Final answer:
Limestone typically forms through chemical precipitation or biological processes instead of by weathering, and sandstone forms from the cementation of quartz mineral grains. Shale and conglomerate are clastic, with shale forming from compacted silt and clay, and conglomerate from the cementation of larger rounded rocks.
Step-by-step explanation:
To match the nonclastic sedimentary rock with the process by which it typically forms:
- A) Limestone typically forms by biological processes or chemical precipitation from a concentrated solution in the water, such as in the case of foraminifera shells accumulating to form limestone, rather than weathering and compaction of organic material.
- B) Sandstone forms from the cementation of mineral grains, particularly quartz, as sediment accumulates and water precipitates minerals into pore spaces acting as a glue to hold the sediment together.
- C) Shale is a clastic sedimentary rock that forms from the compaction of silt and clay particles, not from the accumulation of plant debris, which is more characteristic of coal.
- D) Conglomerate is a clastic rock consisting of rounded pebbles, cobbles, and boulders that have been cemented together, rather than by recrystallization of pre-existing rocks, which is a characteristic of metamorphic rocks.
The correct match is A) Limestone through chemical precipitation or biological processes, and B) Sandstone through the cementation process of quartz mineral grains.