The Rock Cycle By Josh Wickersham, Alyssa Wong-Conway, Alex Levin, and Rachel Connolly.

The Rock Cycle

By Josh Wickersham, Alyssa Wong-Conway, Alex Levin, and

Rachel Connolly

Ecological/Biological Roles

Plants and animals require minerals for life

Make up soil for plantsSource for precious minerals and

metalsProvide shelter to small animalsTools to early humans

What is a rock?

An assemblage of one or two minerals that form a part of the

Earth’s solid body. A rock normally connotes an

individual specimen; it is detached from its outcrop so it

has visible boundaries.

How much rock is there total?Atmosphere – 0%Lithosphere – 100%Biosphere – 0%Hydrosphere – 0%

Types of rocks - SedimentaryMade of sand,

shells, or other particles compressed into sediment and harden over time.

soft and breaks easily.

Ex: Conglomerate, limestone

Types of rocks - MetamorphicFormed under the

surface of the Earth from the metamorphosis that occurs in and under the crust

Often have ribbon-like layers, may have shiny crystals on their surface

Ex: Gneiss, marble

Types of rocks – Igneous

Formed from the crystallization of magma sometimes inside the Earth and other times erupts onto the surface through volcanoes (lava).

Ex: Basalt, obsidian

Rock chart

How sedimentary rocks are formedWeathering- rocks wear down due

to wind, man, or waterTransportation of sediments- rock

is brought down a river bedDeposition- rocks are deposited at

the mouth of a river

How metamorphic rocks are formedSedimentary or igneous rock is put

under intense heat and pressure and then goes through metamorphism.

Through weathering, transportation, and deposition, it becomes sediment again.

Through melting, they become magma.

How igneous rocks are formedMagma undergoes cooling and

crystallization and solidifies into igneous rock

Through weathering, transportation, and deposition, it becomes sediment again

Rock Cycle Chart

Bibliography Geology for Kids; September 22, 2008 http://www.kidsgeo.com/images/earths-lithosphere.gif No title; September 22, 2008 http://www.windows.ucar.edu/earth/geology/images/rock_cycle_lg.jpg The Rock Cycle; September 22, 2008 http://sunny.crk.umn.edu/courses/NatR

-Holder/GEOL/PicsLogos3/RockCycle455.gif Classifying Rocks and Minerals; September 22, 2008

http://www.bcssa.org/newsroom/scholarships/great8sci/Photos/Earth_Photos/metamorphic.jpg Principles of Soils and Hydrology; September 22, 2008

http://www.cropsoil.uga.edu/soilsandhydrology/images/Granite.jpg The Rock Cycle; September 22, 2008

http://www.moorlandschool.co.uk/earth/earth_science/utah_sandstone.jpg Some Basic Concepts Underlying the Science of Geology; September 22, 2008

http://rst.gsfc.nasa.gov/Sect2/Sect2_1a.html Interactives: Rock Cycle http://www.learner.org/interactives/rockcycle/