I WONDER - What Can We Learn From Sedimentary Rocks?

Sedimentary rocks provide insights into Earth's past. By examining rock layers, scientists can deduce past climates, environments, and the flora and fauna that existed. For instance, a rock layer rich in shells suggests a former shallow sea, while a sand-dominated layer indicates a past desert environment.

What can scientists learn from studying the layers of sedimentary rocks?

• The Earth's magnetic field

• The current weather patterns

• The age of the universe

• Past climates and environments

How do sedimentary rocks help scientists understand the types of plants and animals that existed in the past?

• By measuring the rock's temperature

• By analyzing the color of the rocks

• By studying the mineral composition

• By examining the fossils within the layers

What conclusion can be drawn from a rock layer rich in shells?

• The area was once a shallow sea

• The area was once a forest

• The area was once a mountain range

• The area was once a volcanic site

What does a layer of rock with a high concentration of shells suggest about the past environment?

• It was a glacier

• It was a volcanic region

• It was a shallow sea

• It was a desert

Which type of environment is indicated by a rock layer composed mainly of sand?

• A tropical rainforest

• A tundra

• A deep ocean

• A desert