Birth of Rocks

Granite has only recently been exposed at a location on Earth’s surface. What will need to happen first in order for granite to become sedimentary rock?

• A thick layer of humus must form on top of the granite.

• The granite must be broken into smaller pieces by weathering processes.

• Erosion by wind and water must move pieces of granite to other locations.

• Microorganisms must begin to break down the remains of plants and animals.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

Declan observed a rock that he found at the beach. He concluded that the rock was sedimentary. Which observation best supports this conclusion?

• the yellow color

• the hardness of the rock

• the layers within the rock

• the location where the rock was found

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

Granite forms when magma slowly cools within Earth’s crust. Basalt forms when lava cools on Earth’s surface. What do granite and basalt have in common?

• They are kinds of igneous rock.

• They are not made up of minerals.

• They are identical in color and texture.

• They are made up of layers of sediment.

Repeated temperature changes can cause a rock to break down into smaller pieces. Which part of the rock cycle is this an example of?

• erosion

• deposition

• weathering

• subsidence

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

Which produces the material for the formation of metamorphic rock?

• clasts

• magma

• sediments

• existing rock

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-1

Derrick started to create a flow chart to show which kinds of rock can change into metamorphic rock.

Which rock types should Derrick include in the top box? (use the diagram in the picture)

• igneous rock only

• sedimentary rock only

• igneous rock, sedimentary rock, or metamorphic rock

• either igneous rock or sedimentary rock, but not metamorphic rock

The flow chart shows how a metamorphic rock can change into a sedimentary rock.

Which term should replace the question mark?

• cooling

• melting

• weathering

• deposition

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

The diagram shows an incomplete rock cycle.

Which rock types belong in circles 1, 2, and 3?

• 1. igneous

  2. sedimentary

  3. metamorphic

• 1. metamorphic

  2. igneous

  3. sedimentary

• 1. sedimentary
  2. igneous
  3. metamorphic
• 1. sedimentary
  2. metamorphic
  3. igneous

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-1

Pick all the ways intrusive igneous rocks and extrusive igneous rocks are alike and how they are different.

• intrusive is magma and extrusive is lava

• intrusive has larger minerals and extrusive are smaller or none

• intrusive forms under the surface and extrusive forms on the surface

How does an igneous rock becomes a sedimentary rock? Use the rock cycle diagram.

• weathering, erosion, sediment, compaction & cementation

• heat and pressure

• melting, magma, cooling

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-1