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The Rock Cycle is a group of changes. Igneous rock can change into sedimentary rock or into metamorphic rock. Sedimentary rock can change into metamorphic rock or into igneous rock. Metamorphic rock can change into igneous or sedimentary rock.

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 sediments can be cemented together to make sedimentary rock. In this way, igneous rock can become sedimentary rock.

All rock 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.

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10y ago
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15y ago

There is no "beginning." That is why it is called a rock CYCLE. But it goes like this... sedimentary rock can turn into metamorphic rock by heat and pressure, the metamorphic rock can then either weather and erode back into sedimentary OR heat even more until it becomes magma, then the magma rises up to the Earth's surface and cools, becoming igneous rock, the igneous rock, then, weather and erodes into sedimentary rock.

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12y ago

There is no second step it can start anywhere like but here is an example MAGMA cooling INGNEOUS ROCK weathering and erosion SEDIMENTS compression and compaction SEDIMENTARY ROCK pressure and heat METAMORPHIC ROCK melting MAGMA And it can go on and on like that for millions of years

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12y ago

These rocks change over hundreds of years in the six steps of the rock cycle:

  • Weathering & Erosion. Igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks on the surface of the earth are constantly being broken down by wind and water. Wind carrying sand wears particles off rock like sandpaper. Rushing river water and crashing surf rub off all the rough edges of rocks, leaving smooth river rocks or pebbles behind. Water seeps into the cracks in mountain rocks, then freezes, causing the rocks to break open. The result of all this: large rocks are worn down to small particles. When the particles are broken off a rock and stay in the same area, it is calledweathering. When the particles are carried somewhere else, it is called erosion.

  • Transportation. Eroded rock particles are carried away by wind or by rain, streams, rivers, and oceans.

  • Deposition. As rivers get deeper or flow into the ocean, their current slows down, and the rock particles (mixed with soil) sink and become a layer of sediment. Often the sediment builds up faster than it can be washed away, creating little islands and forcing the river to break up into many channels in a delta. The Mississippi delta in Louisiana deposits lots of sediment in the Gulf of Mexico!

  • Compaction & Cementation. As the layers of sediment stack up (above water or below), the weight and pressure compacts the bottom layers. (Try making a stack of catalogs and watch how the bottom one gets squished as you add more on top - this is the same idea as the compaction of layers of sediment.) Dissolved minerals fill in the small gaps between particles and then solidify, acting as cement. After years of compaction and cementation, the sediment turns into sedimentary rock.

  • Metamorphism. Over very long periods of time, sedimentary or igneous rocks end up buried deep underground, usually because of the movement of tectonic plates. While underground, these rocks are exposed to high heat and pressure, which changes them into metamorphic rock.This tends to happen where tectonic plates come together: the pressure of the plates squish the rock that is heated from hot magma below. (Tectonic plates are large sections of the earth's crust that move separately from each other. Their movement often results in earthquakes.)

  • Rock Melting. Can you imagine "rock hard" rocks melting? That's what they do in the depths of the earth! Metamorphic rocks underground melt to become magma. When a volcano erupts, magma flows out of it. (When magma is on the earth's surface, it is called lava.) As the lava cools it hardens and becomes igneous rock. As soon as new igneous rock is formed, the processes of weathering and erosion begin, starting the whole cycle over again!

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11y ago

I think its the igneous rock. Hope that helps! :)

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14y ago

igneous

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Q: What is the order of steps in the rock cycle?
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How is the wed cycle related to the rock cycle?

by steps


How many ways are in the rock cycle?

There are seven steps in the rock cycle.


What steps of the rock cycle involve heat?

Igneous


What kind of the steps of the rock cycle involve heat?

Orogenesis and Metamorphism.


In what order are the rocks in the Earth formed?

There really is no set order in the rock cycle for rock formation.


What are the steps of the rock cycle if it starts with Sedimentary rock is pulled into Earth's interior by tectonic forces?

heat and pressure change the sedimentary rock into metamorphic rock


Do all rocks follow the same set of steps through the rock cycle?

yes i think so


Why is the rock cycle called the ''cycle''?

Its called a cycle because it has to go through steps to form the rocks or minerals. Just like a water cycle is called a water cycle because it also has to go through different stages or steps. Another reason why is because it doesn't have an end, it just keeps going round and round. They all need each other to create the other.because it just keeps on going and it doesent have a beginning it can start with any rock igneous, sedimentary, or metamorphic. the rock cycle is for example an igneous can turn into a metamorphic and that rock can turn into sedimentary and then that rock turns into any of the 3 but itself of course.


What is the order sedimentry rocks go through?

i mean in the rock cycle


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Is it possible for rocks to skip sedimentary in the rock cycle?

Yes a rock can change from metamorphic to igneous back to metamorphic the rock cycle does not go in order unless magma cools into igneous and sediment changes into sedimentary rock