The ever changing face of our planet Rock Cycle Quiz Resources Trevor Heard, 2008

Heat & Pressure (Metamorphism) Melting Compression (lithification) Compression (lithification) Weathering, Erosion, Deposition Heat & Pressure (Metamorphism) Heat & Pressure (Metamorphism) Cooling Melting Weathering, Erosion, Deposition The Cycle Back to Main Page Back to Main Page Click each button to learn more about that area!

Melting occurs when one tectonic plate is pushed beneath another plate (subduction) The crust reaches the mantle and begins to melt due to the extremely high temperatures, creating magma Eventually this magma is pushed back towards the surface by volcanism, where it cools and again forms Igneous rock Back to Main Page Back to Main Page Back to Rock Cycle Back to Rock Cycle

Cooling is the process by which magma or lava forms Igneous rock Magma rises towards the earths surface through volcanoes or rifts As the magma/lava cools, it gains viscosity and turns into solid rock The faster the magma/lava cools, the smaller the grain (crystal) size will be (Obsidian), and the slower it cools, the larger the grain size will be (Granite) Back to Main Page Back to Main Page Back to Rock Cycle Back to Rock Cycle

Weathering, Erosion and Deposition are the processes that break down solid rocks into sediment Weathering is the wearing down of rocks through direct contact with the atmosphere, 2-types: chemical and mechanical Erosion is the wearing away and movement of earth and rock by means of wind, water, ice or gravity Deposition is the process by which sediment is carried to and dropped at a new location. Deposition from wind, water or ice Back to Main Page Back to Main Page Back to Rock Cycle Back to Rock Cycle

Metamorphism is a change in minerals, texture and composition of rock due to heat, pressure, and chemical actions being applied to it Can also be defined as a solid-state recrystallisation of rock (no melting) Several types of metamorphism including: contact, hydrothermal, and dynamic metamorphism Back to Main Page Back to Main Page Back to Rock Cycle Back to Rock Cycle

Compression or Lithification is the process(es) by which sediment is converted into sedimentary rock Processes include compaction (the tight packing of sediments caused by high pressure), as well as cementation (the binding together of sediments due to chemical precipitates forming in pore spaces) Compaction generally occurs due to added weight from overlaying deposits Back to Main Page Back to Main Page Back to Rock Cycle Back to Rock Cycle

Igneous Rock is formed directly from cooled lava or magma. Igneous rock formed from lava (on surface) is known as volcanic and extrusive Igneous rock formed from magma (underground) is known as plutonic and intrusive Rock formed on the surface tends to cool more quickly than underground and therefore have smaller crystals Examples: Granite, Basalt Back to Main Page Back to Main Page Back to Rock Cycle Back to Rock Cycle

Metamorphic Rock is formed when Igneous, Sedimentary or even older Metamorphic rock undergoes Metamorphism due to increases in Heat and Pressure Commonly formed at tectonic plate boundaries Metamorphic rock is divided into two texture categories: foliated; and non-foliated Foliations are the result of differential stress on only one plane, creating cleavage Examples: Schist, Gneiss, Slate Back to Main Page Back to Main Page Back to Rock Cycle Back to Rock Cycle

Magma is molten rock material that occurs beneath the Earths surface Lava is molten rock material that occurs on the Earths surface When cooled, Lava and/or Magma form Igneous rock Magma provides heat that aids in Metamorphism Magma/Lava are commonly found in volcanic regions such as plate boundaries, hot spots, and mid-ocean ridges Back to Main Page Back to Main Page Back to Rock Cycle Back to Rock Cycle

Sedimentary rock is formed from the accumulation and consolidation of sediment, usually in layered deposits Several categories of Sedimentary rock including clastic, biogenic and precipitates Sedimentary rock covers about 75-80% of the earths surface Examples: Conglomerate, Sandstone, Dolomite Back to Main Page Back to Main Page Back to Rock Cycle Back to Rock Cycle

Sediment is a loose, unconsolidated deposit of weathered debris, chemical precipitates and/or biological debris When sediment is consolidated it forms sedimentary rock via the process of lithification (compaction and expelling of fluids) Sediment sizes are (smallest-largest): clay, silt, sand, gravel, cobble, boulder Sediment is transported by wind (aeolian), water (fluvial) or ice (glacial) processes Back to Main Page Back to Main Page Back to Rock Cycle Back to Rock Cycle

Now that you’ve got the Rock Cycle diagram memorized, lets try to answer some questions. Just click the button with the right answer! Back to Main Page Back to Main Page Start Quiz

Skinner, Brian J., Porter, Stephan C., and Botkin, Daniel B. The Blue Planet: An Introduction to Earth Science, 2 nd Edition. Wiley: 2 nd ed. Jan 25, Definitions /glossary-s.shtml /glossary-s.shtml Rock Cycle Rock Photos Back to Main Page Back to Main Page

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Sediment is converted to Sedimentary rock by the process of: Compression (Lithification) Compression (Lithification) Heat & Pressure (Metamorphism) Heat & Pressure (Metamorphism) Melting Weathering, Erosion and Deposition Weathering, Erosion and Deposition Next Question Next Question

Metamorphism consists of which processes? Weathering, Erosion, Deposition Weathering, Erosion, Deposition Compression (Lithification) Compression (Lithification) Heat & Pressure Heat & Pressure Melting Next Question Next Question

Which option does not describe a characteristic of a surficial Igneous rock? Extrusive Large Grain Size Large Grain Size Volcanic Small Grain Size Small Grain Size Next Question Next Question

Which is not one of the means by which erosion can be carried out? Gravity Wind Water Fire Next Question Next Question

When any type of rock undergoes weathering, erosion and deposition, it creates this: Sediment Sedimentary rock Sedimentary rock Lithification Magma/Lava Next Question Next Question

What are the two main categories of Metamorphic rocks? Layered & Not Layered Layered & Not Layered Mafic&Felsic Foliated & Non-foliated Foliated & Non-foliated Plutonic & Volcanic Plutonic & Volcanic Next Question Next Question

A rock described as being a large grained, plutonic and formed from magma would be an example of a(n): Igneous rock Metamorphic rock Metamorphic rock Sedimentary Rock Sedimentary Rock Lava Next Question Next Question

Which is the process that magma/lava would not have to undergo to become Sedimentary rock? Compression (Lithification) Compression (Lithification) Heat and Pressure (Metamorphism) Heat and Pressure (Metamorphism) Cooling Weathering, Erosion, Deposition Weathering, Erosion, Deposition Next Question Next Question

Which of the following is the smallest grain size of sediment? Sand Cobble Silt Clay Next Question Next Question

Lithification (compression) is made up of compaction, and which other process? Erosion Deposition Weathering Cementation Finish

Well, how did you do? 8-10: Wow!, you know your stuff! 5-7: Not bad, but keep practicing 0-4: Ouch!, better study some more Back to Main Page Back to Main Page