What type of rock is formed from particles pressed and cemented together?

Sedimentary rock is formed through the processes of compaction and cementation of particles, which can include fragments of other rocks, minerals, and organic materials. This type of rock often forms in layers over time, typically in environments like riverbeds, lakes, and oceans where sediments accumulate. The particles are deposited, compacted under pressure, and then cemented together by minerals that precipitate from water, effectively binding them into solid rock.

In contrast, metamorphic rocks originate from the alteration of existing rocks (igneous, sedimentary, or other metamorphic rocks) under heat and pressure, without melting. Igneous rocks are formed from the solidification of molten material, either magma or lava, and volcanic rock is a type of igneous rock that comes specifically from lava that cools on the Earth's surface. Each of these other types of rocks has distinct formation processes that do not involve the compaction and cementation of particles as seen in sedimentary rocks.