Grade 6 ICS-22-23 SCIENCE

Mod F- Unit 1: Earth Dynamics

Lesson 2: The Rock cycle

 Definition: The rock cycle is a series of processes that create and transform
the types of rocks in Earth's crust.

 All rocks regardless of their type are made of a naturally-occurring and usually
inorganic solids with fixed chemical compositions called minerals.

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Grade 6 ICS-22-23 SCIENCE

 Types of rocks:
1. Igneous rocks are rocks that result from volcanic eruptions, as lava
hardens. There are 2 types of igneous rocks.

o Intrusive Igneous rocks: When an igneous rock forms below

Earth’s surface, the magma is well-insulated by the surrounding
rock, so it cools very slowly and results in large, visible & coarse
grained crystals. The long cooling process gives the crystals a
chance to grow in size that is why they look large.
o Extrusive Igneous rocks: Extrusive igneous rocks are formed
when lava erupts out of a volcano and it is exposed to the air
above ground. This makes it cool rapidly, forming small fine-
grained crystals. Some rocks even form no crystals at all.
Note: Quick-cooling igneous rock often has a spongy
appearance because the lava contains bubbles of gas which
make them easy to lift since they have empty pockets in them.

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Grade 6 ICS-22-23 SCIENCE

Two possible shapes of

igneous rocks formed

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Grade 6 ICS-22-23 SCIENCE

2. Sedimentary Rocks: Sediments are often formed when weathering

and erosion break down a rock into loose material which accumulates
in a depositional environment, where older sediments are buried by
younger sediments, and they undergo compaction or cementation
which leads after a certain time scale to the formation of these multi
layered sedimentary rocks.

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Grade 6 ICS-22-23 SCIENCE

sedimentary
rocks examples

3. Metamorphic Rocks: When large changes of temperature,

pressure, or both cause the texture and mineral content of existing
rock igneous, sedimentary or even metamorphic rock to change over
millions of years, a new metamorphic rock forms.
Note: Rocks undergo metamorphism when their temperatures typically
reach ranges of 200 °C to 1,200 °C.

Parent metamorphic
rock creating new
metamorphic rock