All About The Rock Cycle

WEATHERING
OF ROCKS
EROSION &
TRANSPORT

DEPOSITION OF
SEDIMENT

IGNEOUS UPLIFT
BURIAL &
ROCK COMPACTION

SOLIDIFICATION
OF MAGMA SEDIMENTARY
ROCK

DEFORMATION &
METAMORPHISM
METAMORPHIC
MELTING ROCK

The rock cycle describes the change and movement of materials on and inside the Earth. The cycle is essentially a loop; stating
that materials are neither created nor destroyed, they only change form when the environment changes. Sediments eroded
from solid rocks are transported to a new location; in this diagram, the sediments are carried into the ocean where they settle
and compact. Sedimentary rocks are created at the end of this stage. As the sedimentary rocks are buried deeper and deeper,
heat and pressure cause physical or chemical changes in the rock, and they change to metamorphic rock. When the rock is
pushed deep into the Earth, they can melt into magma. Once this magma solidifies, either inside the crust or after being
expelled by a volcano, they change to igneous rocks. Eventually the rocks are worn down through weathering, and the process
begins anew with the erosion and transport of the new sediments.

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 All About The Rock Cycle
On page two of this worksheet, you will answer questions based on the
information you read on page one.

Circle the best answer.

1. The Nile river carries sediments to the 4. In the Arizona desert, a sudden
ocean. Over time, the sediments are rainstorm washes sand and sediment into
compressed as more sediments are the Colorado river, which eventually
deposited on top of them. Which type of deposits the sediments into the ocean.
rock will be formed? This process is called:

A. Sedimentary A. Erosion & Transport

B. Metamorphic B. Deposition
C. Igneous C. Weathering

2. The volcano Kilauea on the big island 5. In the desert, wind picks up and carries
of Hawai’i is erupting and lava is ejected fine particles of sand and dirt. As the
from the volcano vent. The lava solidifies wind blows against the rocks, the
to form what type of rock? particles rub against the rocks and wear
them down in a process called:
A. Sedimentary
B. Metamorphic A. Weathering
C. Igneous B. Transport
C. Erosion
3. Off the coast of the Pacific Northwest
in the United States, the Pacific plate is 6. Which one of the following is NOT one
being pushed underneath the North of the three types of rock?
American plate in a subduction zone,
caused by plate tectonics. As the rock A. Sedimentary
from the Pacific plate is pushed under the B. Lava
North American plate, it is subjected to C. Metamorphic
high temperatures and pressures. Which D. Igneous
rock will be created from this process?
7. True or False? Magma is lava that has
A. Sedimentary been ejected from beneath the Earth’s
B. Metamorphic crust through a volcano.
C. Igneous
True
False

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2010-2011 by Education.com
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