MODULE IN SCI 109 – EARTH SCIENCE

LESSON 2: ROCK AND ROCK CYCLE

Our world is made of rocks. We use them on a daily basis, usually by walking or driving
on them (or on some crushed and reconstituted version thereof). Our homes and office buildings
are often made of rock materials;- bricks as refired clays, walls as reworked gypsum, dining
utensils such as plates, cups and saucers (pottery, ceramic and china), counter tops and floors as
slabs of rocks of various origins. Rocks are aggregates of different mineral grains and can be
divided into three major families or rock groupings.
Rocks are mixtures, or aggregates, of different minerals. They are divided into three
categories based on how different rocks are formed: igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic.

TYPES OF ROCKS

First are the Igneous (or "fire-formed") Rocks, usually created by outpourings from
various volcanoes or by cooling deep under the crust. Ultimately, even deeply buried rocks are
exposed to surface weathering and break down into their constituent minerals. These mineral
grains are removed as sediment and are transported by gravity, wind, ice and water to a place of
deposition where they accumulate, normally as marine sediments. The sediments, whether marine
or terrestrial, become compressed and are often invaded by cementing agencies carried by

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percolating water. They are then lithified - turned from loose grains back to solid rock - for example
limestones and sandstones, forming the second great rock group of the Sedimentary Rocks.

Sedimentary rocks suffer one of two fates. They can be weathered, broken down again
into constituent grains and recycled as sediments, or they can be still more deeply buried,
heated and involved in different types of tectonic movement. The associated heat and pressure
together with circulating fluids modify and change these former sedimentary rocks into a third
group known as the Metamorphic Rocks. Incidentally igneous rocks and earlier metamorphic
rocks can also be modified or re-modified in the same fashion if they are involved in similar Earth
movements. Schists, gneisses and marbles are examples of metamorphic rocks.

Igneous Rocks: Formed by Fire

Igneous rocks form when molten rock (magma or lava) cools and solidifies. This cooling
can either be intrusive, where the magma pool gradually cools and the magma solidifies into an
igneous rock. Alternatively, the cooling can extrusive, where the magma is cooled very quickly
such as during a volcanic eruption.
The process that transforms magma into solid igneous rock is called crystallization or
cooling. Generally, rocks that formed on the surface (from lava) are called volcanic rocks while
rocks that cooled beneath the surface are called plutonic rocks.

The study of igneous rock is an imperative window that permits understanding of the
process occurring deep within the Earth. Igneous rocks pioneer the other two rock types for the
reason that they come from a source melt (magma). Ultimately, any rock (regardless of its type)
will trace back it lineage to an igneous one.
Sedimentary Rocks: Rocks from Sediments
Sedimentary rocks originate when particles settle out of water or air, or by precipitation of
minerals from water. They accumulate in layers. Sedimentary rocks are made up of pieces of older
rocks (igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary) and organic remains (shells, bone, etc.). When
rocks break apart from erosion they are transported by rivers and streams to lakes and oceans. As
the sediment piles up it is compressed and heated in the Earth. Eventually, the high pressures and
temperatures lithify the loose sediment into a sedimentary rock.
Sedimentary rocks are formed from pieces of other existing rock or organic material. There
are three different types of sedimentary rocks: clastic, organic (biological), and chemical. Clastic
sedimentary rocks, like sandstone, form from clasts, or pieces of other rock. Organic sedimentary
rocks, like coal, form from hard, biological materials like plants, shells, and bones that are
compressed into rock.

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 When you encounter the term “sediment,” the first image that might come into your mind
would be the sand you see along a beach – this is actually true and represents one of the near-end
stages of sedimentation. Sediments are broken down rocks (physically or chemically) that
constitutes sedimentary rocks. The sedimentary processes are the following:
1. Weathering is the process of breaking
down rocks physically or chemically.
Physical weathering processes allow the
breakdown of rocks into smaller units
while chemical weathering processes
result to decay of minerals present in the
rock.
2. Erosion means “to eat away”. It is the
process of eating away rocks from their
source. It takes place with the help of
gravity and medium such as water and
wind.
3. Transport is the movement of sediments
from one place to another. This process
enhances the effects of weathering
making the sediments smaller in size
and more spherical in shape. The greater
the distance of transport, sediments tend
to become smaller, rounder, spherical in
shape and well-sorted.
4. Deposition is the setting of sediments in
an area before they are finally lithified
to form sedimentary rocks. It occurs
when energy of the medium agent is no
longer capable of transporting the sediments.
5. Diagenesis is the group processes responsible for the transformation of sediments into
sedimentary rocks. Processes include cementation, compaction, recrystallization, etc.
Its main goal is to end up with the sediments together as an individual sedimentary
rock.
Metamorphic Rocks: Transformed Rocks
Metamorphic rocks result when existing rocks are changed by heat, pressure, or reactive
fluids, such as hot, mineral-laden water. Metamorphic rocks form from a previously existing rock,
be it igneous, sedimentary or even an older metamorphic rock. Rocks turn metamorphic when they
are subjected to very high heat and pressure. This alters the chemical and structural makeup of the
minerals within the rock, changing it into a new metamorphic rock. If the rock is heated enough,
it fully melts and if cooled would be an igneous rock.
Metamorphic rocks are rocks that have been changed from their original form by immense
heat or pressure. Metamorphic rocks have two classes: foliated and nonfoliated. When a rock
with flat or elongated minerals is put under immense pressure, the minerals line up in layers,
creating foliation. Foliation is the aligning of elongated or platy minerals, like hornblende or mica,
perpendicular to the direction of pressure that is applied. An example of this transformation can
be seen with granite, an igneous rock. Granite contains long and platy minerals that are not initially
aligned, but when enough pressure is added, those minerals shift to all point in the same direction
while getting squeezed into flat sheets. When granite undergoes this process, like at a tectonic plate
boundary, it turns into gneiss (pronounced “nice”).
Nonfoliated rocks are formed the same way, but they do not contain the minerals that tend
to line up under pressure and thus do not have the layered appearance of foliated rocks.
Sedimentary rocks like bituminous coal, limestone, and sandstone, given enough heat and
pressure, can turn into nonfoliated metamorphic rocks like anthracite coal, marble, and quartzite.

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Nonfoliated rocks can also form by metamorphism, which happens when magma comes in contact
with the surrounding rock.
Metamorphism is the transformation of one rock to a metamorphic rock. The unique thing
about this rock type is that the processes take place in a solid state. Hence, no melting, dissolution,
nor breaking rocks and assembling them back together happen during metamorphism.
Metamorphic rocks are more or less isochemical with the protolith (parent rock). This
means that metamorphic rock will have almost the same composition as its parent roc regardless
of what factor induced its change (pressure, heat, or fluids).

ROCK CYCLE

The Rock Cycle is a group of changes. Igneous rock forms when magma cools and makes
crystals. Magma is a hot liquid made of melted minerals. The minerals can form crystals when
they cool. Igneous rock can form underground, where the magma cools slowly. Or, igneous rock
can form above ground, where the magma cools quickly.

When it pours out on Earth's surface, magma is called lava. Yes, the same liquid rock matter
that you see coming out of volcanoes.
On Earth's surface, wind and water can break rock into pieces. They can also carry rock
pieces to another place. Usually, the rock pieces, called sediments, drop from the wind or water to
make a layer. The layer can be buried under other layers of sediments. After a long time the
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sediments can be cemented together to make sedimentary rock. In this way, igneous rock can
become sedimentary rock.
All rocks can be heated. But where does the heat come from? Inside Earth there is heat
from pressure (push your hands together very hard and feel the heat). There is heat from friction
(rub your hands together and feel the heat). There is also heat from radioactive decay (the process
that gives us nuclear power plants that make electricity).
So, what does the heat do to the rock? It bakes the rock.
Baked rock does not melt, but it does change. It forms crystals. If it has crystals already, it
forms larger crystals. Because this rock changes, it is called metamorphic. Remember that a
caterpillar changes to become a butterfly. That change is called metamorphosis. Metamorphosis
can occur in rock when they are heated to 300 to 700 degrees Celsius.
When Earth's tectonic plates move around, they produce heat. When they collide, they
build mountains and metamorphose (met-ah-MORE-foes) the rock.
The rock cycle continues. Mountains made of metamorphic rocks can be broken up and
washed away by streams. New sediments from these mountains can make new sedimentary rock.
The rock cycle never stops.

GEOLOGIC PROCESSES

The crust is made of a variety of solid rocks like sedimentary, metamorphic, and igneous.
It has an average density of 2.8 g/cm3 and its thickness ranges from 5 to 50 km. The crust is
thickest in a part where a relatively young
mountain is present and thinnest along the ocean
floor.

You will notice from Figure 1 that there are

two kinds of crust: the thicker but less dense
continental crust and the oceanic crust which is
relatively thinner but denser than continental crust

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 Rocks form mainly within
the crust of the Earth.
In converging zones, such as
subduction, obduction, and
collision, metamorphic rocks are
always created. However, only in
subduction does igneous rock form.
Sedimentary rocks will form as the
mountains, erode and sediments
settle into basins.

At diverging or rift zones igneous rocks are formed. Sedimentary rocks will form if the area is
submerged, like in the mid-Atlantic rift zone. Metamorphic rocks can be formed as the plates move
the rocks apart, but it will be only localized. At transform or slip-slide boundaries metamorphic
rocks form.
Sedimentary rocks form as an overlay to all these plate interactions.

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 SCI 109 – EARTH SCIENCE
LESSON 2: ROCK AND ROCK CYCLE

Name: Section: Rating:

Activity:

1. Thailand is known for this famous rock type that is just up hundreds of feet above crystal
clear waters. What rock type is this? Why do you think so?

2. Fill in the blanks the correct rock type being described.

are the "recyclers" of the rock cycle, they take any other
rock and turn it into a new one. are the "recyclers" of the rock
cycle, they take any other rock and turn it into a new one.
are the "change makers" of the rock cycle. They take what was once a rock and change it
into a new rock.

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 SCI 109 – EARTH SCIENCE
LESSON 2: ROCK AND ROCK CYCLE

Name: Section: Rating:

Evaluation: You may opt to draw the figure or print this page.

1. Locate where igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks are formed. Color the igneous rock
areas red, the sedimentary rock areas yellow, and the metamorphic rock areas green.

a. Where are sedimentary rocks usually created? Give an example of area.

b. Where are igneous rocks usually created? Give an example of area.

c. Where are metamorphic rocks usually created? Give an example of area.

Additional Readings:
https://www.learner.org/wp-content/interactive/rockcycle/rockdiagram/

References:
Books
Refran, et al (2016) Earth Science.Quezon City, Philippines. Vibal Group Inc. pp. 20-28
Seeds, M.A. & Backman, D. (2016) Earth Science. Manila, Phillipines. Rex Bookstore, Inc. pp. 109-142
Website
Rock Cycle - Rocks (4) https://www.msnucleus.org/membership/html/k-6/rc/rocks/5/rcr5_1d.html

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