Watch this video to learn more about the types of rocks and the rock cycle.
[MUSIC PLAYING] In this video, we're going to be talking all about rock. That's right, nonstop rock talk, but don't get too excited. This is still Earth science, so we're rocking out to rocks that are actually rocks.
While we won't be discussing rock music sweet licks and heavy riffs, you are going to find out that even volcanic rocks can be pretty cool. All rocks on Earth go through what is called a rock cycle. This is the physical and chemical change rocks go through from molten materials cooling into solid form and back again. Let's talk a little bit about what makes a rock a rock.
First, rocks are non-living and made from combinations of minerals and things that may or may not have once been alive. Rocks are described and categorized by their texture, which includes the size, shape, and grain arrangement. While some rocks grains are large, others are small and others might be without grain at all. In music, new styles of rock are being created all the time, but with geology, there are only three main categories.
First, there is igneous rock, which is formed from cooling volcanic lava and magma. Next, we have sedimentary rock formed by the material on the Earth's surface and within bodies of water. Lastly, we have metamorphic rock, which forms when existing rock is changed by heat and pressure. So now that we know how rocks are categorized and what the three main types are, let's look at a simple overview about the actual cycle.
This cycle has no real beginning or end. To explain this cycle, let's jump in at the part where rock crystallizes from magma or lava. This is the crystallization phase, forming from igneous rock. This igneous rock goes through the next process called erosion and sedimentation to form sedimentary rock. Finally, metamorphism occurs with the presence of heat and pressure.
This cycle does have several paths a rock can take, all reforming new rock along the way. Now, we've covered all the types of rock and the cycle and processes that form them. With your newfound knowledge, you can proudly call yourself a full fledged rock star.
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Question
What order does the rock cycle go in?
