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Recall the rock cycle process that forms sedimentary rock and fossils.Cementation and compactionWeathering and erosionCoolingMeltingI'm not sure

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Solution

The process that forms sedimentary rock and fossils in the rock cycle involves several steps:

  1. Weathering and Erosion: This is the first step in the formation of sedimentary rocks. Weathering is the process where rock is dissolved, worn away or broken down into smaller and smaller pieces. Erosion occurs when these pieces of rock are carried away by natural forces like wind or water.

  2. Deposition: The eroded pieces of rock (sediments) are deposited or settled in low areas, such as the bottom of a river, lake, or ocean. Over time, more and more layers of sediment are deposited on top of each other.

  3. Compaction: As more layers of sediment are deposited, the weight of the layers compacts the particles at the bottom. This pressure squeezes the sediments together, causing physical changes.

  4. Cementation: This is the final step in the formation of sedimentary rock. Minerals dissolved in water seep into the spaces between the compacted sediments. As the water evaporates, these minerals are left behind, acting like glue and binding the sediments together to form rock.

Fossils are formed in sedimentary rock when an organism is buried quickly after death (usually in water) and its shape creates an imprint in the layers of sediment. Over time, this imprint is filled with minerals and hardens into rock, preserving the shape of the organism.

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