Processes that Shape the Earth Rocks, Weathering, and Erosion Ms. Aja Ms. Aja 5 th th Grade Grade
Apr 01, 2015
Processes that Shape the Earth
Rocks, Weathering, and Erosion
Ms. AjaMs. Aja
55thth Grade Grade
Rocks
• Solid earth material• Make up the crust of the Earth• Mixture of one or more minerals• Range in size from giant mountains to grains
of sand• Can be smooth or rough, shiny or dull, one
color or many colors• Three main types: 1. sedimentary 2. igneous 3. metamorphic
Minerals http://geology.csupomona.edu/alert/mineral/minerals.htm
• A solid material that is formed by nature in or on Earth’s crust
• A material that has a crystal form• A material that is not formed by a living thing• A material that has its own set of properties• http://www.theimage.com/mineral/minerals1.html
Igneous Rocks http://sln.fi.edu/fellows/payton/rocks/create/igneous.htm
• Form when magma (hot liquid rock) cools and hardens
• “Fire formed” rocks• Common near volcanoes http://volcano.oregonstate.edu/
• http://geology.about.com/cs/basics_roxmin/a/aa011804a.htm• http://geology.about.com/od/rocks/ig/igrockindex/
Metamorphic Rocks
http://sln.fi.edu/fellows/payton/rocks/create/metamorph.htm
• Form when underground rocks are changed due to high pressure
• “Changed” rocks• Common in mountains
Sedimentary Rocks http://sln.fi.edu/fellows/payton/rocks/create/sediment.htm
• Form when layers of rock particles get pressed together at or near Earth's surface
• “Layered” rocks• May contain fossils• Common near bodies of water or where water existed
in the past
Physical Weathering http://geomaps.wr.usgs.gov/parks/project/index.html
1. Wind
2. Rain3. Ice
4. Plant roots
Chemical Weathering
• Carbonation – CO2 & water break down lime stone
• Solution – minerals in rocks dissolve in water
• Oxidation – oxygen & water & minerals react and weaken the rock
• Lichens
Erosion
• Erosion is the movement of sediments from one place to another.
• Water is the primary agent of erosion, though wind and glacier ice also contribute .
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Rock Cyclehttp://www.classzone.com/books/earth_science/terc/content/investigations/es0602/es0602page02.cfm