What rock type is made of broken fragments that are cemented together?

• A. Clastic rocks
• B. Metamorphic rocks
• C. Chemical rocks
• D. Organic rocks

Answer: (A)

Clastic rocks form from broken pieces, or clasts, of preexisting rocks. These fragments are deposited, buried, and lithified as minerals precipitate from water and cement the grains together, resulting in a rock made of cemented fragments. This distinguishes them from metamorphic rocks, which are rocks transformed by heat and pressure; chemical rocks, which form from minerals that precipitate from solution; and organic rocks, which are built from plant or animal remains. So the described rock—composed of broken fragments bound by cement—fits the clastic sedimentary category, with common examples like sandstone, shale, and conglomerate.