How much time is required to convert a layer of soil to rock?

As layers of soil age, they condense into rock - giving us important insight into the Earth's history.





So, I believe, a simple question to our Geologists in the forums. What time frame is required to convert a layer of soil to rock, and what factors might affect it? Different types of soil will behave diffferently. So if you can, give an average time range, or a specific example you know of.





Thanks!How much time is required to convert a layer of soil to rock?
Soil does not sit there and slowly condense, as you put it, into rock. Rock sitting there weathers into soil. As soil erodes, it forms layers of sediment. As the layers of sediment increase, the additional weight compresses the lower layers, which accrete into sedimentary rock. Because there are thousands of years worth of sediment in places that have not solidified, the answer is a very long time.





I'm not a serious geologist, so have nothing in an exact range. I do know that igneous (volcanic, basically) layers can cause sediment to become stone or sedimentary rock to change, or metamorphose, to a different form of rock known as metamorphic rock.How much time is required to convert a layer of soil to rock?
it will take millions and thousands of years to just convert only one layer of soil to rock...
Eons - millions or hundreds of Millions of years...... Look at sediments and their age.... carbon dating etc.
Don't forget that it also takes pressure - time alone will not convert soil into anything other than dirt