Why are rocks considered a reliable record of Earth's past environments?

They are the oldest objects found on the planet.

Their properties reflect the specific conditions under which they formed.

All rocks contain fossils of ancient organisms that can be dated.

They change their physical and chemical composition at a predictable rate over millions of years.

A geologist finds a rock with features indicating it was formed from sand dunes in a desert. This same location is now a dense forest. What does this discovery suggest about the location?

The forest must have grown directly on top of the ancient desert sand.

The climate and landscape of the location have changed significantly over time.

The rock must have been transported to the forest from a desert that is very far away.

Desert environments are always the first stage in the development of forest ecosystems.

To determine the monetary value of the minerals within the rocks.

To find new locations for mining and resource extraction.

To uncover the hidden history of past environments on Earth.

To classify rocks based only on their color and hardness.