Rock CycleScience Fusion – Holt McDougall

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Scientists define rock as a naturally occurring solid mixture of one or more minerals that may also include organic matter.

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Natural processes make and destroy rock.The processes change each type of rock into other types of rock and shape the features of our planet.

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The process by which water, wind, ice and changes in temperature break down rock is called weathering.Weathering breaks rocks into fragments called sediment.

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The process by which sediment is moved from one place to another is called erosion.

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Sediments are eventually deposited, or laid down, in bodies of water and other low-lying areas. This process is called deposition.

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Rock can be squeezed by the weight of the rock or the layers of sediment on top of it. As pressure increases so does temperature.

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Magma – the molten or partially molten rock material containing trapped gases produced under the Earth’s surface.

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Lava – magma that flows onto the Earth’s surface.

Lava rock is the rock that forms when lava cools and solidifies.

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Igneous rock—A type of rock that forms from cooled magma or lava.

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Metamorphic rock—A type of rock that is formed over time from existing rock due to extreme pressure and/or heat.

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Sedimentary rock—A type of rock formed from layers of sediment.

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Rocks can be transformed (changed) from one type to another.

This pattern occurs over and over again over time and is called the rock cycle.

How does sedimentary rock change?

How does metamorphic rock change?

How does igneous rock change?