, shale (sorted by grain size: cobble, pebble, sand, silt, clay)
- Chemical: Halite, gypsum (formed by precipitation of minerals)
- Organic: Coal, limestone (formed from organic debris and shells)