Science 7 Unit 5 Topic 2 - Planet Earth, Rocks and the Rock Cycle

Igneous Rock

Rock formed from the cooling and hardening of magma or lava.

Intrusive Igneous

Rock cooled slowly underground with large, visible crystals (e.g., Granite).

Extrusive Igneous

Rock cooled quickly on the surface with tiny or no crystals (e.g., Basalt or Obsidian).

Sedimentary Rock

Rock formed from the compaction and cementation of layers of sediment.

Metamorphic Rock

Rock changed by intense heat and pressure without melting.

Parent Rock: Shale

The sedimentary rock that turns into Slate.

Parent Rock: Granite

The igneous rock that turns into Gneiss.

Parent Rock: Limestone

The sedimentary rock that turns into Marble.

Strata

Visible horizontal layers typically found in sedimentary rocks.

Magma

Molten (melted) rock located below the Earth's surface.

Lava

Molten (melted) rock that has broken through above the Earth's surface.

Melting

The process where any rock type is turned into Magma or Lava due to extreme heat.

Solidification

The cooling and hardening of Magma or Lava to form Igneous rock.

Weathering

The process of breaking down rocks into smaller pieces called sediments.

Erosion

The movement of sediments from one location to another by water, wind, or ice.

Compaction

When layers of sediment are squeezed together by the weight of layers building up on top.

Cementation

When minerals "glue" sediments together to form a solid Sedimentary rock.

Heat and Pressure

The two forces that transform existing rocks into Metamorphic rocks without melting them.

Sediment

Small pieces of rock, shells, or remains of plants/animals that make up Sedimentary rock.