Final answer:
Ripple marks, mud cracks, and fossils are typically found in sedimentary rocks, often indicating a history of water deposition, drying, and biological activity. Shale with impressions of leaves and marine fossils is one such rock type where these features can be found.
Step-by-step explanation:
Ripple marks, mud cracks, and fossils are features typically found in sedimentary rocks. The presence of these structures indicates the rock's formation in an environment where sediment was laid down by water or wind and then exposed to the air to dry and crack, as well as an environment where organisms lived and were subsequently preserved as fossils.
Based on the provided options, fossils of marine animals such as crinoids would likely be found in fine-grained, dark shale that has well-laminated layers and impressions of fern leaves. The presence of fern leaf impressions suggests a terrestrial or shallow marine environment where vegetation could thrive.
Mud cracks suggest periodic drying and exposure to the air, while symmetrical ripple marks typically form in shallow water environments with repeated waves or tidal action, indicative of a marine setting. Fossil diversity, such as that described in college chapters, would assist in dating the rocks and understanding the past environment.