Earth Science Ch. 1: The Rock CycleEarth Science Ch. 1: The Rock Cycle

G. Lescallette Mt. Ridge HSG. Lescallette Mt. Ridge HS

•Rocks are naturally occurring, solid mixtures of Rocks are naturally occurring, solid mixtures of one or more one or more mineralsminerals and and organicorganic matter. matter.•Rocks are always changing.Rocks are always changing.•New rocks form from New rocks form from

old rocks by a process old rocks by a process known as the known as the Rock CycleRock Cycle..

•Rocks have been used by humans for over Rocks have been used by humans for over 100,000 years for a variety of uses including:100,000 years for a variety of uses including:•ToolsTools•BuildingsBuildings•RoadsRoads•AestheticsAesthetics

BuildingsBuildings

BuildingsBuildings

Roads and Bridges:Roads and Bridges:

Casselman Bridge, in Garrett County, is on the Casselman Bridge, in Garrett County, is on the right.right.

Aesthetics: Marble Statues, Granite Countertops Aesthetics: Marble Statues, Granite Countertops

•Ever since the earth cooled, processes have Ever since the earth cooled, processes have been creating and destroying rock; these been creating and destroying rock; these processes continue on today.processes continue on today.•WeatheringWeathering: the process in which : the process in which water, wind, water, wind, ice, ice, and and heatheat break down rock. The small break down rock. The small fragments that break off are called fragments that break off are called sedimentsediment..•ErosionErosion: the process in which sediment is : the process in which sediment is removed from its source by water, wind, ice, or removed from its source by water, wind, ice, or gravity.gravity.•DepositionDeposition: (root word = : (root word = depositdeposit) the process in ) the process in which sediment is deposited at some distance which sediment is deposited at some distance from its source.from its source.•Erosion and deposition are opposite sides of the Erosion and deposition are opposite sides of the same coin.same coin.

Weathering and Erosion: Delicate Arch, UtahWeathering and Erosion: Delicate Arch, Utah

Weathering and Erosion: Monument Valley, Four Weathering and Erosion: Monument Valley, Four Corners RegionCorners Region

Weathering and Erosion: Bryce Canyon, UtahWeathering and Erosion: Bryce Canyon, Utah

Transport of SedimentTransport of Sediment

Transport of SedimentTransport of Sediment

Erratic boulder in New York’s Central Park: Erratic boulder in New York’s Central Park: carried for hundreds of miles by continental carried for hundreds of miles by continental

glaciersglaciers

Deposition at the mouth of the Mississippi RiverDeposition at the mouth of the Mississippi River

Deposition at the mouth of a canyonDeposition at the mouth of a canyon

•Heat and Pressure can create Heat and Pressure can create sedimentary rocksedimentary rock from sedimentfrom sediment

•If temperature and pressure are great enough, If temperature and pressure are great enough, metamorphicmetamorphic rock will be formed. rock will be formed.

•Rock can be exposed to the earth’s surface by Rock can be exposed to the earth’s surface by uplift uplift and and erosionerosion..

Geologic UpliftGeologic Uplift

Rock ClassificationRock Classification•By By typetype: igneous, sedimentary, metamorphic: igneous, sedimentary, metamorphic•By By compositioncomposition: what minerals and other : what minerals and other material are presentmaterial are present•By By texturetexture: the size, shape, and arrangement of : the size, shape, and arrangement of the grains that make up a rockthe grains that make up a rock•Granite is a Granite is a coarse-grained rock coarse-grained rock

SandstoneSandstone is a medium- is a medium-

grained rockgrained rock

Siltstone is a fine-grained rockSiltstone is a fine-grained rock