Download Name: India Coghlan. Visit this webpage… http://www.bbc.co.uk

Name: India Coghlan.
Visit this webpage…
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ks3bitesize/science/chemistry/rock_cycle_intro.shtml
What are rocks?
A rock is made of grains that fit together. Each grain in the rock is made from a mineral, which is a
chemical compound. The grains in a rock can be different colours, shapes and sizes.
There are two types of grains; interlocking and rounded grains.
An example of a rock with interlocking grains is: Granite
Rocks with interlocking grains have the following properties:
 They fit tightly together

Nonporous
An example of a rock with rounded grains is: Sandstone
Rocks with rounded grains have the following properties:
 porous

Softer and more crumbly than rocks with interlocking grains
The Earth's rocks do not stay the same forever. They are continually changing because of processes
such as weathering and large earth movements. The rocks are gradually recycled over millions of
years. This is called the rock cycle.
There are three main types of rocks…
Igneous, Sedimentary and Metamorphic.
View this animation and use it to help you summarise the rock cycle. Add labels (sedimentary,
igneous & metamorphic) and information to each step of the rock cycle diagram below.
This link will assist you…
http://www.classzone.com/books/earth_science/terc/content/investigations/es0602/es0602page02.cfm?cha
pter_no=investigation
Hot molten/liquid
rock called magma
is contained inside
the Earth
Rocks then undergo
metamorphism and
melting due to extreme
heat and pressure
Sediments then undergo the
processes of compaction and
Cementation to form sedimentary
rock.
Crystallisation of
magma to form
igneous rock
Sediments are
deposited
Erosion
of solid rock
produces Sediment
Sediment is
transported over
land by water
Use each of the webpages below to complete the notes and information on this section…
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/chemistry/changestoearthandatmosphere/0rocksrev2.shtml
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ks3bitesize/science/chemistry/rock_cycle_6.shtml
http://www.fi.edu/fellows/fellow1/oct98/create/sediment.htm
How are sedimentary rocks formed?
Sedimentary rocks are often porous. Show how sedimentary rocks are formed using the flow
diagram below…include details of each stage.
Sedimentation
(Sediments build up in
layers
compaction
(The weight of the sediments at
the top, squashes the sediments at
the bottom)
cementation
(The crystals form a sort of glue
that cements the rocks together)
Sedimentary rocks contain evidence of how they were formed, including ripple marks from waves
or water currents, and layers of different thickness and composition. Younger sedimentary rocks
usually lie on top of older rocks, but this can change.
What do sedimentary rocks look like?
Sedimentary Rocks have rounded grains in layers.
 Draw a picture to help explain your answer.
How do plants and animals sometimes form part of sedimentary rocks?
Plants and animals sometimes for part of sedimentary rocks from fossils deposited on
the Earth’s surface and they have layers of rocks formed over them
If I were to look at the side of a cliff formed with sedimentation, where would I look to find the oldest
rocks? Explain.
You would look at the bottom of the cliff to find the oldest rocks.
List as many examples as you can of sedimentary rocks:
 Limestone
 chalk

 Mudstone
 sandstone

 Slate
 Shale

Use each of the webpages below to complete the notes and information on this section…
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/chemistry/changestoearthandatmosphere/0rocksrev3.shtml
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ks3bitesize/science/chemistry/rock_cycle_7.shtml
http://www.fi.edu/fellows/fellow1/oct98/create/igneous.htm
Why might igneous rocks be called “Fire Rocks”?
Igneous rocks may be called ‘Fire Rocks’ because they are made of very hot rocks (magma). They
also may be called ‘Fire Rocks’ because the word ‘ignis’ means ‘fire’ in Latin.
Igneous Rocks are formed from Molten rock. Molten rock is called Magma. When magma cools
and solidifies, a type of rock called igneous rock forms.
Igneous rocks contain crystals rather than grains. The size of the crystal depends on how fast the
magma cools.
If the magma cools slowly then the crystals will be large.
If the magma cools quickly then the crystals will be small.
There are two types of igneous rocks intrusive and extrusive.
In your own words, explain the difference between the formation of Intrusive and Extrusive igneous
rocks.
Intrusive rocks contain interlocking crystals and are formed underground. Extrusive rocks contain
small crystals and are formed above the Earth’s surface.
Why don’t igneous rocks contain fossils? Is it impossible?
Igneous rocks don’t contain fossils because any fossils that may have been in the original rock
would have melted when the magma formed.
List as many examples as you can of igneous rocks. Try to categorise them as extrusive or intrusive:
Intrusive
Extrusive
Not sure…
 Granite
 Gabbro

 Basalt
 Obsidian




Use each of the webpages below to complete the notes and information on this section…
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ks3bitesize/science/chemistry/rock_cycle_8.shtml
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/chemistry/changestoearthandatmosphere/0rocksrev4.shtml
http://www.fi.edu/fellows/fellow1/oct98/create/metamorph.htm
Metamorphic rocks are formed from other rocks that are changed because of heat or pressure.
They do not melt.
What other words do you know of that contain “morph”? Can you see a connection between
these two processes?
The Greek word ‘morph’ means form. This relates to metamorphic because metamorphic rocks
have changed form.
What is the difference between metamorphic and igneous rocks?
Metamorphic rocks are made up of other rocks (layer upon layer) and are created my great heat
or pressure. Igneous rocks are formed by cooled magma or lava.
Metamorphic rocks may contain the same chemical composition of other rocks, and this provides
evidence for how they were formed.
List as many examples as you can of either sedimentary or igneous rocks and the corresponding
metamorphic rock they transform into:
Sedimentary/Igneous Rock 
 Limestone (sedimentary)
 Granite
 Shale


Metamorphic Rock
 marble
 gneiss
 Slate


Other Metamorphic Rocks





You can now complete the rocks activity at ...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ks3bitesize/science/environment_earth_universe/rock_cycle/activity
.shtml
and you’re nearly done... here is a revision test to see how much on rocks you remember!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/apps/ifl/schools/ks3bitesize/science/quizengine?quiz=rocks&templateStyle=s
cience