Rock Cycle Vocab Flashcards
1
Q
Weathering
A
The breaking down of Earth’s materials by natural processes (water, wind, ice, chemicals, etc.) into smaller pieces or sediments
2
Q
Erosion
A
Weathered rock and soil particles are moved
from place to place by water, wind, or ice
3
Q
Deposition
A
Weathered sediments are laid down in a new
location helping create new landforms or rocks
4
Q
Melting
A
Caused by heat and pressure around the rock
to form magma
5
Q
Solidification
A
Magma or lava cools and hardens
6
Q
Re-crystallization
A
Through heat and pressure, the rock’s atoms
and crystals are rearranged
7
Q
Igneous Rock
A
Formed from the cooling and solidification of magma or lava • 2 Types – Extrusive Igneous Rock – Intrusive Igneous Rock
8
Q
Extrusive Igneous Rock
A
Formed above ground from lava cooling and hardening • Characteristics from Cooling Quickly – Small or no crystals – Fine-grained texture
9
Q
Intrusive Rock
A
Formed below ground from magma cooling and hardening • Characteristics from Cooling Slowly – Large or small crystals – Coarse-grained texture
10
Q
Sedimentary Rock
A
Formed from sediments (rock fragments, mineral grains, animal or plant remains) that are pressed or cemented together • 3 Types – Clastic Sedimentary Rock – Organic Sedimentary Rock – Chemical Sedimentary Rock
11
Q
Law of Superposition
A
States that layers and fossils on top are younger than lower layers • Strata – horizontal layers formed from deposited sedimentary rock • Stratification – process of arranging sedimentary rocks into layers
12
Q
Metamorphic Rock
A
Rock changes due to intense heat and high pressure then recrystallizes – Not heated enough to melt the rock • 2 Types – Foliated Metamorphic Rock – Non-Foliated Metamorphic Rock
