1. Rocks are not what they seem. They are constantly changing. Find out what happens step by step by repeatedly clicking the mouse or pressing the enter key ……… or happen very quickly. Changes can take millions of years

2. Sedimentary rock Igneous rock granite basalt large crystals small crystals very high temperatures causing melting cooling and crystallisation (solidification) weathering and erosion fast cooling slow cooling very hot! mudstone Magma (molten rock) Sediment mud sand shells sediment is compacted (squashed) and particles get cemented Metamorphic rock limestone sandstone marble slate heat and pressure Any rock can be weathered or eroded to mud or sand

3. Some changes are rapid eg landslides and volcanic eruptions … Click here to run the Rock Cycle again automatically! … but much of the cycle takes millions and millions of years!

4. Sedimentary rock Igneous rock granite basalt large crystals small crystals very high temperatures causing melting cooling and crystallisation (solidification) weathering and erosion fast cooling slow cooling very hot! mudstone Magma (molten rock) Sediment mud sand shells sediment is compacted (squashed) and particles get cemented Metamorphic rock limestone sandstone marble slate heat and pressure Any rock can be weathered or eroded to mud or sand

5. References Peter Hollamby and Steve Lewis for the Royal Society of Chemistry Move back to any point in this presentation by using either the backspace or up arrow keys.