The Rock Cycle Process

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Questions and Answers

What is the outermost layer of the Earth made of?

Rocks

What happens to rocks over time?

They are broken down and reformed

What is the process by which rocks are broken down into smaller pieces?

Weathering

What is the rock cycle?

A combination of geological processes that shape the Earth's crust Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for rocks formed from broken fragments of older rocks and minerals?

Sedimentary Rocks Signup and view all the answers

What are rocks composed of?

A mixture of different minerals Signup and view all the answers

What is the process of rocks being pushed deep into the Earth and melting?

Uplift and burial Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the process of rocks changing form under high pressure and temperature?

Metamorphism Signup and view all the answers

What happens to rocks when they are pushed deep into the Earth?

They are melted or deformed Signup and view all the answers

What is weathering?

The breaking down of rocks at the surface Signup and view all the answers

What type of rock is formed from interlocking mineral crystals?

Igneous Rock Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the rock cycle?

To shape the Earth's surface Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the process of sediment settling and accumulating?

Deposition Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the process of rocks being uplifted and buried?

Uplift and burial Signup and view all the answers

What is a mineral?

A solid chemical compound that occurs naturally Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the cycle of rock formation, transformation, and destruction?

The Rock Cycle Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the broken up pieces of rock that are transported away by rivers, glaciers and wind?

Sediment Signup and view all the answers

What happens to magma or lava when it cools down and turns from liquid to solid?

It forms crystals and is said to crystallise Signup and view all the answers

Why do igneous rocks formed from cooling lava, such as basalt, only have tiny crystals?

Because the surface of the Earth is cold Signup and view all the answers

What can get trapped in sedimentary rocks?

Gas bubbles Signup and view all the answers

What is obsidian?

Volcanic glass Signup and view all the answers

How do sediments become a sedimentary rock?

By being squashed and compacted together Signup and view all the answers

What can sedimentary rocks contain?

Fossils Signup and view all the answers

Why do crystals in magma deep within the Earth have more time to grow?

Because magma takes thousands of years to crystallise Signup and view all the answers

What can be seen under a microscope in an igneous rock that has formed deep within the Earth?

Pores Signup and view all the answers

What happens when a permeable rock is put in water?

Bubbles come out as water pushes the air out Signup and view all the answers

What determines the type of metamorphic rock formed?

Type of rock and amount of heat and pressure Signup and view all the answers

What is the characteristic of a non-porous and impermeable rock?

It has no pores Signup and view all the answers

What is the difference between fast cooling and slow cooling in the formation of igneous rocks?

Fast cooling results in smaller crystals, slow cooling results in larger crystals Signup and view all the answers

What is the type of rock that has been changed over time?

Metamorphic rock Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for gaps between the grains in a rock?

Pores Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the type of rock that is formed from lava?

Basalt Signup and view all the answers

What occurs to rocks when they are pushed deep into the Earth?

They become stretched, squashed, and slightly melted Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of metamorphic rocks?

The minerals in them tend to line up to form layers Signup and view all the answers

What is the result of metamorphism?

Formation of new metamorphic rocks with different textures and/or minerals Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of a metamorphic rock?

Marble Signup and view all the answers

What causes the minerals in metamorphic rocks to line up to form layers?

Extreme pressure and heat Signup and view all the answers

What is the difference between metamorphic rocks and igneous rocks?

Metamorphic rocks have minerals that line up to form layers, while igneous rocks do not Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

The Rock Cycle

The outermost layer of the Earth, called the crust, is made from rocks.
Rocks can be broken down, moved around, and deposited in different places over thousands and millions of years.
The rock cycle combines these processes.

What are Rocks?

Rocks are made from a mixture of different minerals, which are solid chemical compounds that occur naturally on Earth.
Rocks can be made from interlocking mineral crystals that fit tightly together or from broken fragments of older rocks and minerals cemented together.

Types of Rocks

Igneous rocks: formed from the cooling and solidification of magma or lava.
Sedimentary rocks: formed from the compaction of sediments, such as sand, mud, or fossils.
Metamorphic rocks: formed from the transformation of existing rocks under high pressure and temperature.

Igneous Rocks

Formed when magma or lava cools down and solidifies.
Can have small or large crystals depending on the cooling rate.
Can have gas bubbles trapped in them.
Examples: basalt, granite, obsidian.

Sedimentary Rocks

Formed from the accumulation and compaction of sediments.
Can contain fossils of animals and plants.
Can have pores or gaps between the grains.
Examples: sandstone, limestone, mudstone.

Metamorphic Rocks

Formed from the transformation of existing rocks under high pressure and temperature.
Can have new textures and minerals.
Depends on the type of rock and the amount of heat and pressure.
Examples: gneiss, marble, quartzite.

Rock Properties

Permeability: the ability of water, air, or oil to flow through the rock.
Porosity: the presence of gaps or pores between the grains.
Examples: permeable rocks like sandstone, impermeable rocks like granite.

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