BEM 3101 Q 12 Unit I Assessment
ROCK CYCLE: HOW THE THREE MAJOR TYPES OF ROCK FORM AND BREAK DOWN
In the rock cycle igneous rock is formed when rock melts and the resulting magma or lava then cools. Sedimentary rock is formed when rock is weathered and eroded and the resulting sediments are compressed to form a new rock. Metamorphic is formed when rock is subjected to intense heat and pressure underground. Through these processes, each type of rock can be converted into either of the other two types (Withgott, 2011). Over time, wind, weather, and physical damage can erode rock into gravel, sand, silt, and clay particles. Once rock has been broken down into small components they can be deposited, often in or along water features in layers. Over time, these are compressed into layered rock, called sedimentary rock. This, too, can erode back into smaller fragments. Igneous or sedimentary rock buried underground and exposed to extreme forces of heat or pressure can change form into metamorphic rock, which may be quite different from its original form (Biology). Sedimentary rocks form by breaking down other kinds of rocks into small particles and washing or blowing them away; metamorphic rocks form from other rocks and igneous rocks form by melting other rocks. Thus rocks are always changing form and are redistributed as part of a giant cycle of renewal (Tauxe).
References
Jay Whitgott & Scott Brenan (2011). Environment: The Science behind the Stories 4th Edition Environment. 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.
Biology Forums.com
Retrieved from http://biology-forums.com/index.php?topic=10936.0
Lisa Tauxe ltauxe@ucsd.edu. ES10 - EARTH Lecture 10 - The Rock Cycle.
Retrieved from http://topex.ucsd.edu/es10/lectures/lecture10/lecture10.html
In the rock cycle igneous rock is formed when rock melts and the resulting magma or lava then cools. Sedimentary rock is formed when rock is weathered and eroded and the resulting sediments are compressed to form a new rock. Metamorphic is formed when rock is subjected to intense heat and pressure underground. Through these processes, each type of rock can be converted into either of the other two types (Withgott, 2011). Over time, wind, weather, and physical damage can erode rock into gravel, sand, silt, and clay particles. Once rock has been broken down into small components they can be deposited, often in or along water features in layers. Over time, these are compressed into layered rock, called sedimentary rock. This, too, can erode back into smaller fragments. Igneous or sedimentary rock buried underground and exposed to extreme forces of heat or pressure can change form into metamorphic rock, which may be quite different from its original form (Biology). Sedimentary rocks form by breaking down other kinds of rocks into small particles and washing or blowing them away; metamorphic rocks form from other rocks and igneous rocks form by melting other rocks. Thus rocks are always changing form and are redistributed as part of a giant cycle of renewal (Tauxe).
References
Jay Whitgott & Scott Brenan (2011). Environment: The Science behind the Stories 4th Edition Environment. 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.
Biology Forums.com
Retrieved from http://biology-forums.com/index.php?topic=10936.0
Lisa Tauxe ltauxe@ucsd.edu. ES10 - EARTH Lecture 10 - The Rock Cycle.
Retrieved from http://topex.ucsd.edu/es10/lectures/lecture10/lecture10.html
References: Jay Whitgott & Scott Brenan (2011). Environment: The Science behind the Stories 4th Edition Environment. 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Biology Forums.com Retrieved from http://biology-forums.com/index.php?topic=10936.0 Lisa Tauxe ltauxe@ucsd.edu. ES10 - EARTH Lecture 10 - The Rock Cycle. Retrieved from http://topex.ucsd.edu/es10/lectures/lecture10/lecture10.html