Rocks and the Rock Cycle

Three Types of Rocks

•Rocks are classified by how
they form
–Igneous
–SedimentarySchist
–Metamorphic
Three Types of Rocks

–Rocks can change from

one type to another over
time
Schist
 Igneous Rocks
•Igneous rock: forms when
molten rock (magma) cools
and hardens
 Igneous Rocks

•Classified by:
–Where they form
–Crystal (grain) size
Intrusive igneous: cooling
takes place slowly beneath
Earth’s
granite
surface
Extrusive igneous:
cooling takes place
rapidly on Earth’s
surface
Pumice
 Sedimentary Rock
•Sedimentary rock: forms
from the compaction and/or
cementation of sediments
•This process is called
lithification
 Sedimentary Rock
•Sediments are:
–Rock pieces
–Mineral grains
–Shell fragments
 Sedimentary Rock
•Sediments are:
–Rock pieces
–Mineral grains
Limestone
–Shell fragments
How do sediments form?
Sediments form through the
processes of weathering
and erosion of rocks
exposed at Earth’s surface
Sedimentary rocks are
formed by the accumulation
of sediments. There are
three basic types of
sedimentary rocks.
Clastic Sedimentary rock
Chemical Sedimentary rock
Organics Sedimentary rock
Clastic sedimentary rocks
are those that are formed by
accumulation, compaction, &
cementation of different solid
particles that came from me-
chanical/chemical weathering.
Clastic sedimentary
rocks such.as breccia, con-
glomerate, sandstone, silt-
stone, and shale are formed
from mechanical weathering
debris.
 breccia

Sandstone
Conglomerate
gypsum

Siltstone Shale
Chemical sedimentary
rocks, such as rock salt, iron
ore, chert, and flint form
when dissolved materials
precipitate from solution.
iron ore rock salt

chert flint
Organic sedimentary
rocks such as coal,
dolomites, and limestones,
form from the accumulation
of plant or animal debris.
coal dolomite

limestone
•Metamorphic rock: forms
when any rock type is
changed into a different
kind of rock
•Changes due to great heat
and/or pressure
There are two basic types
of metamorphic rocks.
Foliated metamorphic
rocks and Non-foliated
metamorphic rocks
Foliated metamorphic rocks
such as gneiss, phyllite,
schist, & slate have a layered
or banded appearance that is
produced by exposure to
heat & directed pressure.
gneiss phylite

schist slate
Non-foliated metamorphic
rocks such as hornfels,
marble, quartzite, and
novaculite do not have a
layered or banded
appearance.
hornfels marble

novaculite quarzite
How does rock change?
•Rocks are heated,
squeezed, folded, or
chemically changed by
contact with hot fluids
marble