Download Earth Resources Lesson - Rock Types & Rock Cycle

This
Rocks!
Learning Objectives
• Describe the 3 main rock types
• Understand how each rock is formed
• Understand the rock lifecycle and relationship between each rock type
What do we know about how rocks
form?
Every rock tells a story!
Sedimentary rocks!
• Sedimentary rocks are formed by sediment
that is deposited over time.
• Made from pieces of other rocks, as well as
organic materials such as shells
• Compacted until they cement together into
a solid rock
How does the weather break rocks
down?
Formation of Sedimentary rocks!
Gypsum
Conglomerate
Sandstone
Shale
Igneous rocks!
• Igneous rock is formed when magma
cools and solidifies
• This can happen above or below the
Earth's surface.
• Magma is made up of atoms from the
melted molecules of minerals.
• These atoms rearrange themselves into
mineral crystals as the magma cools.
Basalt column cliffs - D'Entrecasteux National Park, Western Australia
Formation of Igneous rocks!
Obsidian
Gabbro
Basalt
Scoria
Metamorphic rocks!
• Metamorphic rocks are rocks that
have been changed over time by
extreme pressure and heat.
• The word metamorphic means
“changed form”
• These rocks can be made up of
sedimentary, igneous or other
metamorphic rocks.
• After formation, uplift and erosion
help bring metamorphic rock to the
Earth's surface.
The extraordinary Glasshouse Rocks are said to be around 440-510
million years old.
This is ANCIENT compared to the 12 Apostles (a mere
20 million years old).
Types of Metamorphic rocks!
Slate
Schist
Marble
The rock life cycle!