The Rock Cycle and Surface and Subsurface Events
Standard Summary - The standard requires you to know the rock cycle and describe its relationship to what happens on the surface and below the surface of the earth.
Vocabulary
Deposition is the geological process in which sediments, soil and rocks are added to a landform or land mass.
Erosion is the process of eroding or being eroded by wind, water, or other natural agents.
Plate tectonics – A theory that explains plate movements and explains the global distribution of geological phenomena such as seismicity, volcanism, continental drift, and mountain building in terms of the formation, destruction, movement, and interaction of the earth's lithospheric plates.
Mountains - A general term used in reference to an area that is at a conspicuously higher elevation than surrounding lands. Mountains are larger than hills and are significant enough in relief that they are given names by local residents.
Weathering is the mechanical and chemical processes that cause exposed rock to decompose or break apart.
Standard Notes
The Rock Cycle
The Rock Cycle involves three different types of rocks.
1. Sedimentary Rocks
Rocks and Change
Rocks are classified by the following:
Types of Rocks
Deposition is the geological process in which sediments, soil and rocks are added to a landform or land mass.
Erosion is the process of eroding or being eroded by wind, water, or other natural agents.
Plate tectonics – A theory that explains plate movements and explains the global distribution of geological phenomena such as seismicity, volcanism, continental drift, and mountain building in terms of the formation, destruction, movement, and interaction of the earth's lithospheric plates.
Mountains - A general term used in reference to an area that is at a conspicuously higher elevation than surrounding lands. Mountains are larger than hills and are significant enough in relief that they are given names by local residents.
Weathering is the mechanical and chemical processes that cause exposed rock to decompose or break apart.
Standard Notes
The Rock Cycle
The Rock Cycle involves three different types of rocks.
1. Sedimentary Rocks
- Rocks that form from sediment are called sedimentary.
- They are compacted together and layers form on top.
- Air and water are forced out.
- The loose layers of sediment are glued together with natural glue.
- This makes a sedimentary rock.
- Rocks that change form are called metamorphic.
- They change from heat and pressure.
- Rocks melt deep in the earth.
- When rocks melt, their new name is magma.
- When magma cools it becomes rock. That process is solidification.
Rocks and Change
- Rocks are changing all the time. They change in shape and composition.
- Rocks are solid mixture of crystals of one or more minerals.
- Rocks are valuable because they are natural resources.
- They can be used in tools, weapons, buildings, roads, and monuments.
Rocks are classified by the following:
- How are they formed?
- Where are they formed?
- What are they made up from?
- What is the texture?
- What is the size, shape, and position of the minerals that make up the rock?
Types of Rocks
- Igneous forms from solidified lava or magma.
- Metamorphic forms from heat and pressure.
- Sedimentary forms by the deposition of material at the Earth's surface and within bodies of water.
Types of Rocks
Surface Events or Processes that Change the Earth
Weathering, Erosion, and Deposition
Weathering and Erosion are rock processes.
Weathering can happen due to the air, water, or by living things.
Weathering breaks rocks down into sediments.
Erosion moves broken down rocks or sediment.
Deposition is the process of leaving the rocks or sediments in another place.
Sediment can be moved or transported by wind, water, or ice.
Weathering, Erosion, and Deposition
Weathering and Erosion are rock processes.
Weathering can happen due to the air, water, or by living things.
Weathering breaks rocks down into sediments.
Erosion moves broken down rocks or sediment.
Deposition is the process of leaving the rocks or sediments in another place.
Sediment can be moved or transported by wind, water, or ice.
The Rock Cycle
Rocks become each other.
Igneous rocks weather and become sedimentary rocks.
Igneous rocks can be put under heat and pressure and become metamorphic rock.
Igneous rocks can also remelt and become new igneous rock.
Sedimentary rocks can melt and become igneous rocks.
Sedimentary rocks can be put under heat and pressure and become metamorphic rock.
Sedimentary rocks can also weather and become new sedimentary rocks.
Metamorphic rocks can melt and become igneous rocks.
Metamorphic rocks can be put under heat and pressure and become metamorphic rock.
Metamorphic rocks can also be put under more heat and pressure and become a new metamorphic rock.
Rocks become each other.
Igneous rocks weather and become sedimentary rocks.
Igneous rocks can be put under heat and pressure and become metamorphic rock.
Igneous rocks can also remelt and become new igneous rock.
Sedimentary rocks can melt and become igneous rocks.
Sedimentary rocks can be put under heat and pressure and become metamorphic rock.
Sedimentary rocks can also weather and become new sedimentary rocks.
Metamorphic rocks can melt and become igneous rocks.
Metamorphic rocks can be put under heat and pressure and become metamorphic rock.
Metamorphic rocks can also be put under more heat and pressure and become a new metamorphic rock.
Subsurface Events that Change the Earth
Plate Tectonics and Mountain Building
Plate Tectonics and Mountain Building
- The earth is made up of plates.
It is similar to a cracked hard boil egg where the plates are the land "floating" on top of magma. - Where plates come together different types of results occur.
- Mountains are made where plates are moving into the magma and causing volcanoes. These volcanoes build mountains. On the picture it is a convergent boundary.