The Rock Cycle

What’s Energy Got to Do With It?

 But First!

Some background information…

 What are Rocks?

 Rocks are aggregates of 2 or

more minerals.
 Petrology is the study of
rocks.
 There are three
classifications of rocks:
igneous, sedimentary, and
metamorphic.
 Igneous Rocks
• Igneous rocks are formed when molten rock
(magma) cools and solidifies, with or without
crystallization, either below the surface as coarse-
grained, intrusive (plutonic) rocks or on the surface
as fine- grained, extrusive (volcanic) rocks.

Granite is an igneous rock

 Sedimentary Rock

Sedimentary rock is formed in three main ways:

1. by the deposition of the

weathered remains of other
rocks (known as clastic
sedimentary rocks)
2. by the deposition of the
results of biogenic activity
(organic)
3. by precipitation from
solution (evaporites) Limestone and shale are both types of
sedimentary rock
 Metamorphic Rock

Slate is a type of
metamorphic rock

 Metamorphic rock is the result of the transformation of

a pre-existing rock type.
 The pre-existing rock type is called the protolith.
 Pressure and heat physically and chemically change the
protolith.
 Metamorphic means "change in form“.
Finally, The Rock Cycle!

• The Rock Cycle Metamorphic Magma

refers to the
constant sequence
of one type of rock Sedimentary Igneous

turning into
another. Sediment

Click Here for an Animation that Further Ex

plains the Rock Cycle
What Do You Think?
• Now that you have seen the
animation, what do you think energy
has to do with the progression of the
Rock Cycle?
• What are the keys to the change in
the rocks?
• Can rocks shortcut the cycle? Does
igneous always have to form
sediment or can it go straight back to
being magma?