Final answer:
A rock consisting of fossil corals cemented with calcite is considered a biochemical sedimentary rock because it is formed from the accumulation of biological material that then undergoes chemical lithification.
Step-by-step explanation:
A rock composed of fossil corals cemented together with calcite would be considered a biochemical sedimentary rock.
Biochemical sedimentary rocks are formed from materials produced by biological organisms, like corals, which precipitate minerals to form their hard parts. When these organisms die, their remains accumulate and are lithified (turned into rock), often with calcite acting as a cementing agent. Since fossil corals are organic in nature but the rock itself is formed by a chemical process of mineral precipitation and does not contain organic material, it fits into the biochemical category.
Chemical sedimentary rocks are formed when minerals in solution become supersaturated and precipitate inorganically without any biological triggers or remnants. In contrast, clastic sedimentary rocks consist of fragments or clasts of pre-existing rocks or minerals and are classified based on grain size and roundness. Finally, organic sedimentary rocks form from the accumulation and lithification of directly organic material, such as plant leaves or animal material, which is not the case with fossil corals cemented by calcite.