Deformed rocks

Part of Hall of Planet Earth.

In the Museum’s Hall of Planet Earth, an exhibition sign with text and a graphic that describes how conglomerate rock is deformed. AMNH/R.Mickens

When rocks are compressed, they deform by bending and folding. When a conglomerate, a rock composed of pebbles surrounded by sand or silt is subjected to high temperature and pressure, the pebbles within it are deformed in different ways. They can be flattened, rotated, and even squeezed into long, thin lines.

In This Section

Exhibit Deformed conglomerates These rocks were originally deposited in a stream as layers of rounded pebbles.