FRANCISCO, TRIXIE E.

BSGE- 3A MARCH 2023

REPORT SCRIPT.

Good day everyone! I am Trixie Encomio Francisco, and I am going to discuss the rock cycle.

First, let us define rocks. Rocks are naturally occurring, solid collection of mineral grains and

chemicals. They are formed in different ways and are classified upon the quantity of minerals in

them, their chemical composition and by the ways they are formed through rock cycle.

Rocks are constantly changing on Earth. Most of the rocks today are 100 years old. A certain

rock would have a completely different form and shape if we were to look at it a million years

from now. Rocks constantly change their formations and transport around the Earth through

sequence of events involving the formation, alteration, destruction and reformation because of

natural processes. Rocks are neither created or destroyed but redistributed and transformed from

one rock type to another.

The rock cycle is a series of processes that create and transform the types of rocks in Earth’s

crust. The rock cycle is a concept of geology that describes the transition of rocks between the

three rock types: igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic. The cycle outlines how each rock type

can be converted to another rock type through geologic processes. The rock cycle is a concept of

geology that describes the transition of rocks between the three rock types: igneous, sedimentary,

and metamorphic. Let’s learn about each type one by one.

Igneous rocks are formed from the solidification of molten rock material. Some form below

Earth's surface. Some form on or above Earth's surface.  Igneous rocks are those types of rocks

which are formed when magma or lava cools down. It can be categorized into two types. When

magma cools down inside the earth slowly and slowly, it creates intrusive igneous rocks.
Intrusive igneous rocks are rocks that crystallize below the earth’s surface resulting in large

crystals as the cooling takes place slowly. Diorite, granite, pegmatite and gabbro are examples of

intrusive igneous rocks. But when magma pushed from the volcano during eruptions, they are

described as lava and when that lava cools down, they form extrusive igneous rocks. Extrusive

igneous rocks are rocks that erupt onto the surface resulting in small crystals as the cooling takes

place quickly. The cooling rate for a few rocks is so quick that they form an amorphous glass.

Basalt, tuff, pumice are examples of extrusive igneous rock.

These extrusive igneous rocks are then broken down into very small pieces with weathering of

rocks by wind, by air and gravity, and are transported across the planet. Once enough of these

small rocks are gathered and settled together, the bottom layers of these rocks are compressed by

gravity and are cemented together and they are converted into another kind of rock called

sedimentary rocks.

Sedimentary rocks are created through the process of sediment deposit and consolidation.

Sediment is any type of geological particles, particles made out of Earth, that are small enough to

be carried off and moved around by wind or water. These particles can build up in an area over

time, such as at the bottom of a river. After the particles build up they can join together and

harden into a single sedimentary rock. Though both igneous and metamorphic rocks are created

beneath the surface of the Earth, sedimentary rocks can be created while buried under a relatively

small amount of soil, or even while on the surface.

These sediments can include small pieces of plants and other organic matter and are formed

either through erosion, weathering, precipitation and lithification. Sedimentary rocks form layers

called strata which can often be seen in exposed cliffs. Examples of sedimentary rocks are

limestone, sandstone, mudstone, chalk and coal.

There is another kind of rock called metamorphic rock. Metamorphic rocks are changed in

physical or chemical form of older rocks. The term “metamorphosis” is most often used in

reference to the process of a caterpillar changing into a butterfly. However, the word

“metamorphosis” is a broad term that indicates a change from one thing to another. Even rocks, a

seemingly constant substance, can change into a new type of rock. Rocks that undergo a change

to form a new rock are referred to as metamorphic rocks. The most common example of

metamorphic rocks are gneiss, slate, quartzite and marble.

The rock cycle does not go in just one direction, any given rock can go through any part of the

cycle any number of times. Magma is sent through the earth’s surface; it cools and form igneous

rock. Next, this rock breaks into small pieces of sediment as sediment builds up and hardens over

the years, a sedimentary rock is formed. Slowly this sedimentary rock goes deep into the earth’s

crust, when the heat and pressure gets high, the sedimentary will metamorphous into

metamorphic rock and the cycle will start all over again.