Rocks Flashcards
rock cycle
the series of processes in which rock form, changes from one type to another, is destroyed, and forms again by geological processes
Bowen’s reaction series
the simplified pattern that illustrates the order in which minerals crystalize from cooling magma according to their chemical composition and melting point
igneous rock
rock that forms when magma cools and solidifies
intrusive igneous rock
rock that is formed from cooling and solidification of magma BENEATH the Earth’s surface
extrusive igneous rock
rock that forms from the cooling and solidification of lava AT Earth’s surface
felsic
describes magma or igneous rock that is rich in feldspar and silica and that is generally light in color
mafic
describes magma or igneous rock that is rich in magnesium and iron and that is generally dark in color
compaction
the process in which the volume and porosity of a sediment is decreased by the weight of overlying sediments as a result of being buried beneath other sediments
cementation
the process in which minerals precipitate into pore spaces between sediment grains and bind sediments together to form rock
chemical sedimentary rock
sedimentary rock that forms when minerals precipitate from a solution or settle from a suspension
organic sedimentary rock
sedimentary rock that forms from the remains of plants or animals
clastic sedimentary rock
sedimentary rock that forms when fragments of preexisting rocks are compacted or cemented together
metamorphism
the process in which one type of rock changes into metamorphic rock because of chemical processes or changes in temperature and pressure
contact metamorphism
a change in the structure or chemical composition of a rock due to contact with magma
regional metamorphism
a change in the texture structure or chemical composition of a rock due to changes in temperature and pressure over a large area, generally as a result of tectonic forces
