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A 20-pound sedimentary rock formed on a mountain cliff near the sea. The rock was made up of grains of sand, pebbles, and exoskeletons of tiny insects. It was held together by calcite. One day, the rock fell into the ocean and over time was buried deep inside the Earth. Once inside, the rock was no longer sedimentary but instead turned into a metamorphic rock. After many years, it returned to Earth's surface. Why did the rock not become an igneous rock?

A. It lay in a region that was close to the salt-filled ocean.
B. It contained organic material from a number of insects.
C. It did not experience high enough pressure for compaction.
D. It had not experienced high enough temperatures to melt.
E. It had a composition that was not homogeneous.



Answer :

GinnyAnswer

Final answer:

Metamorphic rocks form under high pressure and temperature conditions, altering the mineral composition without full melting.


Explanation:

Metamorphic rocks are formed when sedimentary or igneous rocks are subjected to high temperature and pressure, causing changes in their mineral composition. In the given scenario, the sedimentary rock that fell into the ocean and later turned into a metamorphic rock did not become an igneous rock because it did not experience high enough temperatures to melt, which is necessary for the formation of igneous rocks like granite or basalt. The process of metamorphism altered the rock's structure without melting it completely.


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