The Rock Cycle

Basics

• Continual process that breaks down, alters, and re-forms rock into one of three types

• Types of rock can be converted to other types through Earth’s continual geological processes

Three Types

• Igneous: – From cooling magma– Intrusive (Plutonic):

• Magma cooled below Earth’s surface (crystallization)

• granite

– Extrusive (Volcanic):• Cools quickly and ejected (ex: volcano)

• basalt

• Sedimentary:– Result of sediments derived from

erosion/weathering being suppressed and cemented together (surface)

• Clastic: rock is physically eroded – Ex: Sandstone

• Chemical: dissolved material precipitates from water

– Ex: Limestone

• Metamorphic:– Formed under extreme heat and pressure

• Foliated: heat/pressure force minerals to align and create layers

– Ex: Slate

• Unfoliated: not layered– Ex: marble

6

MAGMA

Crystallization

IGNEOUS

7

MAGMA

IGNEOUS

Plutonic

Crystallization

8

MAGMA

Volcanic

IGNEOUS

Plutonic

Crystallization

9

MAGMA

Volcanic

IGNEOUS

Plutonic

Uplift

Crystallization

Weathering

10

MAGMA

Volcanic

IGNEOUS

Plutonic

SEDIMENT

Uplift

Crystallization

Weathering SEDIMENT

11

MAGMA

Volcanic

IGNEOUS

Plutonic

SEDIMENT

SEDIMENTARY

Uplift

Crystallization

WeatheringErosion

Transport

Deposition

12

MAGMA

Volcanic

IGNEOUS

Plutonic

SEDIMENT

SEDIMENTARY

Uplift

Crystallization

WeatheringErosion

Transport

Deposition

13

MAGMA

Volcanic

IGNEOUS

Plutonic

SEDIMENT

SEDIMENTARY

METAMORPHIC

UpliftBurial

Increased P&T

Crystallization

WeatheringErosion

Transport

Deposition

14

MAGMA

Volcanic

IGNEOUS

Plutonic

SEDIMENT

SEDIMENTARY

METAMORPHIC

UpliftBurial

Increased P&T

MeltingCrystallization

WeatheringErosion

Transport

DepositionCan you see

any shortcuts?

15

MAGMA

Volcanic

IGNEOUS

Plutonic

SEDIMENT

SEDIMENTARY

METAMORPHIC

UpliftBurial

Increased P&T

MeltingCrystallization

WeatheringErosion

Transport

Deposition

• The rock cycle demonstrates the relationships among the three major rock groups

• It is powered by the interior heat of the Earth

• As well as earth’s momentum and…

• The energy from the sun

• It involves processes on the Earth’s surface as well as the Earth’s interior

• It connects the “hydrologic cycle” with the “tectonic cycle”.

In Conclusion…