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Understanding Rocks: Types, Formation, and the Rock Cycle Explained

Explore the fascinating world of rocks, a solid mixture composed of minerals, organic matter, and more. This guide delves into the three main types of rocks: igneous, formed from molten rock; sedimentary, created through lithification; and metamorphic, transformed by heat and pressure. Learn about the rock cycle, encompassing processes like cooling, crystallization, uplift, weathering, erosion, and deposition. Discover rocks' various uses in construction, art, and beyond, revealing their significance in our daily lives and Earth's geology.

theodore-pallas
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Understanding Rocks: Types, Formation, and the Rock Cycle Explained

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Presentation Transcript

  1. ROCKS

  2. Rocks • a naturally occurring solid mixture composed of minerals, smaller rock fragments, organic matter, or glass. • Grains – individual particles in rock

  3. Types of Rocks • Igneous – most abundant on Earth • Formation • Molten rock (magma) erupts onto the earth (lava) and cools • Texture/Composition • Fine-grained (small crystals) • Coarse-grained (large crystals)

  4. Types of Rocks • Sedimentary • Formation • Lithification – process through which sediment (loose rock and mineral fragments) turn into rock • Layers of sediment build up and the weight of top layers compact the sediments into rock • Texture/Composition • Fine or coarse grained • Rounded (older) or angular (younger)

  5. Types of Rocks • Metamorphic • Formation • Parent rocks are squeezed or heated forming new rocks • Texture/Composition • Foliation – uneven pressures cause flat minerals to line up, giving the rock a layered appearance

  6. Uses of Rocks • Hard and durable (granite, limestone) • construction, building • Soft with hard pieces (pumice) • polishing/cleaning • Foliated (slate) • roofing shingles • Soft (marble) • carving/sculpturing

  7. The Rock Cycle • Series of processes that continually change one type of rock into another

  8. Processes of the Rock Cycle • Cooling and Crystallization • Extrusive Rock – igneous rocks that form from lava that erupts, cools, and crystallizes on Earth’s surface • Intrusive Rock – igneous rocks that form from magma that cools and crystallizes inside Earth

  9. Processes of the Rock Cycle • Uplift • Process that moves large amounts of rock up to the Earth’s surface • Associated with development of mountains • Weathering and Erosion • Breaking down and transporting of rock due to the environment (wind, glaciers, rain, organisms)

  10. Processes of the Rock Cycle • Deposition • Process of laying down sediment in a new location • Forms layers of sediment • Compaction and Cementation • Weight of overlying layers pushes grains of sediment closer together • Crystallized minerals cement the grains together

  11. Processes of the Rock Cycle • Temperature and Pressure • Rocks under high temperatures and pressures undergo metamorphism • High enough temperatures cause the rocks to melt into magma to become igneous again

  12. Rocks and Plate Tectonics • Most changes to rocks occur at tectonic plate boundaries (volcanoes, mountains, earthquakes, etc.)

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