Rock Cycle Diagram

Wednesday, April 1, 2020


The Rock Cycle

As Twisted Sister may say, "I wanna Rock! Rock! Rock! Rock the Rock Cycle."
The Earth is constantly changing and the rock cycle is one of many cycles like the water, carbon, and nitrogen that recycles important resources on Earth.

the rock cycle

There are three main rocks involved in the rock cycle.
  • Igneous
  • Sedimentary
  • Metamorphic


Igneous rocks
are created from molten rock. In fact, the name is derived from a Greek word for fire. 
Igneous rocks form from hot, molten rock that cools and then solidifies. Igneous rocks may form from magma which is found inside the Earth or Lava which is the molten rock on the surface of the Earth.

There are two major types of igneous rocks
Intrusive igneous rocks have large crystals because they cool slowly inside the Earth.
Extrusive igneous rocks have small crystals or no crystals at all because they cool quickly.

Sedimentary rocks are the most common rocks on Earth
Many of these rocks are created by weathering, erosion, deposition, compaction, and cementation.
You can use WEDCC in order to help you understand this process.
WEDCC stands for weathering,erosion,deposition,compaction,and cementation.

Metamorphic rocks are created when extreme heat and pressure change the original structure into a new type of rock sedimentary igneous and even metamorphic rocks can all become
metamorphic rocks when exposed to heat and pressure. the original rock is referred to as the
protolith but it's commonly referred to as the parent rock.

Contact metamorphism occurs when the existing rock comes into contact with extreme heat like magma inside the earth and becomes something new

Regional metamorphism is caused by extreme pressure. The pressure presses and squeezes the rock and transforms it. Kinda like gravity acts on this balloon. This will occur at convergent plate boundaries. Existing rocks are transferred into new rocks at these boundaries.

When you look at the rock cycle the arrows point to what the rock is becoming.
  • In order for any rock to become a metamorphic rock, heat and pressure needs to be applied.
  • In order to become sedimentary rock, it must go through WEDCC. Weathering, Erosion, Deposition, Cementation, and Compaction.
  • In order to become igneous rock, it needs to melt, cool, then become solid.
The rock cycle is a never-ending cycle of rocks changing from one form to another.


Rock Cycle Resources








2 comments:

  1. can you please give me an example of a metamorphic rock forming from a metamorphic rock..

    ReplyDelete
  2. Do you have any postures or art for sale?

    ReplyDelete

Powered by Blogger.
Back to Top