Rock Cycle
6 questions tagged Rock Cycle — spanning every one of the seven Ws.
Which rock cycle process turns sediment into sedimentary rock?
Compaction and cementation turn loose sediment into sedimentary rock.
How do metamorphic rocks form under heat and pressure?
Existing rocks are changed deep underground without fully melting. Heat, pressure, and fluids rearrange minerals into new textures and mineral combinations.
How do sediments turn into sedimentary rock?
Layers of sediment get compacted and cemented by minerals carried in water, turning loose grains into solid rock.
What is a sedimentary rock?
A sedimentary rock forms from layers of sediment that are compacted and cemented over time. It often preserves fossils and clues about past environments.
What is metamorphic rock?
A metamorphic rock is a rock that has been changed by heat, pressure or chemically active fluids without fully melting. Examples include marble, slate and gneiss.
What is igneous rock?
An igneous rock forms when molten rock cools and solidifies. If it cools underground it is intrusive; if it cools at the surface it is extrusive.