Rock Cycle and Types of Rocks (Video Notes)

Vocabulary flashcards covering rock cycle terms, rock types, processes, and examples from the notes.

Rock Cycle

The ongoing series of processes by which rocks are formed, altered, destroyed, and reformed through weathering, erosion, deposition, burial, melting, and metamorphism.

Sediment

Small pieces of rock or mineral material transported and deposited to form sedimentary rocks.

Compaction

The pressing together of sediment layers under burial weight, reducing pore space.

Cementation

Binding of sediment grains by minerals to form sedimentary rock.

Weathering

The breaking down of rocks at the Earth's surface through physical, chemical, or biological processes.

Erosion

The removal and transportation of weathered material by wind, water, or ice.

Transported

Moved from one location to another by natural agents (water, wind, ice).

Deposited

Laid down in a new location, often in water.

Igneous rock

Rock formed when magma or lava cools and solidifies.

Sedimentary rock

Rock formed from sediments that have been compacted and cemented, or from fragments of other rocks.

Metamorphic rock

Rock formed when existing rocks are altered by heat and pressure deep in the crust.

Magma

Molten rock beneath the Earth's surface.

Lava

Molten rock that erupts onto the surface.

Crystallizes

Forms crystals as molten rock cools and solidifies.

Melts

Becomes liquid when rock is heated enough to form magma.

Intrusive igneous rocks

Igneous rocks that crystallize below the surface as magma cools slowly, forming visible crystals (e.g., granite, diorite, syenite).

Extrusive igneous rocks

Igneous rocks that crystallize on the surface from lava, usually with no visible crystals due to rapid cooling (e.g., basalt, andesite, rhyolite).

Granite

A coarse-grained intrusive igneous rock composed mainly of quartz and feldspar.

Diorite

An intermediate intrusive igneous rock with medium-sized crystals.

Syenite

An intrusive igneous rock similar to granite but with little or no quartz.

Basalt

A dark, fine-grained extrusive igneous rock.

Andesite

An intermediate extrusive igneous rock with medium-colored crystals.

Rhyolite

A felsic extrusive igneous rock with very fine crystals.

Ignimbrite

A pyroclastic rock formed from volcanic ash and pumice deposited during explosive eruptions.

Scoria

A vesicular, dark-colored extrusive igneous rock formed from gas-rich magma.

Pumice

A very light, porous extrusive rock formed from highly gas-rich magma.

Clay

A fine-grained sediment that can become part of sedimentary rocks.

Limestone

A sedimentary rock composed mainly of calcium carbonate.

Sandstone

A sedimentary rock formed from cemented sand grains.

Slate

A foliated metamorphic rock formed from shale under heat and pressure.

Schist

A metamorphic rock with pronounced foliation and platy minerals.

Marble

A metamorphic rock formed from limestone or dolostone under heat and pressure; typically non-foliated.