Which rock is most likely to contain fossils and form from sediments?

Study for the North Carolina Grade 8 End-of-Grade Science Test. Prepare with multiple choice questions, each question has hints and explanations. Ace your exam!

Multiple Choice

Which rock is most likely to contain fossils and form from sediments?

Explanation:
Fossils are most likely preserved in rocks formed from sediments because these rocks come from particles that settle out of water or air and are pressed together over time. As layers build up, remains like shells and bones can be buried and kept as fossils through compaction and cementation. In contrast, igneous rocks form from cooled magma or lava, and metamorphic rocks form under heat and pressure that typically destroy fossils; marble, a metamorphic rock, comes from limestone and usually loses fossils during metamorphism. Therefore, sedimentary rock is the one that fits both criteria.

Fossils are most likely preserved in rocks formed from sediments because these rocks come from particles that settle out of water or air and are pressed together over time. As layers build up, remains like shells and bones can be buried and kept as fossils through compaction and cementation. In contrast, igneous rocks form from cooled magma or lava, and metamorphic rocks form under heat and pressure that typically destroy fossils; marble, a metamorphic rock, comes from limestone and usually loses fossils during metamorphism. Therefore, sedimentary rock is the one that fits both criteria.

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