Earth Science 3.1 The Rock Cycle

Start with this video link Rock Cycle Video

Rocks All Earth processes, from volcanic activity and mountain building to earthquakes and erosion, involve rocks. Rocks contain clues, valuable information, about the environment in which they were formed

Rocks What is a rock? A rock is any solid mass of mineral or mineral-like matter that occurs naturally as part of our planet.

Rocks A few rocks are composed of only one mineral. Most rocks, however, occur as a solid mixture of minerals. A characteristic of rock is that each of the component minerals retains their properties in the mixture. A few rocks are composed on non-mineral matter. Coal is considered a rock even though it consists of organic materials.

Rock Igneous Rocks Sedimentary Rocks Metamorphic Rocks Rocks are classified into three groups based on how they were formed Igneous Rocks Sedimentary Rocks Metamorphic Rocks

The Rock Cycle Interactions among Earth’s water, air, and land can cause rocks to change from one type to another. The continuous process that causes rocks to change makes up the rock cycle.

The Rock Cycle Rocks move from one type of rock to another in the rock cycle through many different paths.

The Rock Cycle Lets look at some of the ways rocks change in this cycle Magma is molten material that forms deep beneath the earth’s surface Magma that reaches the surface is called lava When magma cools and hardens beneath the surface or as a result of a volcanic eruptions, igneous rock forms.

The Rock Cycle What happens when igneous rock that is formed deep within the Earth reaches the surface? Any rock on Earth’s surface will undergo weathering Weathering is a process in which rocks are physically and chemically broken down by water, air, and living things to produce sediment.

Rock Cycle Sediment is made up of weathered pieces of Earth materials, rock worn down to pieces from wind, water, and plants. Sediment is moved from place to place by water, gravity, glaciers or wind.

Rock Cycle If sedimentary rocks become buried deep within the Earth they will be subjected to additional pressures and/or temperatures. Under extreme pressure and temperature conditions, sedimentary rock will change into metamorphic rock. If the metamorphic rocks are subjected to still higher temperatures, they may melt to form magma.

Rock Cycle As we can see, the Rock Cycle moves in multiple directions at once with igneous rock, sedimentary rock, and metamorphic rock each transforming when given the appropriate circumstances.

Rock Cycle Processes driven by heat from the Earth’s interior are responsible for forming both igneous and metamorphic rocks.

Rock Cycle Weathering and the movement of weathered materials are external processes powered by energy from the sun and by gravity. Processes on or near Earth’s surface produce sedimentary rocks.

Rock Cycle