Ch. 3.1 The Rock Cycle

Rocks Rock – any solid mass of mineral or mineral-like matter that occurs naturally as a part of our planet. Rocks are classified into 3 groups: igneous rocks, sedimentary rocks, and metamorphic rocks.

The Rock cycle The rock cycle is the continuous interactions between water, air, and land, that cause rock to change from one type to another.

Magma – molten material that forms deep in the Earth Magma – molten material that forms deep in the Earth. When magma cools and hardens either below the Earth’s surface or from a volcanic eruption then igneous rock forms. Magma that reaches the Earth’s surface is called lava.

All rock undergoes weathering All rock undergoes weathering. Weathering is a process where rocks are physically and chemically broken down by water, air, and living things. Sediments are weathered pieces of Earth material. Over time sediments compact and cement together to form sedimentary rock.

Sedimentary rock that is buried deep in the Earth is exposed to extreme pressure an/or temperatures and they will change into metamorphic rock These rocks can be subjected to further pressure or temperatures and melt to form magma, that starts the rock cycle over again.

There are different path’s that the rock cycle can take, but heat from the Earth’s interior is responsible for forming igneous and metamorphic rock. Weathering and movement of weather materials produce sedimentary rock.