What is the rock cycle?
Quick Answer
The rock cycle is the continuous process that forms, breaks down and transforms rocks between igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic types. It is driven by plate tectonics, weathering, burial and melting.
The Full Story
The rock cycle is not a strict loop but a set of connected processes that move materials through Earth’s crust and mantle. Igneous rocks can weather into sediments, sediments can lithify into sedimentary rock, and deep burial can transform them into metamorphic rock. Melting can then create new magma and igneous rock again. The cycle operates over millions to billions of years and is essential for understanding Earth’s evolving surface.
Key Facts
YouTube Angle
Suggested video title for this topic:
"The endless recycling system that builds Earth’s crust"
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