ROCK CYCLE

Igneous

Rocks formed when magma cools and solidifies through the process of crystallization.

Extrusive (volcanic rocks)

Molten rocks that solidify on the Earth's surface.

Intrusive (plutonic rocks)

Rocks formed at depth when magma cools slowly.

Phaneritic

AKA Course-grained. Igneous rocks with large crystals that are visible to the eye.

Aphanitic

AKA Fine-grained. Igneous rocks with small crystals that cannot be seen by the naked eye.

Porphyritic

Igneous rocks with a large difference in grain size, featuring large grains (phenocrysts) in a finer matrix.

Glossy-textured

Igneous rocks that are non-crystalline and have no mineral grains.

Felsic

Igneous rocks with a light color.

Mafic

Igneous rocks that are dark in color.

Andesitic

Igneous rocks that have both light and dark colors.

Ultramafic

Igneous rocks that are mostly dark-colored.

Sedimentary

Rocks formed from sediments produced by uplift and weathering, which are transported and deposited.

Lithification

The process by which sediments are transformed into solid sedimentary rocks.

Compaction

The process where sediments accumulate and the weight of overlying layers compacts the materials below.

Cementation

The process where water containing cementing materials binds sediment particles together.

Common cements

Materials such as calcite, silica, and iron oxide that help bind particles in sedimentary rocks.

Strata

Layers in sedimentary rocks that often contain fossils or imprints of animals.

Detrital sedimentary rocks

Rocks that form from the weathering of other rocks, classified based on particle size.

Chemical sedimentary rocks

Rocks that form from weathered rocks classified based on chemical composition.

Metamorphic

Rocks that come from pre-existing rocks and undergo changes due to heat and pressure.

Metamorphism

The transformation process of parent rock into a texturally and mineralogically new rock.

Foliation

The layering that occurs as tectonic forces squeeze and deform rocks during metamorphism.

Parent rock

The original rock from which a metamorphic rock forms.

Marble

A non-foliated metamorphic rock that forms from limestone.

Gneiss

A foliated metamorphic rock that is medium to coarse-grained and originates from granite or volcanic rock.

State

Foliated metamorphic rocks that are fine-grained and come from shale.