Which type of rock is formed when sediments are compacted and cemented together?

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 type of rock is formed when sediments are compacted and cemented together?

Explanation:
The main idea here is how sediments become rock through lithification. When loose sediments settle and accumulate, they’re buried under more layers. The weight compacts the grains, squeezing out air and water, and minerals dissolved in groundwater precipitate to act as cement, gluing the grains together. This process turns the sediment into solid rock, which is called a sedimentary rock. Some sedimentary rocks are clastic, meaning they’re made from fragments of other rocks, but the general outcome of compaction and cementation is sedimentary rock. Igneous rocks form from melted rock that crystallizes, and metamorphic rocks form when existing rocks are transformed by heat and pressure.

The main idea here is how sediments become rock through lithification. When loose sediments settle and accumulate, they’re buried under more layers. The weight compacts the grains, squeezing out air and water, and minerals dissolved in groundwater precipitate to act as cement, gluing the grains together. This process turns the sediment into solid rock, which is called a sedimentary rock. Some sedimentary rocks are clastic, meaning they’re made from fragments of other rocks, but the general outcome of compaction and cementation is sedimentary rock. Igneous rocks form from melted rock that crystallizes, and metamorphic rocks form when existing rocks are transformed by heat and pressure.

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