Formation of Sedimentary Rocks & Fossil Fuels

A three-step process is shown.

Deposition--Compaction--Cementation

Which of these is most likely formed by the process shown?

• Glaciers

• Mountains

• Sand Dunes

• Sedimentary Rock

Fossil fuels, such as oil, can be found in ancient oceans or sea beds, where

pressure and bacteria have —

• melted plant and animal remains into magma

• transformed plant and animal remains into liquids.

• burned plant and animal remains into ashes.

• hardened plant and animal remains into rocks.

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When there is little oxygen in an environment, decaying plants and animals are

likely to become solid carbon, which we also call coal. Coal would be most likely to

form at —

• the bottom of a lake filled in by dirt and rocks.

• the top of a sand dune in a desert.

• the bottom of a crater made by a meteorite.

• the top of a high mountain.

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Which of the following statements about fossil fuels are true? Select TWO correct answers.

• Fossil fuels formed from the remains of ancient living organisms.

• Fossil fuels form over relatively short periods, such as a few years.

• Fossil fuels are considered non-renewable resources.

• Fossil fuels form under conditions of high heat and pressure.

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Welcome to the "Fossil Fuel Formation Cooking Show"! Today, we're making the dish: Oil Ooze.

Here are the recipe cards:

Oil Ooze:

2 cups microscopic marine plankton

1 cup algae

100 million years of burial

3 km of sediment layers

Heat to 120°C

Pressure at 500 atmospheres

You're a contestant on the "Fossil Fuel Formation Cooking Show" and need to create the perfect

batch of Oil Ooze.

The judges have asked you to explain your cooking process. Which statement BEST describes

how you would "cook up" your Oil Ooze?

• Slowly simmer the ingredients under moderate heat and pressure for a long period of

  time, gradually transforming them into oil.

• Freeze the marine plankton and algae under high pressure to preserve their original

  structure.

• Mix all ingredients rapidly under varying temperatures and pressures to create a diverse

  blend of fossil fuels.

• Quickly heat the marine ingredients at high temperatures for a short time to speed up the

  process.

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Student is studying how sedimentary rocks can change over time. Which of the following

processes can transform sedimentary rock into a different type of rock?

• Erosion breaks down the sedimentary rock into smaller pieces.

• Deposition adds new layers on top of the sedimentary rock.

• Intense heat and pressure change the sedimentary rock's structure.

• Weathering alters the surface of the sedimentary rock.

Why do scientists need to take measurements at different depths?

• To measure temperature differences

• To identify layer patterns over time

• To find water content

• To count plant remains

What might happen if there were no cementation step in the rock formation process?

• Sediments would remain loose and not form solid rocks.

• Sediments would skip compaction and form rocks directly.

• Fossil fuels would form faster and more abundantly.

• Rocks would form without needing heat and pressure.

An ocean floor contains layers of sediments rich in the remains of tiny sea plants and animals.

Over millions of years, heat and pressure transform this organic material into a resource used for

energy. What type of resource is being described?

• Coal, which forms from ancient plants buried in swamps under heat and pressure.

• Oil and natural gas, which form from the remains of sea plants and animals buried in

  sediments.

• Sedimentary rock, which forms from compacted and cemented layers of sand and silt.

• Igneous rock, which forms from cooled magma or lava in the Earth’s crust.

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Read the following excerpt from the article "What are fossil fuels?" by the National

Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration:

"Fossil fuels are made from decomposing plants and animals. These fuels are found in the

Earth's crust and contain carbon and hydrogen, which can be burned for energy. Coal, oil, and

natural gas are examples of fossil fuels. Coal is a material usually found in sedimentary rock

deposits where rock and dead plant and animal matter are piled up in layers. More than 50

percent of a piece of coal's weight must be from fossilized plants."

Source: https://www.noaa.gov/education/resource-collections/ocean-coasts/oil-and-gas

Based on the information in the excerpt, which statement is TRUE?

• Fossil fuels are made from inorganic minerals.

• Fossil fuels are found in the Earth's mantle.

• More than half of coal's weight comes from fossilized plants.

• Coal is not an example of a fossil fuel.

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