Rock Cycle Vocabulary

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

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-1

Occurs when compacted sediments stick together and turn into rock.

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

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

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

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

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

Earth's rocks change from one type into another over time due to various Earth processes. Changes occur in mineral compositions and physical structures.

• Rock cycle
• Igneous rock
• Mineral composition
• Sedimentary rock
• Weathering

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-1

Forms when particles of other rocks are deposited in layers and are compacted (crushed together), and cemented (binding of the sediments).

• Sedimentary rock
• Cementation
• Plate tectonic theory
• Mountain
• Rock cycle

The mechanical or chemical processes that break rocks into smaller pieces, and sometimes change the chemical composition.

• Weathering
• Earth's evolution
• Erosion
• Cementation
• Deposition

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2