Rock Cycle

Question 1

Rocks are made up of a variety of minerals and can be classified into three main categories:

Answer 1

Igneous
Sedimentary
Metamorphic

Question 2

Agents of Change

Answer 2

Weathering-break down of rock into smaller particles
Erosion-wearing down of the earth’s surface followed by movement
Deposition- the laying down of sediments
Compression
Heat and Pressure- metamorphism
Melting
Cooling

Question 3

Magma/Lava

Answer 3

Melted or molten rock
If it is under ground, it is called Magma
If it is above ground, it is called Lava

Question 4

Igneous Rock

Answer 4

Ignis= fire in Latin
Formed from the cooling and hardening (solidifying) of hot melted magma that rises from deep under the earth’s crust then cools and hardens

Question 5

Igneous can either be…

Answer 5

intrusive or extrusive

Question 6

Igneous intrusive

Answer 6

form below the earth’s surface, crystals in the rock are usually larger because they cool more slowly

Large crystals cooled slowly below the surface. Ex. Granite

Question 7

Igneous extrusive

Answer 7

form on the earth’s surface as a result of volcanic activity, crystals are usually smaller because lava cools very quickly

Small Crystals if cooled quickly on the earths surface. Ex. Basalt, Pumice

Question 8

Characteristics of igneous rocks

Answer 8

glass-like or sponge-like depending on how close it is to the surface.

Question 9

Sedimentary Rocks
Sediments are

Answer 9

small pieces of rock that have been broken down by wind/water/etc.

Question 10

Sediments are formed by

Answer 10

compression (gluing together) of sediments over millions of years

Question 11

Sedimentary rocks can be classified in two ways:

Answer 11

Clastic: made from the “gluing” together of sediments (small pieces of rock) over time
Non-Clastic: made from remains of plants and animals

Question 12

Sedimentary rocks typically form

Answer 12

in layers and can easily break

Question 13

Sedimentary Rock Examples

Answer 13

Sandstone, Shale, Limestone

Question 14

Metamorphic Rocks
Formed when

Answer 14

pre-existing rock is transformed (changed) under tremendous heat and pressure

This occurs when layers of rock below the earth’s surface experience heat and pressure due to the overlying material

Question 15

Characteristics of metamorphic rocks

Answer 15

hard, dense, less porous, have crystals in non-parallel layers
This takes millions of years to occur

Question 16

Metamorphic rock examples:

Answer 16

Gneiss, Slate, Marble

Question 17

The Rock Cycle
(how rocks are formed)

Answer 17

1. Start with molten rock known as magma
2. When it cools, this melted rock hardens and turns into igneous rock
3. This rock is weathered (broken up), eroded (worn away), and deposited (collected)
4. The deposited material layer and harden, forming sedimentary rock
5. If igneous or sedimentary rock undergoes pressure or heating, it becomes metamorphic rock