Sedimentary Cake

We are finishing up our study about Rocks and Minerals and we spent the whole day today reviewing what we have learned.  In honor of sedimentary rocks, we built a sedimentary cake with different layers, different colors, textures and even gravel.  Here's the how and why...
Purpose:  To demonstrate a sedimentary rock formation
Materials:

• White or Yellow Cake Mix and additional ingredients
• Peanut Butter or any light brown icing
• Chocolate Icing
• Marzipan or Almond Paste (found on your baking isle)
• Food Coloring (preferably the gel form)
• Brown Sugar (optional)

Procedure.

• Mix cake batter and divide into as many bowls as you want rock colors.
• Mix food coloring into cake batter to create different colored cake batter for really cool layers.
• Pour batter into a well greased and flowered cake pan, try to spread the layers evenly (don't worry if you can't)
• I used two small, 6" cake pans and one 4" cake pan
• Bake cakes.
• While cakes are baking, add food coloring to the marzipan or almond paste.  Work the substance like play dough until you get the rock colors you want.
• Shape the marzipan or almond paste into rocks.
• Assemble cake in layers after they have baked and cooled thoroughly.
• Use Peanut butter or a a different colored icing for the middle. 
• Top your cake off with the chocolate icing and eatable rocks.

 Results:  A cake with a series of layers has been constructed
Why?  Sedimentary rocks are formed from loose particles that have been carried from one place to another and redeposited.  These rocks usually are deposited in a series of layers similar to the layers of the cake.  Each layer can be distinguished by differences in color, texture and composition.  The oldest layer and lowest bed is deposited first and the youngest layer is at the top. The layers over a period of time become compacted and cemented together to form solid rock structures.