U2S1 Rocks and the Rock Cycle - Vocabulary Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms from the Rocks and the Rock Cycle notes.

Rock cycle

The continuous process by which rocks are created, changed from one form to another, destroyed, and then formed again; explains relationships among igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks.

Igneous rock

Rock formed when magma or lava cools.

Sedimentary rock

Rock formed by the accumulation and deposition of sediment.

Metamorphic rock

Rock formed from existing rocks transformed by extreme heat and pressure.

Mineral composition

The minerals that make up a rock; rocks are aggregates of minerals and are identified by their mineral makeup.

Aggregate

A natural mixture of sand, gravel, and crushed stone.

Grains

The particles of minerals or other rocks that give a rock its texture.

Texture

The feel or appearance of a rock; determined by grain size, shape, and pattern.

Grain size

The size of the grains in a rock; distinguishes fine-grained from coarse-grained textures.

Fine-grained

Grains that can be seen only with a microscope.

Coarse-grained

Grains that are large and easy to see.

Color

The color of a rock is a result of its mineral composition.

Granite

A light-colored igneous rock with a high amount of silica.

Basalt

A dark-colored igneous rock that is low in silica.

Sediment

Small, solid pieces of material from rocks or organisms.

Sandstone

A sedimentary rock formed by compaction and cementation of sand.

Quartzite

A metamorphic rock formed from sandstone under heat and pressure.

Stone Mountain

An example illustrating rock-cycle pathways; formed mostly of igneous rock and containing metamorphic and sedimentary rocks.

Magma

Molten rock beneath Earth's surface; cooling forms igneous rocks.

Lava

Molten rock that erupts onto the surface and cools to form igneous rocks.

Compaction and cementation

Process by which sediment is pressed and cemented to form sedimentary rock.