The Sedimentary Basins of the United States

The sedimentary basins of the United States are large areas where layers of sediment—like sand, mud, and clay—have accumulated over millions of years. These basins often contain important resources such as oil, natural gas, coal, and groundwater. They formed as the Earth's crust stretched and sank, creating depressions that collected sediments from erosion of nearby mountains and land. Examples include the Gulf Coast Basin, the Central Valley in California, and the Appalachian Basin. These basins play a key role in the country’s geology, natural resource availability, and in understanding Earth's history.