Are you Ready to Rock Discuss S

Jimmy Has a Pet Rock… Jimmy Has some questions about his Pet Rock Willy. It seems different from the other kid’s pets. He wants to know what Willy is and Where Willy came from. Does Willy have a family?

Willy is a Rock… Not a Giant Lady Bug. What is a Rock? Rocks are composed of minerals. Rocks can be composed of many minerals or just one. Although over 3500 minerals have been identified, some of the earth's minerals are exceedingly popular and fewer than 20 minerals compose more than 95% of the earth's crust.

Where did Willy Come From? Jimmy is a Product of Love… MOM DAD = Jimmy Willy is the product of the Rock Cycle

The Rock Cycle? The Rock Cycle is the name for the process used to describe the formation of the variety of Rocks found on our planet. There are three different ways rock can be created on earth and thus there are three main classifications of rock. These rock classifications are – Igneous Sedimentary Metamorphic.

Igneous Rock At one point Willy was an Igneous Rock ? The word Igneous comes from Latin and means “Fire Formed” Igneous Rock forms when Magma (molten liquid minerals) is cooled either below, or above, the earth’s surface. All rocks on earth were originally igneous because the cooling of Magma is the only method entirely new rocks can be formed.

Igneous Rocks Granite is a type of Igneous Rock commonly used in the construction of buildings, monuments and tombstones. Basalt is another type of igneous rock commonly used in road building materials.

Is Willy an Igneous Rock? Not Anymore. Like Jimmy, Willy has undergone some changes.

Sedimentary Rock Sedimentary means “formed by settling” EROSION! Rocks are weathered and eroded into tiny particles which are then transported and deposited. These small pieces of rock are called sediments. Sedimentary rocks are formed by the cementing, compacting, and hardening of existing rock and the bones, shells, and pieces of formerly living things. This is why you sometimes find fossils in rocks. Sediments are cemented together and compacted and hardened over time by the weight and pressure of up to thousands of feet of additional sediments above them. Eventually, the sediments become solid sedimentary rock.

Sedimentary Rocks Sandstone is a common Sedimentary rock used in the house building industry. Limestone is another common Sedimentary Rock. Shale is another type of Sedimentary Rock. The sediments that create Shale are smaller than .06 mm.

Metamorphic Rock The name Metamorphic comes from the Greek to "change form” Metamorphic rock is formed by applying great pressure and temperature to existing rock converting it into a new distinct type of rock. All types of rock can be modified into metamorphic rocks. Metamorphic rocks are usually created when they come under extreme pressure such as the pressure caused by being under many thousands of feet of bedrock or through being crushed at the junction of tectonic plates.

Metamorphic Rocks Slate is a common metamorphic rock. Slate forms when Shale is put under pressure with temperatures of a few hundred degrees. Marble is a common metamorphic rock. Used as a building material.

So Jimmy…. I hope we have answered some of your questions about who Willy is, where he came from and how he has grown into the unique Pet Rock he is today. Just remember to take good care of Willy. During his existence so far he has been cooled from Magma, been crushed, pressurized, eroded, transformed and even painted.

Remember…. It’s a Rock CYCLE ALL three rock types can all be made into Metamorphic Rock ANY Rock can be Eroded into Sediments ANY Rock can be Melted back down to Magma to begin the process all over.

Erosion <Back> Erosion = weather wears away at the earth’s surface. Water, Wind and Ice are three important causes of erosion. Water erodes most commonly as running water in streams. However, water in all its forms is erosional. Wind erosion is most common in the desert, where wind transports sand particles. Sand Dunes are often the result of wind erosion. Ice is one of the most powerful forms of Erosion. Giant Sheets of Ice, called Glaciers, bulldoze rock, breaking it and transporting it.

QUIZ FOR CANDY!!! Igneous Rock Rock formed when magma cools above or below the earth’s crust. Sedimentary Rock Rock formed out of pieces of rocks and other materials that have been compacted and hardened together Metamorphic rock Is formed by applying great pressure and temperature to existing rock converting it into a new distinct type of rock.