The Rock Cycle

THE ROCK CYCLE

By: Mrs. Pealer's Class

You see rocks everywhere you go! The types of rocks are igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks. Sedimentary and igneous rocks are the most common rocks that form near the earth’s surface from the weathered remains of pre-existing rocks or organic debris. Igneous rocks are formed from the solidification of magma. Metamorphic rocks have changed from one form to another.

About 4.45 billion years ago the earth was a big cloud of gas and dust. The earth used to be joined together but separated overtime. It was during this time that the first living organisms appeared. Sedimentary rocks form in layers, which tell how old rock is by counting the layers. The position of melted rock deep within the earth pushes upwards into cracks and layers of rock. Wind and water erode some layers of rock and deposit new ones.

Fossils are the remains and traces of the prehistoric. They are formed when organisms are covered in sediments and then harden into sandstone. Organisms also fossilize when they are buried in volcanic ash. The word “fossil” comes from the Latin word “fossils”, which means dug up. Most fossils are formed because they are deposited into moist sediments, where bacteria can’t survive. In some cases, a fossil takes the shape of a natural mold.

The Earth is made up of five main cores. The first is the solid inner core. That is in the very middle of the Earth. The second core is the liquid outer core. The liquid outer core connects to the solid inner core. The temperature in the core is hotter than the sun’s surface. This intense heat from the inner core causes material in the outer core and mantel. The movement of material within the earth may cause large plates made of the crust and the upper mantle to move slowly over the earth’s surface. It is also possible that the movements generate the magnetic field, called the magnetosphere.

Plate Tectonics is the study of how the Earth's plates are moved by geological forces that keep them in constant motion.  There are three types of boundaries: convergent, divergent, and transform.  When these boundaries move, they cause earthquakes, underwater trenches and volcanoes, and tsunamis.

What is weathering? Weathering is the breaking down of rocks into smaller pieces to create other rocks. Weathering is the breaking down of rocks by natural processes such as wind, water, or ice. Weathering effects the rock cycle. During the rock cycle igneous rock weathers into sedimentary and sedimentary weathers into metamorphic. Weathering also contributes to the formation of soil by providing mineral particles like sand, silt, and clay.

 What is Erosion? Erosion is the transport of materials around the earth's suface.There are three type of erosion: wind,water and ice erosion.  Erosion is when a river runs through the grandcanyon and well, makes it a canyon.                                                                                                                  

The natural environment has crucial importance for social and economic life. We use the world as a resource for food, and energy, and a source for recreation. People need to stop littering and help us make the planet better by recycling water bottles, cans, and other things. We could also stop putting all of our waste in the ocean.