The Statistical Physics of Sedimentary Rock

Sedimentary rock makes up much of the Earth's surface and contains two of the most vital fluids for our lives—water and hydrocarbons. Yet physicists have paid little attention to rock, mainly because we are discouraged by its apparent complexity. We are well trained in working with idealized models, but when faced with a piece of rock, not only do we not know where to begin, but we also may question whether it is even possible to find interesting physics in such a “dirty” and uncontrolled system. With further thought, however, we should realize that these are but the usual mental barriers that we have to overcome every time we study something new.