Rock Cycle Flashcards
Test
What are the three major types of rocks?
Sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic
How are igneous rocks formed?
From the melting and cooling of magma or lava
What process leads to the formation of sedimentary rocks?
Erosion, deposition, compaction, and cementation
What is the term for molten rock beneath Earth’s surface?
Magma
What is it called when magma reaches the surface?
Lava
What is crystallization in relation to igneous rocks?
The solidification of lava or magma
Fill in the blank: A __________ rock is formed from the remains of living things.
Organic sedimentary
What is the process by which rocks change into new rocks called?
The rock cycle
What type of rock is formed under tremendous heat and pressure?
Metamorphic rock
True or False: All sedimentary rocks form from the pressure of compacting sediments.
False
What is the term for the physical change in metamorphic rocks that forms bands of different-colored crystals?
Foliation
What type of igneous rock cools slowly beneath Earth’s surface?
Intrusive igneous rocks
What type of igneous rock cools quickly on Earth’s surface?
Extrusive igneous rocks
List the processes involved in the formation of sedimentary rocks.
- Weathering
- Erosion
- Deposition
- Compaction and cementation
What is an example of a chemical sedimentary rock?
Gypsum
What happens to mud during metamorphism?
It changes into slate
What type of rock is gneiss?
Foliated metamorphic rock
What systems interact to recycle rock materials on Earth?
- Geosphere
- Atmosphere
- Hydrosphere
- Biosphere
Where does the energy needed for geological processes come from?
- The Sun
- Earth’s hot interior
Fill in the blank: __________ rocks are formed from sediments collected at the bottom of bodies of water.
Sedimentary
What type of rock is formed from the cooling and solidification of magma or lava?
Igneous
Igneous rocks can be classified into two main types: intrusive (formed from magma) and extrusive (formed from lava).
What type of rock is formed through the accumulation and compaction of sediments?
Sedimentary
Sedimentary rocks often contain fossils and are formed in layers.
What type of rock is formed under intense heat and pressure?
Metamorphic
Metamorphic rocks can originate from either igneous or sedimentary rocks.
What information can fossils provide?
Which organisms lived on Earth in the past
Fossils can also indicate the environmental conditions of the time.
Place the steps of sedimentary rock formation in order from earliest to latest.
- Weathering and erosion
- Transportation
- Deposition
- Compaction
- Cementation
These steps describe how sediments are transformed into sedimentary rock.
What role does erosion play in the rock cycle?
It transports sediment
Erosion is crucial for moving sediments from one location to another, contributing to the formation of sedimentary rocks.
In what way are rock layers like photo albums?
They contain information about the past
Each layer represents a specific time period in Earth’s history.
Which layer of rock is most likely to be the oldest?
The bottom layer
According to the principle of superposition, older layers are found below younger layers.
How does metamorphic rock reach Earth’s surface?
C. Erosion carries it to the surface
Metamorphic rocks are often formed deep underground and are brought to the surface through geological processes.
How can a sedimentary rock become a metamorphic rock?
By getting exposed to intense heat and pressure
This process alters the mineral structure and texture of the rock.
What are the 3 main types of rocks?
Igneous, Sedimentary, Metamorphic
What does ‘molten’ mean?
Materials with a high melting point liquefied by heat
Fill in the blank: The rock cycle is the long, slow journey of rocks ______ from Earth’s surface and then move back up again.
down
How are sedimentary rocks formed?
From particles of silt, sand, pebbles, and other fragments of material
What is sediment?
Particles of rocks, minerals, or animal or plant material combined to form a rock
What type of rock is usually the only type that contains fossils?
Sedimentary
Examples of sedimentary rock include:
- Limestone
- Sandstone
How are metamorphic rocks formed?
From the metamorphosis that occurs due to intense heat and pressure
Examples of metamorphic rock include:
- Gneiss
- Schist
What characterizes igneous rocks?
Formed when magma cools and solidifies
What happens when lava cools very quickly?
No crystals form and the rock looks shiny and glasslike
Examples of igneous rock include:
- Basalt
- Obsidian
What is metamorphism?
Transformation due to rising temperature and pressure
What is the temperature range required to melt a rock?
600 to 1,300 degrees Celsius
What processes are involved in weathering and erosion?
Breakdown and transport of materials due to environmental exposure
What does compaction and cementation of sediment form?
Sedimentary rock
What is the role of James Hutton in geology?
Founder of modern geology and attributed with the concept of the rock cycle
What can happen to an igneous rock?
It can be melted and cooled
What does deposition and compaction eventually turn sediment into?
Sedimentary Rock
Describe 3 things that can happen to sedimentary rocks.
- Compacted
- Cemented
- Eroded
Describe 2 things that can happen to metamorphic rocks.
- Melted
- Weathered/Eroded
What is one thing that can happen to magma/lava?
It can be cooled
