Processes that Shape the Earth Rocks, Weathering, and Erosion Ms. Aja 5 th Grade

Rocks Solid earth material Make up the crust of the Earth Mixture of one or more minerals Range in size from giant mountains to grains of sand Can be smooth or rough, shiny or dull, one color or many colors Three main types: 1. sedimentary 2. igneous 3. metamorphic

Minerals A solid material that is formed by nature in or on Earth’s crust A material that has a crystal form A material that is not formed by a living thing A material that has its own set of properties

Igneous Rocks Form when magma (hot liquid rock) cools and hardens “Fire formed” rocks Common near volcanoes

Metamorphic Rocks Form when underground rocks are changed due to high pressure “Changed” rocks Common in mountains

Sedimentary Rocks Form when layers of rock particles get pressed together at or near Earth's surface “Layered” rocks May contain fossils Common near bodies of water or where water existed in the past

Physical Weathering 1. Wind 2. Rain 3. Ice 4. Plant roots

Chemical Weathering Carbonation – CO2 & water break down lime stone Solution – minerals in rocks dissolve in water Oxidation – oxygen & water & minerals react and weaken the rock Lichens

Erosion Erosion is the movement of sediments from one place to another. Water is the primary agent of erosion, though wind and glacier ice also contribute. \

Rock Cycle