Environmental Science Test 3b

Igneous Rocks

They hold clues as to what the Earth is made of. They come from molten magma. Volcanoes build mountains.

Sedimentary Rocks

Those come from rocks that were broken apart at the surface and then reformed into rock. They are everywhere around us as they mostly exist at the surface of the Earth. They record what happens on the surface—past climates, past biomes, it’s where fossils form, where fossil fuels are . . .

Metamorphic Rocks

Those that occur when existing rocks are subjected to intense pressure and/or temperature, but not melted completely to form a new igneous rock. When tectonic plates move they exert tremendous force on pre-existing rocks. That pressure isn’t enough to melt them, but enough to change their structure. These rocks tell us of mountain building and past movement of tectonic plates.

Weathering

The process of wearing or being worn by long exposure to the atmosphere. This is the process where rocks, soil, and minerals are broken down or dissolved by natural forces like wind, water, ice, temperature changes, and biological activity. 

Erosion

The process of eroding or being eroded by wind, water, or other natural agents. This is the process where the weathered material (sediment) is transported from one place to another by agents like wind, water, ice, or gravity. 

What type of rock forms when sedimentary rocks are subjected to high pressure and temperature?

Metamorphic

Which process involves the breaking down of rocks into smaller particles?

Weathering

What happens to sedimentary rocks during the process of metamorphism?

They undergo changes in texture and mineral composition.

What is the process by which sediments are glued together to form sedimentary rock?

Compaction and Cementation

Is granite a type of sedimentary rock?

No, it is not.

What type of rock is formed when magma cools beneath the Earth’s surface?

Igneous

Which processes contributes to soil formation by breaking down rocks into smaller particles?

Weathering