UNIT 3 

: THE ROCK CYCLE

Most rocks at the Earth’s surface are formed from only eight elements (oxygen, silicon, aluminum, iron, magnesium, calcium,
potassium, and sodium), but these elements are combined in a number of ways to make rocks that are very different.
Types of Rocks
Geologists classify rocks in three groups, according to the major Earth processes that formed them. The three
rock groups are igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks.
igneous rocks sedimentary rocks metamorphic rocks
 Igneous rocks are formed from  Sedimentary rocks are formed  The process of
melted rock that has cooled at the surface of the Earth, metamorphism does not melt
and solidified. either in water or on land. the rocks, but instead
 They melt because of the high  They are layered transforms them into denser,
pressure and temperature. accumulations of sediments: more compact rocks.
 The molten rock (called fragments of rocks,  They are created either by
magma) can then flow upward minerals, or animal or plant rearrangement of mineral
from a volcano onto the material. components or by reactions
Earth’s surface (extrusive  They become cemented with fluids that enter the
rocks). together by minerals and rocks.
 Obsidian (volcanic glass), chemicals or are held together  Some kinds of metamorphic
granite, basalt, and andesite by electrical attraction. rocks, “granite gneiss” and
porphyry are four of the many  Common sedimentary rocks “biotite schist” are two
types of igneous rocks with include sandstone, limestone, examples, are strongly banded
different textures. and shale. or foliated.
 The texture of a rock refers to   Pressure or temperature can
the size, shape, and even change previously
arrangement of its mineral metamorphosed rocks into
grains, or crystals. new types.
 Common igneous are basalt,  Common metamorphic rocks
andesite, and rhyolite. include schist, marble, and
 Igneous rocks cooled beneath gneiss.
the Earth’s surface are called  Sedimentary rock shale
intrusive (plutonic) rocks. (formed mostly of clay
 sediments) when buried and
heated to high temperatures
(300-500°C) becomes
transformed or
metamorphosed into schist.

No rock is permanent over geologic time; instead, all rocks change slowly from one of the three rock types
to another. This continuous process is called the rock cycle. The transformations from one rock type to another
can follow many different paths. For example, weathering may reduce a metamorphic rock to sediment, which
then becomes cemented to form a sedimentary rock. An EXERCISES
1. According to the passage, which of the following statements are “true” or “false”? Insert “T” or “F” in
the boxes at the right.
1. At high temperatures transformed into schist.
2. The process of metamorphism melts the rocks.
3. Volcanic cool rapidly, so are fine-grained.
4. Compacted and dried plants into schist.
5. Sedimentary rocks are formed at the outermost layer.
6. basalt, andesite, and rhyolite are metamorphic rocks
2. Choose a, b, c, or d which best completes each item.
1. A (An) ……………….. igneous rock forms when magma erupts and solidifies on the Earth’s surface.
a) intrusive b) extrusive
c) magmatic d) coarse grain
2. Weathering may reduce a metamorphic rock to ………………..
 a) sediment b) igneous rock
c) schist d) rock cycle
3. When magma cools slowly, crystals grow from the ……………….liquid.
a) magma b) intrusive
c) cooling d) molten
4. Igneous rocks form when a hot, molten liquid called magma………………..
a) solidifies b) intrusive
c) lithification d) weathered
5. Pressure or temperature can even change previously metamorphosed rocks into new ………………..
a) sedimentary rocks b) metamorphic rocks
c) igneous rock d) minerals
6. Igneous rocks could change in to sediments by ………………..
a) lithification b) melting
c) solidification d) weathering
3. Write the answers to the following questions in your own words.
1. What is the difference between intrusive and extrusive rocks regarding the cooling process and the size of the
crystals?
…………………………………………………………………………..
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………….………………………………………………………………………….
…………………………………………………………
2. Describe the three main classes of rocks with examples.
…………………………………………………………………………..
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………….………………………………………………………………………….
…………………………………………………………

2.7. Note the following technical words and their definitions

Sediment (noun): material deposited by ice or wind or water
Sedimentary (adjective) :formed by deposits of sediment
Sedimentation (noun) :accumulation of sediment
Sedimentology The scientific study of sediments and the determination of their origin
Sedimentologist: one who studies the sediments
Now, fill in the blanks with the appropriate words.
1. Common ......................... rocks include sandstone, limestone, and shale.
2. There are no marine ......................... in the rift valley of Africa.
3. ......................... in marine systems is a dynamic process.
4. Detailed ......................... analyses indicate that some beds were deposited from storm-generated flows.
5. Role of channel geometry is very important in controlling the morphology and ......................... of flood
deposits.
6. ......................... image past processes and compare them to modern ones.

2.8. Fill in the blanks with the following words

“fine-grained”, “surface”, “loose”, “mountain, “textures”, “silicate”, “porphyry”, “solid”, “volcanic”, “molten”
Rocks
Geologists separate rocks into three classes based on how they form: igneous rocks, sedimentary rocks, and
metamorphic rocks. Igneous rocks form when a hot, ……….1………. liquid called magmasolidifies.
Sedimentary rocks form when ……….2………. sediment, such as sand and clay, becomes cemented to form a
……….3……….rock. Metamorphic rocks form when older igneous, sedimentary, orother metamorphic rocks
change because of high temperature and/or pressure or are deformed during ……….4………. building.
The temperature of magma varies from about 600°C to 1400°C. Nearly all magmas are ……….5……….
magmas. Magma usually rises toward the Earth’s surface because it is of lower density than rocks that surround
it. An extrusive, or ……….6………., igneous rock forms when magma erupts and solidifies on the Earth’s
……….7………. An intrusive, or plutonic, rock forms when magma cools and solidifies below the surface.
Plutonic rocks typically have medium- to coarsegrained
……….8………., whereas volcanic rocks commonly have very fine- to fine-grained textures. A
……….9………. consists of larger crystals imbeded in a ……….10………. matrix.