Rocks Flashcards: Rock Cycle

The Rock Cycle

• Igneous rocks transform into sedimentary rocks through weathering, erosion, deposition, compaction, and cementation.
• Sedimentary rocks can become metamorphic rocks when subjected to heat and pressure, often from tectonic processes.
• Metamorphic rocks can ultimately melt into magma, which, upon cooling, reform as igneous rocks.

Types of Rocks

• Three major types of rocks: igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic.
• Classification of rocks is based on their formation process.

Energy Sources

• Earth’s internal heat is responsible for the formation of igneous and metamorphic rocks.
• Solar energy drives weathering processes and sediment movement leading to sedimentary rock formation.

Conservation of Matter

• The Law of Conservation of Matter indicates that the total amount of rock in the rock cycle remains constant.

Igneous Rocks

• Form from cooling magma (beneath the surface) or lava (on the surface).
• Cooling rate influences crystal size; slower cooling results in larger crystals.
• Two types: intrusive (formed inside the Earth) and extrusive (formed at the surface).

Sedimentary Rocks

• Created from compacted and cemented sediments.
• Formation process includes weathering, erosion, deposition, compaction, and cementation.
• Types: clastic (formed from fragments) and chemical (formed from mineral deposits).
• Fossils are predominantly found in sedimentary rocks.

Metamorphic Rocks

• Created under heat and pressure from existing igneous or sedimentary rocks.
• Types: foliated (layered appearance) and non-foliated (uniform texture).
• Three agents of metamorphism: heat, pressure, and hydrothermal solutions.

Erosion Factors

• Four major erosional agents: water, wind, ice, and gravity, which contribute to the breakdown and transport of rocks and sediments.