1. ROCKS

2. Rocks
a naturally occurring solid mixture composed of minerals, smaller rock fragments, organic matter, or glass.
Grains – individual particles in rock

3. Types of Rocks Igneous – most abundant on Earth Formation
Molten rock (magma) erupts onto the earth (lava) and cools
Texture/Composition
Fine-grained (small crystals)
Coarse-grained (large crystals)

4. Types of Rocks Sedimentary Formation Texture/Composition
Lithification – process through which sediment (loose rock and mineral fragments) turn into rock
Layers of sediment build up and the weight of top layers compact the sediments into rock
Texture/Composition
Fine or coarse grained
Rounded (older) or angular (younger)

5. Types of Rocks Metamorphic Formation Texture/Composition
Parent rocks are squeezed or heated forming new rocks
Texture/Composition
Foliation – uneven pressures cause flat minerals to line up, giving the rock a layered appearance

6. Uses of Rocks Hard and durable (granite, limestone)
construction, building
Soft with hard pieces (pumice)
polishing/cleaning
Foliated (slate)
roofing shingles
Soft (marble)
carving/sculpturing

7. The Rock Cycle
Series of processes that continually change one type of rock into another

8. Processes of the Rock Cycle
Cooling and Crystallization
Extrusive Rock – igneous rocks that form from lava that erupts, cools, and crystallizes on Earth’s surface
Intrusive Rock – igneous rocks that form from magma that cools and crystallizes inside Earth

9. Processes of the Rock Cycle
Uplift
Process that moves large amounts of rock up to the Earth’s surface
Associated with development of mountains
Weathering and Erosion
Breaking down and transporting of rock due to the environment (wind, glaciers, rain, organisms)

10. Processes of the Rock Cycle
Deposition
Process of laying down sediment in a new location
Forms layers of sediment
Compaction and Cementation
Weight of overlying layers pushes grains of sediment closer together
Crystallized minerals cement the grains together

11. Processes of the Rock Cycle
Temperature and Pressure
Rocks under high temperatures and pressures undergo metamorphism
High enough temperatures cause the rocks to melt into magma to become igneous again

13. Rocks and Plate Tectonics
Most changes to rocks occur at tectonic plate boundaries (volcanoes, mountains, earthquakes, etc.)