________ earth materials are rocks that were originally deposited by wind or moving water.

• A. Igneous
• B. Sedimentary
• C. Metamorphic
• D. Organic

Answer: (B)

Sedimentary rocks come from materials that were carried by wind or moving water and then deposited in layers. Once the particles settle out, they are buried over time, compacted by the weight of overlying layers, and minerals precipitate to cement the grains together, forming rock. This sequence—deposition, compaction, and cementation—is what lithifies loose sediment into solid rock. That’s why a statement describing rocks formed from sediments transported and laid down by wind or water points to sedimentary rocks.

In contrast, igneous rocks form from the cooling and solidification of molten rock, either below the surface or after a volcanic eruption. Metamorphic rocks originate from existing rocks transformed by heat and pressure, which changes their mineral structure without melting. Organic rocks come from the accumulation and consolidation of organic remains, such as plant material or shell debris, rather than a direct deposition of mineral grains from wind or water.