ROCKS

Rocks

Organic, naturally occurring aggregates of minerals, mineraloids and organic matter

Weathering and Erosion

Process where surface rocks are constantly broken down by wind and water

Transportation

Process which eroded particles are carried away by wind, rains, streams, rivers and oceans

Deposition

Process which currents slow down, rock particles sink and become a layer of sediment

Lithification

Also referred to as cementation, where sediment stacks up and bottom layers compact, turning into sedimentary rocks

Metamorphism

Rocks deep underground are subjected to high heat and pressure, turning into metamorphic rocks

Rock Melting

When rocks melt to become magma and turns into igneous rock

Igneous Rocks

Rocks formed by the cooling of magma or lava

Extrusive

A type of igneous rock from the rapid cooling of lava. It is fine-grained and glassy

Intrusive

A type of igneous rock from the gradual cooling of magma. It is coarse-grained and visibly crystalline

Sedimentary Rocks

Rocks formed by stratification where layers deposited by storms, floods

Stratification

Layers deposited by storms, floods, briefly interrupted by algae growth

Clastic

A type of sedimentary rock composed of weathered rock bits, classified by size

Chemical

A type of sedimentary rock where saturated dissolve materials build a deposit at the bottom of rivers or lakes

Organic

A type of sedimentary rock of lithified remains of organisms

Metamorphic Rocks

Rocks formed by pre-existing rocks transforming at elevated temperatures and pressures

Contact

A type of metamorphism where magma moves into rock

Regional

A type of metamorphism which involves large-scale deformation

Foliated

A type of a metamorphic rock that has a platy/sheet-like structure

Non-foliated

A type of metamorphic rock that has no platy/sheet-like structure