What type of rock is formed from the eroded products of preexisting rocks or through mineral precipitates?

Sedimentary rock is formed from the accumulation and compaction of sediments, which can consist of eroded materials from preexisting rocks. These materials may be derived from weathering processes that break down rocks into smaller particles, which are then transported and deposited in various environments such as rivers, lakes, or oceans. Over time, these sediments undergo lithification, solidifying into sedimentary rocks.

Additionally, sedimentary rocks can also form through mineral precipitation. This occurs when dissolved minerals in water precipitate out and accumulate, often in sedimentary environments like salty lakes or ocean floors. The two primary processes—compaction of eroded sediments and precipitation of minerals—are fundamental in the formation of sedimentary rocks, distinguishing them from igneous rocks, which form from cooled magma, and metamorphic rocks, which arise from the alteration of existing rocks under heat and pressure.

Volcanic rocks, a subset of igneous rocks formed from lava that erupts and cools on the Earth's surface, do not involve the processes associated with sedimentary rock formation. Thus, sedimentary rock is the accurate choice for the question posed.