Ch. 3 The Rock Cycle Intro
***The melting of any rock type leads to the production of magma. Magma - molten material deep beneath Earth’s surface. Lava - magma that reaches the surface. ***The melting of any rock type leads to the production of magma.
IGNEOUS ROCKS Formation Igneous Rocks form when Magma or lava Cools. Cooling can occur either below or above the surface!
Formation of Igneous Rocks Intrusive - magma hardens beneath Earth’s surface (granite). Cools slowly Have large crystals/grains Extrusive - formed when lava hardens at surface (pumice, rhyolite). Cools quickly Have no/small crystals/grains
Weathering - rocks broken down by water, air & living things. Sediments -weathered pieces of Earth elements. Erosion - sediments are transported by water, wind, ice or gravity.
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS Formed from particles or sediments that have been transported & deposited by wind, water, ice, gravity. Over time, these particles become pressed or cemented together to form rocks. Ex: sandstone
Formation of Sedimentary Rocks 1. Weathering, Erosion & Deposition • After weathering and Erosion occur sediments must be deposited! • Deposition - an agent of erosion (water, wind, ice, or gravity) loses energy & drops sediments. 2. Compaction & Cementation • Compaction - process that squeezes sediments by the weight of overlying materials driving out water. • Cementation – Solidification of sediments by the deposition of dissolved minerals which act like a “glue.”
METAMORPHIC ROCKS Formed when chemical reactions, heat, and/or pressure change existing rocks into new rocks. (physical & chemical properties usually quite different from original.) meta- means change, morph means form. (Ex: marble, schist, gneiss (pronounced “nice”)
Agents of Metamorphism Heat - provides energy needed to drive chemical reactions. Pressure - causes a more compact rock with greater density. How does this happen ? Contact metamorphism: magma moves into rock Regional metamorphism: large-scale deformation Direct pressures occur during mountain building Occurs near a body of magma Changes are driven by a rise in temperature Produces greatest volume of metamorphic rock.
Energy That Drives the Rock Cycle Processes driven by heat from Earth’s interior are responsible for forming both igneous & metamorphic rocks. Weathering & erosion are external processes powered by energy from the Sun, produce sedimentary rocks.
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS METAMORPHIC ROCKS Weathering and erosion Heat and pressure Melting Cooling Compaction, cementation, and lithification IGNEOUS ROCKS MAGMA SEDIMENTS SEDIMENTARY ROCKS METAMORPHIC ROCKS