Rock Cycle

The rock cycle is the process that makes and recycles rocks, involving the formation, breakdown, and reformation of rocks through various geological processes.

Igneous rock is formed when lava cools and hardens.

Sedimentary rocks are formed from the accumulation and compaction of mineral and organic particles, often containing fossils.

Compacting and cementing are the processes that transform sediment into sedimentary rock.

Metamorphic rock is formed when existing rocks are changed by heat, pressure, or chemically active fluids.

Heat and pressure can change granite (igneous rock) into gneiss (metamorphic rock).

Igneous rocks are characterized by their formation from the cooling and solidification of magma or lava.

Fossils are the preserved remains or traces of ancient organisms found in sedimentary rocks.

Magma is molten rock beneath the Earth's surface, while lava is magma that has reached the Earth's surface.

Weathering breaks down rocks into smaller pieces, contributing to the formation of sediment.