What would be likely to happen to the rock cycle if earth's interior cooled so much that plate movements stopped?

Answer 1

If Earth's interior cooled significantly and plate movements ceased, the rock cycle would be dramatically altered. Without tectonic activity, processes like volcanism and mountain-building would halt, limiting the formation of new igneous and metamorphic rocks. Erosion would continue, but sedimentary processes would slow down as there would be less uplift and exposure of rocks to weathering. Ultimately, the rock cycle would stagnate, leading to a more stable but less dynamic geological environment.