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The Rock Cycle describes the continuous process that alters Earth's rocks through various mechanisms. Forces from within the Earth and on the surface drive a slow cycle that transforms rocks in the Earth's crust. This process involves the formation of igneous rocks like granite, which rise to the surface and undergo weathering and erosion to become sedimentary rocks such as sandstone. Over time, sandstones can be buried, subjected to heat and pressure, transforming into metamorphic rocks like quartzite. This dynamic interplay is essential to the Law of Conservation of Matter and closely relates to plate tectonics.
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The Rock Cycle The process that creates and changes rocks
The Rock Cycle • Earths rocks are constantly changing • Forces deep inside the Earth and at the surface produce a slow cycle that builds reforms and changes the rock in the Earth’s crust • Defined as: a series of processes on Earth’s surface and in the crust and mantle that slowly change rocks from one kind to another.
The Rock Cycle – an example • Igneous granite formed beneath the surface. • Tectonic forcespush the granite to the surface. • Weathering and erosion over millions of years – layers of sediment. • Sediment compacts and cements forming the sedimentary rock sandstone.
The Rock Cycle – an example 5) The sandstone becomes deeply buried over time. 6) Heat and pressure change the sandstone into a metamorphic rock – quartzite 7) Quartzite becomes magma – igneous rocks form again. The cycle continues: The Law of Conservation of Matter: a fundamental principle of classical physics that matter cannot be created or destroyed in an isolated system
The Rock Cycle & Plate Tectonics • Processes closely related • Plate movements help form magma, the source of igneous rocks • Plate movements cause faults, folding and other motions of the crust that help form sedimentary and metamorphic rocks.
Igneous Rock • Oceanic plates move apart – sea floor spreading. New igneous rock is formed. • Subduction zones – volcanoes formed made of igneous rock, rocks may get pushed deeper, melting occurs, eventual cooling to igneous rock.
Sedimentary rock and Metamorphic rock • Continental collisions cause faults, folds and crust uplifts. • Erosion begins • Sedimentary rocks are formed • Collisions can also push rocks down deep into the mantle. • Heat and pressure change the rocks into metamorphic rocks.
