Download The Rock Cycle

The Rock Cycle
Rock Cycle
Igneous rock can change
into sedimentary rock or
into metamorphic rock
Sedimentary rock can
change into metamorphic
rock or into igneous rock.
Metamorphic rock can
change into igneous or
sedimentary rock.
Igneous Rock
Igneous rock is formed when magma cools
and makes crystals.
Magma is a hot liquid rock material made of
melted minerals.
Igneous rock can form underground, where
the magma cools slowly or igneous rock can
form above ground, where the magma cools
quickly.
Igneous rock forms crystals as it cools
Sedimentary Rock
Sedimentary rocks form at or near the
earth's surface at relatively low
temperatures and pressures primarily by:
deposition by water, wind or ice
precipitation from solution
growth in position by organic processes
(e.g., carbonate reefs )
Metamorphic Rock
Metamorphic Rock form as rocky material
experiences intense heat & pressure in earth’s crust.
With the metamorphic process, igneous rocks,
sedimentary rocks and even metamorphic rock
change into metamorphic rocks or another type of
metamorphic rock.
Heat & pressure do not change the chemical
makeup of the parent rock, but they do change the
structure and physical properties of the minerals
in the rocks.
Metamorphic Rocks
Sediment
Sediment can either be:
Material, originally suspended in a liquid, that
settles at the bottom of the liquid when it is left
standing for a long time
Material eroded from preexisting rocks that is
transported by water, wind, or ice and deposited
elsewhere
Erosion
The wearing away of exposed surfaces by agents
such as wind, moving water and ice. These agents
usually contain weathered rock debris. Rock fall
under gravity is also erosion.
Erosion influences orogeny (Plate Tectonic
Action) that rubs and wears away rock material.
Weathering
When rocks are broken down by chemical and/or
physical mechanisms into smaller particles.There
are three types of weathering:
Physical weathering: physical action which
breaks up rocks. Example: freeze thawing
Chemical Weathering: a rock is attacked by
chemicals. Example: acid rain breaks down rock
Biological weathering: a rocks is broken down
by animals and plants. Example: tree root
system
Cementation
Most sediments are deposited in water containing
dissolved minerals.
The water flows through the sediment and some
of these minerals precipitate on the grain
surfaces.
With time, this inter-granular material
effectively glues the sediment together into a
cohesive solid- a sedimentary rock.
Compaction
The result of this pressure is a compaction of the
sediment
it is squeezed together causing a reduction in
pore space and a sticking together of the grains.
Under pressure, some chemical sediments, like
halite, may recrystallize into a solid state.
Decomposition
Decomposition takes place when hydraulic energy,
organic biochemical activity, or chemical changes
occur.
Transportation
This process occurs when the particles created by
weathering are carried by ice, air, or water to a
region of lower energy known as a sedimentary
basin.
Melting
Melting is the result of continued heating
Leads to production of magma and new igneous
rocks which are formed when the magma cools.
This process depends on the size of the reservoir
that it drains and the relative intensity or activity
of plate tectonics.
Heat and Pressure
Rocks trapped underground are still subject to
enormous heat from rising magma, or heated
water, and pressure. Sometimes the heat can get so
intense the rocks actually melt.
Pressure comes from the incredible weight of
material surrounding the rock on all sides.
The pressure pushes new minerals into the rock
and drives other minerals out; the result, of course,
is that the rock is chemically changed.
Plutonic &Volcanic
Volcanic rocks, extrusive rocks or lava rocks,
crystallize when the magma reaches the earth’s
surface cooling quickly.
Plutonic rocks, intrusive rocks, crystallize within
the crust of the earth, and as a result plutonic
rocks cool at a much slower pace then volcanic
rocks
Subduction
A rock is pulled into the subduction zone may get
dragged down with the oceanic plate. As the rock
gets dragged down, they undergo metamorphism.
Some parts of the rocks get taken all the way
down to the mantle where they slowly mix with the
rest of the mantle. – this is the only way that rocks
formed on the continent get recycled with the
mantle.
Uplifting
Because certain rocks are created under the Earth’s
surface A process called uplifting occurs through
orogeny and volcanic process, which then bring
rocks to the surface. The rock is eventually
becomes recycled again.
Crystallization
When hot conditions cause magma to melt then
cool, because the source of heat subsides or the
magma moves into cooler regions of the Earth.
Cooling deep in the Earth, where it is fairly warm,
the magma cools slowly creating large crystals.
Magma reaches the surface, the lava cools quickly
and the crystals are much smaller or not at all.
If the crystals cannot grow at all and volcanic
glass is formed.
Crystallization