Rocks

Rocks • Are divided into 3 groups

based on how they were
formed
•Sedimentary
•Metamorphic
•Igneous

• Are made of one or more

minerals
• Do not stay the same

• Continually changed by processes

such as Weathering, Erosion
Compaction, Cementation,
Melting, and Cooling.
 • Rocks can change to and
from the 3 types

The Rock Cycle EARTH MATERIALS CHANGE

BACK AND FORTH AMONG
THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF
ROCKS.
 Igneous
(Granite #11)

Melting, Solidification
Recrystallization

Melting,
Solidification
Recrystallization
Sedimentary Metamorphic
Weathering, Erosion, Deposition,
(Sandstone #6) Compaction, Cementation
(Gneiss #14)
Processes that • Weathering: the breaking down of the
Earth’s material by natural processes
form (Water, Wind, Ice, Chemicals, etc.) into
Sedimentary smaller pieces or sediments
• Erosion: weathered rock and soil particles
Rock are moved from place to place
• Deposition: weathered sediments are laid
down in a new location creating new
landforms or rocks
• Compaction: heavy sediments press down
on the layers beneath
• Cementation: dissolved minerals flow
between the sediments and cement them
together
Processes that • Melting: caused by heat and pressure
form Igneous & around the rock to form magma
• Solidification: magma cools and
Metamorphic hardens
Rock • Recrystallization: while cooling, rock
can develop crystals, depending on
conditions
Igneous • Igneous is Latin for “born of
fire”
• Formed from cooling magma
or lava
•Forms when magma
cools and solidifies
•Some reaches the
surface of earth
before cooling, other
cools under the surface
Intrusive • Form below ground from magma
(Example: Granite) • Usually has coarse crystals
(grains) from cooling slowly
• Some have large and small
crystals

Extrusive • Form above ground from lava

(Examples: Pumice & • Usually have small or no crystals
Obsidian) from cooling quickly
Into the On top (Exit)
Bedrock

intrusive
(crystals) extrusive
(no crystals)
 Bedrock

Magma!
Sedimentary Rock • Formed from sediments
(rock fragments, mineral
grains, animal and plant
remains) that are pressed
or cemented together or
when sediments
precipitates out of a
solution.

• Sediments are moved by

wind, water, ice, or
gravity.
• Water or wind breaks down
(Weathering), moves
(Erosion), and deposits
sediment (Deposition)

• The heavy sediments press

down on the layers beneath
(Compaction)

• Dissolved minerals flow

between the sediments and
cement them together
(Cementation)
Sedimentary • Deposited sedimentary
Rocks & Fossils rocks form horizontal layers
called STRATA.
• • Process of arranging
sedimentary rocks into
layers is STRATIFICATION
• Scientist know that the
layers and fossils on top are
YOUNGER than the fossils
in lower layers
 LAW OF SUPERPOSITION
 Types of • Clastic: made of broken pieces of
other rocks.
Sedimentary
• Organic: remains of once living
Rocks plants and animals are deposited in
thick layers called fossils

• Chemical: minerals dissolved in

lakes, seas, or underground water
• Limestone made when calcite
precipitates from sea water
• Rock salt made from evaporation
of sea waters
The Rock Cycle
Igneous

Metamorphic

Sedimentary
?
The Rock Cycle
Igneous

Metamorphic
kinda
melted squished
Sedimentary
Bands (CAN) Form

Metamorphic
means
“changed”
Metamorphic Rocks • Rocks changed due to
intense heat and high
pressure

• “Meta-” means “changed”

and “-morphosis” means
“shape” in Greek

• Igneous, Sedimentary and

other Metamorphic rocks
can change to become
Metamorphic rocks
 • Pressure from overlying rock
How Metamorphic
m layers
Rocks Change • High heat, but not enough to
melt the rock
• Rocks may be flattened or
bent or atoms may be
exchanged to form new
materials.
• Think of metamorphic rocks
as a squished peanut butter
and jelly sandwich in your
lunch.
Types of Metamorphic Rock
Foliated • Has visible parallel layers or
bands you can see
• Example: Gneiss formed
from rearrangement of
minerals in Granite into
bands

Non-Foliated • Not layered & no bands are

formed
• Example: Marble formed
from Limestone
The Rock Cycle
Igneous

metamorphic

Sedimentary
The Rock Cycle
always changing…
Youngest
Rocks
Here !

Oldest Rocks
Here !