Conglomerate and breccia are two types of sedimentary rocks that are made up of fragments of other rocks and minerals.
Conglomerate is a type of rock that consists of rounded or angular pebbles, cobbles, and boulders, cemented together by a matrix of finer-grained sediment, such as sand or mud. The pebbles, cobbles, and boulders in a conglomerate are typically larger than 2 millimeters in size. Conglomerate is typically formed from the transportation and deposition of these rock fragments by water, wind, or ice, and is often indicative of high-energy depositional environments such as rivers, deltas, or glacial outwash plains.
Breccia is a type of rock that consists of angular or jagged fragments of other rocks, cemented together by a matrix of finer-grained sediment. The fragments in a breccia are typically larger than 2 millimeters in size. Breccia can form from the mechanical weathering and breakup of pre-existing rocks, or from the collapse and collapse of underground voids or cavities. Breccia is often indicative of tectonic activity or impact events, and is commonly associated with volcanic and volcaniclastic deposits, or impact craters.
Both conglomerate and breccia are important as they provide information about the geologic processes and environments that formed them, and can be used to help reconstruct the Earth's history.