Final answer:
The scarcity of lithogenous sediment far from continents allows for biogenous ooze to dominate the seabed, consisting of the accumulated remains of microorganisms that form a significant part of the deep-sea sedimentary environment.
Step-by-step explanation:
The limited deposition of lithogenous sediment at great distances from continents contributes to the common presence of microscopic biogenous ooze on the deep-ocean floor. This is because far from the land, fewer terrigenous or lithogenous particles are deposited, allowing the slower settling of organic materials typically from planktonic organisms, such as coccolithophores and diatoms, to dominate the seabed. These organisms fall to the ocean floor upon death, accumulating over time to form biogenous sediment, particularly ooze, which is rich in calcium carbonate or silica, depending on the type of organisms.
The prevalence of biogenous ooze in deep-sea environments can be connected to the history of life on Earth, as evidenced by ancient stromatolites, which are sedimentary structures formed by microorganisms. This highlights the importance of biogenic sedimentation in documenting early Earth conditions and the evolution of life. Factors such as ocean currents, proximity to continental sources of lithogenous sediment, and the biology of ocean-dwelling microorganisms all play a role in the composition of the seabed, leading to areas rich in biogenous ooze when conditions are favorable for their deposition and preservation.