Which type of rock is formed from the layering and cementing of mineral and organic particles?

Sedimentary rock is formed through processes involving the layering and cementing of mineral and organic particles. Over time, sediments—such as sand, silt, clay, and organic materials—accumulate in layers, often in environments like riverbeds, lakes, or ocean floors. As these layers build up, the weight of the overlying material compresses the deeper layers, and minerals within the sediments can precipitate out of water, acting as a natural cement to bind the particles together. This process results in the formation of sedimentary rock, which often exhibits distinct layering and can contain fossils, providing insights into past environments and life forms.

Igneous rocks, in contrast, form from the cooling and solidification of molten rock material, either from magma beneath the Earth's surface or lava that erupts at the surface. Metamorphic rocks arise from existing rocks that undergo transformation due to heat, pressure, and chemically active fluids, rather than through particle accumulation. Basalt rock is a specific type of igneous rock that forms from the rapid cooling of lava and does not involve the processes related to sedimentation or layering typical of sedimentary rocks.