Earth Materials

Occurs when compacted sediments stick together and turn into rock.

• Cementation
• Magma
• Volcanic eruption
• Metamorphic rock
• Compaction

Occurs when rock particles or sediments are pressed together or packed down by gravity and the pressure of overlying rock layers.

• Compaction
• Ocean trench
• Rock cycle
• Plate tectonic theory
• Earth's evolution

The process by which gravity, water, wind, and ice deposit weathered and relocated sediment.

• Deposition
• Sedimentary rock
• Ocean trench
• Magma
• Erosion

Originally, Earth was partly molten, allowing dense metals to sink to its core and less dense material to separate into layers around the core. Over time, many changes have built up and worn down features on Earth's surface.

• Earth's evolution
• Cementation
• Heat and pressure
• Lava
• Magma

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-1

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

The process by which water, ice, wind, and gravity remove and transport sediment from one place to another.

• Erosion

• Heat and pressure

• Igneous rock

• Mineral composition

• Sedimentary rock

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

Changing variables due to the weight of overlying rocks, causing changes to rock characteristics and mineral composition, thus forming metamorphic rocks.

• Heat and pressure
• Volcanic eruption
• Earth's evolution
• Compaction
• Sedimentary rock

Formed when lava or magma cools and solidifies. Lava cools quickly and forms rocks with small crystals, while magma cools more slowly and forms rocks with larger crystals.

• Igneous rock
• Plate tectonic theory
• Deposition
• Erosion
• Plate tectonic theory

Molten rock or magma that has reached Earth's surface by volcanic action; characterized by small crystals due to rapid cooling on Earth's surface.

• Lava
• Mineral composition
• Sedimentary rock
• Heat and pressure
• Cementation

Melted or molten rock material beneath Earth's surface; cools slowly to form rocks with larger crystals.

• Magma
• Compaction
• Mineral composition
• Deposition
• Igneous rock

Metamorphic rock is formed deep underground where heat and pressure cause existing rocks to be changed in both mineral composition and structural characteristics.

• Metamorphic rock
• Weathering
• Sedimentary rock
• Volcanic eruption
• Mineral composition