One of the primary stages of sedimentation is when the particle is formed by being detached from a larger particle on the Earth's surface. Detachment here refers to the removal of a smaller piece of a rock or even debris from a larger piece. Common forces of this removal include wind, water, ice, plant growth on the object and chemicals (such as carbonic acid, mostly found in water).
The next process in sedimentation is the movement of the detached particle to another location such as onto another rock, into another water body or on the Earth's surface. Similar to erosion, the particle is moved by water, ice, air, plant growth and chemical changes. Examples of transportation include rain carrying eroded particles to another location, wind carrying sand and rocks falling down a slope to form another type of object.
Deposition happens when the energy from transporting an eroded particle can no longer move the object to the next location. The object then settles into a new position. A clear example of deposition is soil particles being moved by the force of rain. The energy of the water from rain transports the object to a new location, and once that energy is used up, the object settles into a new area, such as mud settling into a pothole.
Sedimentation also occurs when, instead of transportation, chemicals move the eroded object either from one location to the next or from one form to another form. An example of this is when particles in the sea are changed by seawater and are moved to form parts of coral reefs. Biogenic sedimentation occurs when natural elements decompose and settle to form other elements. Elements from decomposition settle either into the ground or into the sea. The end result forms a new object, such as coal or oil, when the mineral forms a new object by reacting to the surrounding environment.