Rock Cycle
What is a rock?
A solid mass of mineral or mineral-like matter that occurs naturally as part of our planet.
What is lava?
Magma that reaches the surface.
How do sedimentary rocks form?
Sediment is compacted and cemented to form sedimentary rock.
What happens to sedimentary rock under extreme pressure and temperature?
They change into metamorphic rock.
The three major types of rocks.
Igneous rocks, sedimentary rocks, and metamorphic rocks.
How do Igneous rocks form?
When magma cools and hardens beneath the surface or as a result of a volcanic eruption.
What is sediment?
Weathered pieces of earth materials.
What processes are responsible for forming igneous and metamorphic rocks?
Heat and pressure.
Rocks are exposed to change through what?
Weathering
What does slow cooling result in?
Formation of large crystals.
What are sedimentary rocks?
Rocks made of weathered bits of rocks and minerals.
What is metamorphism?
The changes in mineral composition and texture of a rock subjected to high temperature and pressure.
What is the rock cycle?
The continuous processes that cause rocks to change from one type to another.
What does rapid cooling of magma or lava result in?
Rocks with small interconnected mineral grains.
What is chemical sedimentary rock?
Rocks that form from when dissolved minerals sperate from water solutions.
What are the agents of metamorphism?
Heat, pressure, and hydrothermal solutions.
What is magma?
Molten material that forms deep beneath Earth's surface.
Occurs when rocks contain many dark silicate materials.
Basaltic rock
Where do the oldest layers of sedimentary form?
At the bottom.
What is the difference between foliated and non foliated metamorphic rocks?
Foliated rocks have a layered or banded appearance, while non-foliated rocks do not have a banded texture and usually contain only one mineral.