- ROCK CYCLE:
Over very long periods of time, rocks can change into other types of rocks. This process is called the rock cycle:
1. Any rock can melt under very high temperature and form a magma.
2. Magma can solidify to form igneous rocks.
3. Weathering and erosion can break up any rock type into small, loose pieces, forming sediment.
4. Deposits of sediment can be compacted and cemented together to form sedimentary rocks.
5. Any rock type can be altered under high pressure and/or temperature to from metamorphic rocks.
The entire rock cycle is shown on page 6 of the
ESRT Reference Chart
|