If conglomerate has rounded particles, where must it have been formed?the bottom of a cliffA stream with running water

Conglomerate is a type of sedimentary rock that is composed of large, rounded particles. These particles, or clasts, are typically cemented together by a matrix of finer-grained sediments. The rounded nature of the clasts indicates that they have been transported some distance by water, wind, or ice, which wears down the sharp edges and corners of the rocks.

Given the two options provided, a conglomerate with rounded particles is more likely to have been formed in a stream with running water. Here's why:

1. Transport: Streams have the ability to carry and transport particles. The energy of the running water rolls the particles along the stream bed, which leads to the rounding of the particles.

2. Deposition: Over time, these particles will settle out of the water and accumulate on the stream bed. As more and more layers build up, the pressure causes the particles to become cemented together, forming conglomerate.

3. Lithification: This is the process by which sediments are turned into rock, through compaction and cementation. In the case of a stream, the constant flow of water can help to distribute mineral-rich water that aids in the cementation process.

On the other hand, at the bottom of a cliff, while rock fragments may fall and accumulate due to gravity and weathering processes, there is typically not a consistent mechanism for rounding the particles and then cementing them together. Therefore, while it's possible to find conglomerate in such a location, it's more likely that the rock was formed elsewhere and then exposed at the cliff base through erosion or other geological processes.