Rock Cycle

Front

What is the rock cycle?

Back

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

Front

What are the three major classes of rock?

Back

The three major classes of rock are igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary.

Front

What process changes granite into gneiss?

Back

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

Front

What type of rock is formed from cooled lava?

Back

Igneous rock is formed when lava cools and hardens.

Front

What characteristic is commonly found in sedimentary rocks?

Back

Fossils are commonly found in sedimentary rocks.

Front

What is igneous rock?

Back

Igneous rock is formed from the cooling and solidification of magma or lava.

Front

What is metamorphic rock?

Back

Metamorphic rock is formed from existing rocks that are changed by heat, pressure, or chemically.

Front

What is sedimentary rock?

Back

Sedimentary rock is formed from the accumulation and cementation of mineral and organic particles.

Front

What is the role of weathering in the rock cycle?

Back

Weathering breaks down rocks into smaller pieces, which can then be transported and form sedimentary rocks.

Front

What is erosion?

Back

Erosion is the process by which soil and rock are removed from one location and transported to another by wind, water, or ice.