Rock Cycle Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards about the Rock Cycle

Magma

Molten rock inside the Earth.

Rock Cycle

The continuous processes that cause rocks to change.

Igneous Rocks

Rocks made from cooled lava.

Erosion

Removal and transport of earth materials by natural agents.

Mineral

A naturally occurring solid that has an orderly structure and a definite chemical composition.

Parent Rock

The rock from which a metamorphic rock is formed.

Mechanical Weathering

Weathering with no change in composition.

Sedimentary Rocks

Rocks that form when sediment is squeezed together.

Brecci

Large chunks of other rocks found in sedimentary rocks.

Oxidation

Chemical reaction of oxygen and minerals.

Rock

A combination of minerals that are stuck together.

Extrusive Igneous Rocks

Rocks with holes or glassy surfaces.

Fossils

Remains of living organisms preserved in sedimentary rocks.

Metamorphic Rocks

Rocks that have changed under high heat and pressure.

Composition

What something is made up of.

Sediment

Fragments resulting from the breaking of rocks, minerals, and organic matter.

Weathering

The break up of rock due to exposure to the atmosphere.