Rock Basics
Scientists who study rocks.
Geologists
Igneous rocks are made of these.
Minerals
Process where rocks are broken into smaller pieces.
Weathering
Small pieces of rock that form sedimentary rocks.
Sediments
Soil made of tightly packed particles that hold water easily.
Clay Soil
Rock formed when magma or lava cools and solidifies.
Igneous Rock
The main feature of igneous rocks formed as minerals cool.
Crystals
Process where broken rock pieces are carried away by wind, water, or ice.
Erosion
Sedimentary rocks usually form in these patterns.
Layers
Soil made of a mixture of sand and clay that is good for growing plants.
Loam
Name for melted rock beneath Earth’s surface.
Magma
Igneous rock formed when magma cools slowly underground.
Intrusive igneous rock
Process where sediments settle and build up in layers.
Sedimentation
Preserved remains or traces of plants or animals found in rocks.
Fossils
Material made from decayed plants and food scraps that improves soil.
Compost
Name for melted rock once it reaches the Earth's surface
Lava
Igneous rock formed when lava cools quickly on Earth’s surface.
Extrusive Igneous Rock
Two forces that change rocks into metamorphic rocks.
Heat and pressure
Type of rock where fossils are most commonly found.
Sedimentary Rock
Action farmers take to improve soil by adding compost or fertilizer.
Changing the composition of soil
Two types of igneous rock based on where they form.
Intrusive and extrusive igneous rocks
Three minerals commonly found in granite.
Quartz, feldspar, and mica
Three main rock types in the rock cycle.
Igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks
Process where minerals glue sediments together to form sedimentary rock.
Sedimentation
Two human actions that can damage soil.
Using pesticides, using too much fertilizer, or not mixing organic matter into soil