Download the rock cycle study guide

THE ROCK CYCLE STUDY GUIDE
Directions: Fill in the blanks with the correct word or words that will answer each question. Feel free to use your science
notes to help you.
VOCABULARY
bedrock
erosion
horizon
humus
igneous rock
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11.
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metamorphic rock
mineral
rock
rock cycle
weathering
sedimentary rock
The sequence of processes that change rocks from one type to another
over long periods of time
The solid rock that forms Earth's surface
A layer in the soil
A solid substance that occurs naturally in rocks or in the ground
The type of rock that forms when melted rock cools and hardens
The breaking down of rocks on Earth's surface into smaller pieces
The remains of decayed plants or animals in the soil
A type of rock that forms when heat or pressure change an existing rock
The process of moving sediment from one place to another
A solid substance made of one or more minerals
A type of rock that forms when layers of sediment are pressed together
SCIENCE CONCEPTS AND UNDERSTANDING
1. Igneous
o How do they form?
 Cooling forms minerals
o Extrusive vs. intrusive—how do these relate to cooling and crystal size?
o Magma: common elements, most common compounds, types of magma, and viscosity
o How to classify igneous rocks:
 Grain size: coarse vs. fine-grained—relate these to cooling times, crystal size, and
extrusive vs. intrusive
 Texture: uniform, porphyritic, glassy
Know some common igneous rocks: granite, obsidian, basalt
2. Sedimentary
o Weathering, erosion, transport, deposition, burial, formation of soil, soil horizon
o Lithification and cementation: how sediments get turned into rocks
o Types of sedimentary rocks:
 Clastic: relates to grain size and porosity
 Chemical: evaporates
 Organic sedimentary rock
o Importance and uses of sedimentary rocks
o Know some common sedimentary rocks: sandstone, limestone, shale
3. Metamorphic
o What is metamorphism and what are its causes?
o Types of metamorphism: regional, contact, hydrothermal
o Metamorphic texture: foliated vs. non-foliated
o Know some common metamorphic rocks: marble, gneiss, and slate and their nonmetamorphic counterparts (limestone, granite, and shale)
4. Know and understand the Rock Cycle!