1. DRAFT 04/ 07/2000 ESW 2000 Rock Cycle MI DEQ GSD - SEW
The Rock Cycle
Middle School Science
Nature and Technology - Changing the Earth
DRAFT 04/ 07/2000 ESW 2000 Rock Cycle MI DEQ GSD - SEW
SCoPE SC070504

2. Middle School Science
Nature and Technology - Changing the Earth
The eminent 18th century lawyer, doctor, gentleman farmer and founder of modern geoscience, James Hutton, developed the concept of the Rock Cycle to show how rocks and natural, physical processes are interrelated.
Radioactive heating from inside the earth, as well as solar energy and gravity at the surface drives the rock cycle.
As a result, the rock cycle will be self-sustaining for thousands of millions of years.
SCoPE SC070504

3. Middle School Science
Nature and Technology - Changing the Earth
What is the Rock Cycle ?
The rock cycle is a sequence of events involving the formation, alteration, destruction, and reformation of rocks as a result of natural processes such as magmatism (melting of rock into magma), erosion, transportation, deposition, lithification, and metamorphism.
Glossary of Geology, Bates & Jackson, AGI
A possible sequence involves the crystallization of magma to form igneous rocks that are then broken down to sediments (clasts) as a result of weathering, the sediments later being lithified to form sedimentary rocks which are in turn altered by heat, pressure and or fluids to become metamorphic rocks.
The rock cycle can also be related to plate tectonics, if that is appropriate at this time.
SCoPE SC070504

4. Middle School Science
Nature and Technology - Changing the Earth
The mantle, crust and surface of the earth can be thought of as a giant recycling machine;
rocks are neither created nor destroyed, but redistributed and transformed from one rock type to another.
March 2000
SCoPE SC070504

6. Middle School Science
Nature and Technology - Changing the Earth
The Rock Cycle involves the recognition of three main classes of rocks The three rock types are …
SCoPE SC070504

7. Sedimentary Rocks CEMETERY Metamorphic Rocks METABOLIC Igneous Rocks
Middle School Science
Nature and Technology - Changing the Earth
Sedimentary Rocks
CEMETERY
Metamorphic Rocks
METABOLIC
Igneous Rocks
INGENIOUS
Right?
SCoPE SC070504

14. Before we look at the Rock Cycle in more detail,
Middle School Science
Nature and Technology - Changing the Earth
Before we look at the Rock Cycle in more detail,
let’s review some basic information …
SCoPE SC070504

15. Atoms combine to make compounds that combine to make minerals.

16. Minerals are naturally occurring inorganic elements or compounds
having an orderly internal structure
and a characteristic chemical composition,
crystal form and
physical properties

17. Minerals combine to form Rocks

18. Rocks and Natural Processes make up the Rock Cycle
weathering
Metamorphic
Sedimentary
melting
pressure, heat
Igneous

19. The Rock Cycle
weathering
Sedimentary
Metamorphic
Igneous
Rocks are weathered eroded, transported and deposited to form Sedimentary Rocks

20. The Rock Cycle
melting
Sedimentary
Metamorphic
Igneous
Igneous Rocks form from molten rock or magma in the subsurface or from lava extruded at the surface

21. The Rock Cycle
pressure, heat
Sedimentary
Metamorphic
Igneous
Pressure, heat and fluids cause preexisting materials to become Metamorphic Rocks

22. The Rock Cycle
weathering
melting
pressure, heat
Sedimentary
Metamorphic
Igneous
The Rock Cycle does not go in just one direction. Any given rock can go through any part of the cycle any number of times.

23. I hope you better understand the Rock Cycle and what it means.
weathering
melting
pressure, heat
Sedimentary
Metamorphic
Igneous
I hope you better understand the Rock Cycle and what it means.