Which type of sedimentary rock is formed from the precipitation of minerals from water?

Chemical sedimentary rock is formed when minerals precipitate from water, often due to evaporation or changes in water chemistry. This process can lead to the formation of various minerals, such as halite (rock salt) or gypsum, which form when the water becomes oversaturated with these minerals. For instance, when seawater evaporates, the dissolved minerals become concentrated and can crystallize out, creating sedimentary deposits.

In contrast, clastic sedimentary rocks originate from the accumulation and lithification of particles derived from the weathering and erosion of pre-existing rocks. These rocks are primarily composed of fragments or clasts of other rocks, cemented together by minerals.

Biological sedimentary rocks, also known as biogenic rocks, are formed from the accumulation of biological debris, such as shells of marine organisms or plant remains, rather than from inorganic chemical processes.

Metamorphic rock, on the other hand, is not a sedimentary rock at all; it forms from the alteration of existing rock types (either igneous, sedimentary, or even other metamorphic rocks) under conditions of high pressure and temperature.

Therefore, the formation process involving the precipitation of minerals from water distinctly identifies chemical sedimentary rocks as the correct answer.