The Rock Cyclesmgman-mi.org/.../assets/docs/The_Rock_Cycle.25674135.pdfThe rock cycle helps create soil that enables plant growth. The rock is exposed to extreme heat and pressure

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The Rock Cycle

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Freckle Level: 10B

The earth’s entire outer layer is composed of three differenttypes of rocks that are always changing and transforming.Igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rock slowly movethrough a rock cycle that includes the formation, breakdown, andrecreation of rock into different forms. Given the essential rolesthat rocks have played on Earth and in human history, this rockcycle is a vital geological process.

This diagram of the rock cycle shows the process as magma (1)crystallizes (2) to become igneous rock (3). The igneous rock

erodes (4), becomes sediment (5), and turns into sedimentaryrock (6). After that, tectonic burial (7) leads to the formation ofmetamorphic rocks (8), which eventually melt (9) and turn back

into magma (1).

An Overview of the Rock Cycle

When Planet Earth was first created, it was composed ofintensely hot and liquified materials. As these materials cooleddown, a hard rock crust developed and became the outer surfaceof the earth. However, just like cold water still flows underneaththe top layer of ice on a pond in the winter, liquid rock calledmagma continued to flow underneath of Earth’s new rock crust.This began the rock cycle in which rock changes from magma toigneous rock, igneous to sedimentary rock, sedimentary rock tometamorphic rock, and metamorphic rock back to magma.Unlike the water cycle, in which water moves through differentstages on a daily basis, the rock cycle is a very time-consumingprocess that occurs over hundreds or thousands of years.

Since matter can never be created or destroyed on Earth, therock cycle involves the alteration of each type of rock whenconditions change. In other words, rock matter is essentiallyrecycled to keep the process moving. This rock cycle is critical to

Writing

Skills: Narrative, Writing Conventions,Drawing Evidence

Imagine that you are made up ofrock material that is starting therock cycle as magma. Write aboutyour experiences transitioningthrough each phase of the rockcycle. Include time periods in eachphase to give the reader a realisticsense of the rock cycle. Supportyour narrative with evidence andexamples from the text.

Vocab

utilized

Reading

Skills:

RI.1: Explicit Information

RI.4: Word Meaning & Choice


According to the text, why do rocks

change when the conditions around

them change, instead of simply being

destroyed?

The earth is composed of hotand liquified materials.

Matter cannot be created ordestroyed on Earth.


life on Earth and is responsible for influencing massive globalchanges over long periods of time. For example, the rock cyclesupports plate tectonics, which in turn positions the continents,causes mountain growth, influences volcanic activity, and muchmore. Over the last 4.5 billion years, the rock cycle has slowlyshaped all of Earth’s surfaces and even helped to create the soilthat enables plant growth.

Magma to Igneous Rock

During this stage of the rock cycle, the hot, flowing magma underthe earth’s surface cools, hardens, and becomes known asigneous rock. This process of cooling is known as crystallization.Some igneous rock, called extrusive rock, forms quickly on top ofthe earth’s surface after volcanic activity. Intrusive igneous rock,on the other hand, forms slowly under the earth’s surface.

This diagram shows magma transforming into extrusive andintrusive igneous rocks.

Extrusive and intrusive igneous rocks both play integral roles onthe planet. The state of Hawaii, for example, is composed ofextrusive igneous rock called basalt, while the intrusive igneousrock called granite is widely used by humans for building andconstruction purposes.

Igneous to Sedimentary Rock

Over time, igneous rock undergoes weathering and erosion fromforces like water, wind, ice. This wears the rocks down intosmaller pieces and fragments called sediment, which is thentransported and deposited in different places. Over long spans oftime, sediment accumulates and becomes compacted togetherto form sedimentary rock.

Sedimentary rocks are widely utilized by geologists to study theearth’s past and draw conclusions about the animals, plants, andclimates in a specific area. In addition, sedimentary rock oftencontains drinking water and fossil fuels that humans can accessand use to survive.

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According to the text, why is the rock

cycle important? Select all that apply.

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Which of the following processes is

part of the igneous to sedimentary

rock transition? Select all that apply.

The rock cycle is a very time-consuming process.

The rock cycle supports platetectonics w

The rock cycle supports platetectonics which causesmountain growth and volcanicactivity.

The rock cycle circulatesnutrients around the world.

The rock cycle helps influencethe atmosphere to allow livingorganisms to breath.

The rock cycle helps create soilthat enables plant growth.

The rock is exposed to extremeheat and pressure which leadsto physical and chemicalchanges.

Water, wind and ice causeweathering and erosion to breakthe rock down into sediment.


These layers of sedimentary rock are located at Zabriskie Point inDeath Valley, California.

Sedimentary to Metamorphic Rock

When sedimentary rock is exposed to extreme heat andpressure, it changes once again into metamorphic rock. The heatand pressure both cause the rocks to undergo physical andchemical changes that make them denser than their originalmaterial and less vulnerable to erosion. Metamorphic rock oftenforms when one of the earth’s plates becomes subducted, orforced underneath, another plate that delivers enough weight totrigger metamorphism. It’s also possible for the extreme heat ofthe earth’s interior to trigger metamorphic changes.

Blue calcite marble rock. Photo by James St. John.

Examples of metamorphic rocks include slate, marble, andquartzite. Since they are so durable and beautiful, these types ofmetamorphic rock are often used for building materials andartwork. Statues, decorative gardening stones, building columns,and many other every day products all rely upon metamorphicrocks.

Continuation of the Rock Cycle

This rock cycle is a never-ending process that repeats itself overand over again. Eventually, metamorphic rocks locatedunderground melt and become magma again. As soon asanother volcano erupts, magma once again becomes igneousrock and the cycle continues.

Since matter cannot be created or destroyed, rocks are recycledthrough this process to evolve and serve different purposes. Asweathering, erosion, melting, heat, and pressure occur, each

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What is the meaning of the word

crystallization as used in the text?

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As part of the rock cycle, how is

metamorphic rock formed as

described in the text?

The rock slowly cools andhardens through a processknown as crystallization.

Sediment accumulates andbecomes compacted together.

It is the process rocks gothrough when heat and pressurecause physical and chemicalchanges in the rock.

It is the process rocks gothrough when sedimentaccumulates and is compactedinto a new type of rock.

It is the process rocks gothrough when magma cools andhardens.

It is the process rocks gothrough when they are exposedto weathering and erosion.

The hot, flowing magma underthe earth’s surface cools andbecomes metamorphic rock.


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factor drives the rock cycle and makes it possible for igneous,sedimentary, and metamorphic rock to develop, cycle back intomagma, and begin again.

Without the rock cycle, the earth would be fundamentallydifferent. Landforms wouldn’t exist in the same way, soil wouldnot be available to support the growth of plants, and the verysurface of the planet would look and function in an entirelydifferent way.

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What is the meaning of the word

"composed" as used in the sentence

"When Planet Earth was first created,

it was composed of intensely hot and

liquified materials."?

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Sediment from other rocks isaccumulated and compacted toform metamorphic rock.

Sediment from other rocks coolsand crystallizes to becomemetamorphic rock.

Heat and pressure from theearth force rocks to undergophysical and chemical changesinto metamorphic rock.

To maintain a calm and collecteddemeanor.

To be comprised of or made upof.

To write musical notes into acohesive, artistic piece.

To create something new.

Documents

The Rock Cyclesmgman-mi.org/.../assets/docs/The_Rock_Cycle.25674135.pdfThe rock cycle helps create soil that enables plant growth. The rock is exposed to extreme heat and pressure