1. THE ROCK CYCLE MELTING COOLING MELTED ROCK WEATHERING, AND DEPOSITION
EROSION,
METAMORPHIC ROCK
THE ROCK CYCLE
HEAT AND
PRESSURE
IGNEOUS ROCK
SEDIMENTARY ROCK
WEATHERING, EROSION,
AND DEPOSITION
COMPACTION AND
CEMENTATION
SEDIMENT

2. The Rock Cycle
The Earth is constantly changing. Even the very rocks around you may have changed many times throughout their history!
The Rock Cycle explains the evolution of these igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks that make up the Earth’s crust.
Many processes, such as volcanic activity, movement of the crust, and erosion and deposition of rocks on the surface, create different environments where various types of minerals and rocks form.
Let’s take a ride on the
Rock Cycle!
Back to the beginning

3. Melting…

4. MELTED ROCK Generally appears at plate boundaries when crustal plates
are colliding or spreading
apart.
Magma forms beneath
the surface.
Lava is found on the
surface.
Lava
Magma
Go back to the Rock Cycle
Cool this melted rock!

5. Cooling…

6. IGNEOUS ROCKS Form as melted rock cools.
Can be extrusive or intrusive.
Examples include granite, basalt, and obsidian.
Choose your own Adventure:
Add some heat and pressure!
Weather and erode this rock!
Go back to the Rock Cycle

7. WEATHERING AND EROSION
Did you know that the sand on the beach used to be part of a rock?
Once a rock is made, it doesn’t stay that way! If it is on the surface, the rock is broken down into sediments by weathering processes, then moved to a new location by erosional forces.
Weathering is the process of decomposition or disintegration of rocks in place.
Erosion is the movement of weathered materials by water, wind, ice, or gravity.
Go back to the Rock Cycle
Deposit sediment

8. SEDIMENTS Sediments are mineral or organic
particles that are deposited by
the action of wind, water, ice,
or gravity.
Boulders, gravel, sand, and mud
are all types of sediments.
Compact and cement these
sediments!
Go back to the Rock Cycle

9. SEDIMENTARY ROCKS Examples of sedimentary rocks
As the sediments settle, they compact.
If the sediments are small enough, they can form rocks.
If the sediments are large, natural cements fill in the empty spaces and “glue” the sediments together.
Choose your own Adventure:
Weather and erode this rock!
Add heat and
pressure to this rock!
Examples of sedimentary rocks
include sandstone, shale, and
limestone.
Go back to the Rock Cycle.

10. METAMORPHIC ROCKS These rocks have gone through a lot!
Metamorphic rocks form from pre-
existing rocks that have changed due to high temperatures, pressures, or chemical changes.
Choose your own Adventure:
Melt this rock!
Weather and erode this rock!
Examples of metamorphic rocks
include gneiss, slate, and marble.
Go back to the Rock Cycle

11. GLOSSARY Cement: A substance that hardens to act as an adhesive; glue.
Compact: become pressed together
Erosion is the movement of weathered materials by water, wind, ice, or gravity.
Extrusive: an igneous rock formation environment that occurs on the surface
Intrusive: an igneous rock formation environment that occurs beneath the surface
Lava: molten rock on the Earth’s surface
Magma: molten rock beneath the Earth’s surface
Weathering is the process of decomposition or disintegration of rocks in place.
Take me back to the Rock Cycle!

12. Granite Intrusive igneous rock. Cools slowly and has large crystals.
Generally found on the continents.
Go back to Igneous Rocks

13. Basalt Extrusive igneous rock Cools quickly and has small crystals.
Oceanic crust is made up of basalt.
Go back to Igneous Rocks

14. Obsidian Often called “volcanic glass”
Extrusive igneous rock that cools extremely quickly.
Does not have crystals.
Go back to Igneous Rocks

15. Sandstone
A sedimentary rock consisting of quartz sand cemented together by other minerals.
May be many colors, including grey, yellow, red, and white.
Is capable of holding large quantities of water.
Go back to Sedimentary Rocks

16. Shale
Formed from clay and mud particles that have been pressed into thin sheets.
Extremely fine-grained material
Go back to Sedimentary Rocks

17. Limestone
Generally forms from calcite produced by marine organisms, and may
contain fossils.
May also form from groundwater containing dissolved calcite.
Will “fizz” when in contact with hydrochloric acid (HCl).
Go back to Sedimentary Rocks

18. Gneiss A coarse-grained rock with bands of light colored minerals that
alternate with bands of dark-colored
minerals.
Similar in composition to granite
(quartz, feldspar, mica)
Go back to Metamorphic Rocks

19. Slate
Fine-grained rock composed of metamorphosed clay or volcanic ash.
Generally forms when shale undergoes metamorphism.
Has distinctive layers.
Go back to Metamorphic Rocks

20. Marble building material Does not have layers or bands
Metamorphosed limestone
Often used in sculpture and as a
building material
Does not have layers or bands
Go back to Metamorphic Rocks