ROCK CYCLE

S. MATHISON
OBJECTIVES

• Identify the three rock types

• Describe the formation of each type
• Explain the processes involved in the rock
cycle
 TERMS
• Permeable
• Pervious
• Porous
• Impermeable
• Texture
• Minerals
• Clastic rocks
ROCK CYCLE

• The rock cycle is a series of processes on and

beneath the Earth’s surface that slowly change
rocks from one kind to another.
• The process is aided by melting /weathering/
erosion/ heat and pressure.
 GEOLOGIST CLASSIFY ROCKS BY OBSERVING THE COLOUR,
TEXTURE , MINERAL CONTENT AND PERMEABILITY
• COLOUR - VARY FROM RED / YELLOW/ GRAY/ BROWN/ WHITE AND BLACK (PURPLE BLUE
MIXTURE OF METAMORPHIC ROCK –GNEISSES )
• TEXTURE - IS THE SIZE , SHAPE AND PATTERN OF THE ROCK GRAINS. THEY MAY BE
SMOOTH, ROUGH, CHALKY, COARSE OF FINE .
N.B . A ROCK GRAIN GIVES THE ROCK ITS TEXTURE
• PERMEABILITY - ROCKS WHICH ALLOW WATER TO PASS THROUGH EXAMPLE SANDSTONE.

SOME ROCKS ARE POROUS ( HAVING SMALL AIR / PORE SPACES)

SOME ARE PERVIOUS ( HAVING JOINTS AND CRACKS EXAMPLE GRANITE )
ROCKS WHICH DO NOT ALLOW WATER TO PASS THROUGH ARE IMPERMEABLE EXAMPLE CLAY.
Clay is porous because water can enter it but it is impermeable as water do not pass through it .
 MINERAL CONTENT
N.B. A mineral is a naturally occurring , inorganic, solid that has a crystal structure
and a definite chemical composition.
 Naturally occurring – example gold, copper , silver , bauxite, diamond, calcite, talc
and others
Inorganic – not formed from living organism ( coal is organic , it is formed from
the remains of plants and animals).
Solid – has volume and shape . The particles are packed closely together, so they
cannot move unlike particles that make up a liquid .
Crystal structure – particles of a mineral line up in a pattern that repeats over and
over. The repeating pattern forms a solid called crystal . A crystal has flat sides called
faces that meet at sharp edges or corners.
Chemical composition – contain certain elements in definite proportion
 DISCUSS
• According to the definition of a mineral can water be classified
as a mineral ? Explain your answer.
• Is coal inorganic or organic ? Explain your answer
• List four characteristics geologist use to classify rocks
• Think about this …. Is salt a mineral ?
• Is plastic a mineral ?
• Give two terms used to describe rock texture
 ROCK FORMATION AND USES
Igneous Rocks
The word igneous means formed by fire . They are formed from the cooling and
hardening of molten material within or at the earth’s surface.
Texture – depends on the size and shape of its mineral crystals ( fine grains if formed
by the rapidly cooling lava with small crystals example basalt). Or coarse grained if
formed by the slow cooling of magma with large crystals example granite.
The silica content affects the type of igneous rock formed.
Low in silica it forms a dark coloured rock called basalt
High in silica it forms a light coloured rock called granite
 USES OF IGNEOUS ROCK
• Igneous rocks are hard, dense and durable
• They are used for tools and building materials/ counter tops
• Granite is used to carve statues example ancient Egyptians. It is
used to build bridges, public buildings, paving roads with
cobblestones.
 SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
Sedimentary rocks are formed from the deposition of sediments
accumulated and compressed over long periods of time usually under
water.
They are formed in layers ( stratified rocks )
They contain fossils ( remain of organic substances)
They are non crystalline
They are easily weathered (soft rocks)
These rocks vary in their formation according to their origin and
composition .
Quick online Research and make notes on how they are formed mechanically /
organically / chemically and give examples for each .
 MECHANICALLY FORMED
• Formed from accumulation and compression of sediments from
other rocks which have been cemented together .
• Mudstones are formed from very fine grains of silt and clay
cemented together.
• Sandstone and Shale are familiar sedimentary rocks.

N.B. Clastic rocks are formed when rocks are squeezed together .
ORGANICALLY FORMED

• Formed from the remains of tiny sea

creatures or other living things such as coral
or shellfish. The shells and skeleton remains
contains calcium carbonate which collects on
the sea floor forming limestone / chalk .
 CHEMICALLY FORMED

• Formed from the deposition of soluble salts in a

complicated chemical process.
• Rock salts are formed from the beds of seas or
lakes.
• Gypsum is obtained from the evaporation of salt
lakes such as the DEAD SEA.
 USES OF SEDIMENTARY ROCKS

• Sand stone and limestone are used in building materials .

• Both type of stones are soft enough to be cut easily into
blocks and slabs.
• The White House in the USA is built from sandstone.
• Limestone is used in the making of cement .
 METAMORPHIC ROCKS
Metamorphic rocks are formed from igneous and sedimentary rocks which have
been changed by tremendous heat and pressure.
The heat causes the rock minerals to re – crystallize and the pressure alter their
structure .
Example – limestone change to marble
Clay change to slate
Coal change to graphite.
USES - marble is used for buildings ( Taj Mahal , India) Slate is used for
flooring, roofing , outdoor walk ways and chalkboard.
CLASSWORK : WRITE 5 OR MORE EXAMPLES OF EACH
ROCK TYPE IN YOUR NOTEBOOK

Igneous Sedimentary Metamorphic

granite Sandstone / coal graphite

Basalt Mudstone/ gypsum marble

grabbo Limestone / shale quartzite

dacite chalk gneiss

diorite Clay Slate

 ACTIVITY

• Pick up a piece of rock at home and examine it .

Do you know what type of rock it is? or how it is
formed ?
• Can you think of any reason why certain types of
rocks would not be found in your area ?
ROCK CYCLE
 SUMMARY
Igneous rocks when exposed on the earth’s surface will wear
away by weathering and erosion forming sediments.
Sediments when cemented and compacted together will form
sedimentary rocks
Sedimentary rocks when exposed to heat and pressure will
change to metamorphic rocks .
Metamorphic rocks that are exposed to heat and pressure
will melt and harden to form igneous rocks .
REVIEW

• What steps in the rock cycle could change a

sedimentary rock into an igneous rock ?
• Explain how two processes can gradually change
rocks from one form to another.