What Are Rocks?
What are rocks made of?
Solid materials found on Earth.
What is the rock cycle?
A process that describes how rocks change from one type to another.
Igneous rocks from when melted rock (magma or lava) does what?
Cools and hardens.
Sedimentary rocks are made from tiny pieces of rock called what?
Sediments.
Metamorphic rocks start as what?
Another type of rock.
Rocks can come in different ___, ___, and ___.
Colors, shapes, and sizes.
What are two processes in the rock cycle?
Melting, cooling, erosion, or compression.
What does "igneous" mean?
Fire.
Sediments pile up in ______.
What two things change rocks into metamorphic rock?
Heat and pressure.
Why are rocks important to scientists?
They help us learn about Earth and its past.
Why does no rock stay the same forever?
Because Earth's processes constantly change rocks.
Extrusive igneous rocks form above ground and cool quickly. What size crystals do they have?
Small crystals or air bubbles.
What natural force squeezes the layers together to form sedimentary rock?
Pressure (compression).
Name one example of a metamorphic rock.
Marble, slate, or gneiss.
What makes rocks different from other Earth materials like soil?
Rocks are solid materials made of minerals.
What two steps are needed to turn sediments into sedimentary rock?
Layering and pressure (compression).
What is the difference between extrusive and intrusive igneous rocks?
Extrusive form above ground and cool quickly; intrusive form underground and cool slowly.
What is one example of a sedimentary rock?
Limestone or Sandstone.
Why are metamorphic rocks sometimes called “changed” rocks?
Because they change form due to heat and pressure.
Explain two ways rocks help us understand Earth's history.
Their layers, fossils, composition, and formation processes reveal Earth's past environments.
Describe one complete path a rock can take through the cycle (any correct path).
Igneous rock → weathering → sediments → sedimentary rock → heat/pressure → metamorphic.
Give one example each of an extrusive and an intrusive igneous rock.
Extrusive: Pumice
Intrusive: Granite
Explain how a rock becomes sedimentary, starting from a larger rock.
Weathering breaks it into sediments → sediments layer → pressure forms sedimentary rock.
Describe how a sedimentary rock could become a metamorphic rock.
If it is buried deep underground, heat and pressure change it into metamorphic rock.