Which type of sedimentary rock is most likely to contain fossilized remains of organisms?

Study for Texas AandM University GEOL101 Exam. Explore geology concepts with multiple choice questions, hints, and detailed explanations. Enhance your readiness for success!

Clastic sedimentary rocks are the most likely to contain fossilized remains of organisms due to their formation process. These rocks are composed of fragments of pre-existing rocks or organic materials that are consolidated by natural processes. As they form from the accumulation of sediments, they often include particles from biological sources, such as shells, bones, or plant material, which can become fossilized over time.

The environments where clastic sedimentary rocks are typically deposited, such as riverbeds, lake bottoms, and ocean floors, are conducive to the preservation of organic material. Because these rocks are formed from layers of sediment that build up over time, there is a greater likelihood for fossils to be trapped within the matrix of rock.

In contrast, chemical sedimentary rocks are formed from the precipitation of minerals from solution and generally do not have the same capacity to encompass organic material. Metamorphic rocks, which result from the alteration of existing rocks under heat and pressure, also usually do not contain fossils because the processes that form them can destroy the original organic material. Igneous rocks, being formed from cooled and solidified magma or lava, typically do not contain fossils either, as the high temperatures involved in their formation would obliterate any organic remains.

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