Transcript The Rock Cycle - The Inspired Instructor

The Rock Cycle
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Rocks are hard substances found in
and on the earth’s crust.
Rocks are made up of minerals, solids
that can form crystals. Gypsum,
graphite, flint, and mica are minerals.
Crystals have definite shapes with flat
surfaces and sharp edges. Diamonds,
rubies, and quartz are crystals.
Some minerals are metals, malleable
and ductile substances which conduct
electricity.
Iron, copper, aluminum, silver, and
gold are metals.
Rocks are formed when magma from
the earth’s mantle rises toward the
earth’s surface.
Magma which cools slowly inside the
earth forms intrusive igneous rock
such as granite.
Magma which erupts from a volcano
and cools quickly forms extrusive
igneous rock such as pumice and
obsidian.
The igneous rock may be physically
weathered by wind.
The igneous rock may be also
physically weathered by running water.
The igneous rock may be physically
weathered by rapid temperature
changes in deserts.
Germinating seeds and expanding
plant roots may also physically
weather rock.
Water which freezes in cracks may
also push apart and weather rocks.
Other types of rock may also be
physically or chemically weathered.
Chemical weathering occurs when
acids from rainwater breakdown rock.
Acids from lichens and moss can
also chemically weather rock.
Weathered bits of rock called
sediments are moved by erosion.
Rivers, glaciers, and wind deposit
the sediment in layers.
The layers press together to form
sedimentary rock.
Sandstone is an example of
sedimentary rock.
Shale, compressed mud, is another
type of sedimentary rock.
A conglomerate is a sedimentary
rock made up of pebbles and sand.
Limestone is a sedimentary rock made
up of shells and the skeletal remains of
sea creatures.
The sedimentary rock is buried
over a long period of time.
The buried rock is changed by
extreme heat and pressure.
The changed rock is called
metamorphic rock.
Marble is a metamorphic rock from
changed limestone.
Slate is a metamorphic rock from
changed shale.
The igneous rock granite can be
changed into the metamorphic rock
gneiss.
The movement of tectonic plates
forces igneous, sedimentary, and
metamorphic rock toward the mantle.
These rocks melt and cool to
become igneous rock.
The rock cycle begins again.