When fine-grained mud is subjected to pressure from overlying  rock material, water is driven off and the clay minerals begin to  consolidate.
When fine-grained mud is subjected to pressure from overlying  rock material, water is driven off and the clay minerals begin to  consolidate. As groundwater moves through the compacted sediment,  materials dissolved in the water precipitate out around the  individual small mud particles. A cementation of the particles  occurs, and a clastic sedimentary rock is formed. FTP--name this  process which results in the creation of shale.
When fine-grained mud is subjected to pressure from overlying  rock material, water is driven off and the clay minerals begin to  consolidate.
lithification