The rock cycle

The rock cycle is a network of possible routes, not a conveyor belt that every rock follows in order.

Lesson 3 of 33 parts Practice Flashcards

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Melting and Crystallization

Objective: Explain melting and crystallization, distinguish their meanings, and apply them to a described case.

Melting: Melting converts solid rock into liquid material under appropriate temperature and pressure conditions. Crystallization: Crystallization forms solid crystals from cooling melt or a solution. The rock cycle has branching pathways and no required starting point. A sedimentary rock can weather again, become metamorphic, or eventually melt under suitable conditions. Heat from the interior and solar energy driving surface processes help power different portions of the network. Distinguish the process that changes a rock from the rock category produced, and avoid assuming every transition takes the same amount of time. Application: Hot conditions turn part of a rock into magma. This most directly illustrates melting. Mineral grains grow as magma cools. This most directly illustrates crystallization.

Worked examples

Try itOriginal teaching scenario: Hot conditions turn part of a rock into magma. Which idea from this section does it most directly illustrate?Show answer

Step 1 — Read the observation: Hot conditions turn part of a rock into magma. Step 2 — Recall the relevant idea: Melting converts solid rock into liquid material under appropriate temperature and pressure conditions. Step 3 — Connect the observation to the idea: The scenario is an illustration of melting. Step 4 — Check the limit: This short scenario illustrates the concept; it does not establish every detail or exclude every other influence in a real situation.

Try itOriginal teaching scenario: Mineral grains grow as magma cools. Which idea from this section does it most directly illustrate?Show answer

Step 1 — Read the observation: Mineral grains grow as magma cools. Step 2 — Recall the relevant idea: Crystallization forms solid crystals from cooling melt or a solution. Step 3 — Connect the observation to the idea: The scenario is an illustration of crystallization. Step 4 — Check the limit: This short scenario illustrates the concept; it does not establish every detail or exclude every other influence in a real situation.

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Melting and Crystallization

Objective: Explain melting and crystallization, distinguish their meanings, and apply them to a described case.

Worked examples

Try itOriginal teaching scenario: Hot conditions turn part of a rock into magma. Which idea from this section does it most directly illustrate?Show answer

Try itOriginal teaching scenario: Mineral grains grow as magma cools. Which idea from this section does it most directly illustrate?Show answer

Weathering and transport and Lithification

Objective: Explain weathering and transport and lithification, distinguish their meanings, and apply them to a described case.

Weathering and transport: Breakdown and movement provide sediment that may later form sedimentary rock. Lithification: Compaction and cementation turn loose sediment into sedimentary rock. The rock cycle has branching pathways and no required starting point. A sedimentary rock can weather again, become metamorphic, or eventually melt under suitable conditions. Heat from the interior and solar energy driving surface processes help power different portions of the network. Distinguish the process that changes a rock from the rock category produced, and avoid assuming every transition takes the same amount of time. Application: Fragments from a mountain travel into a basin. This most directly illustrates weathering and transport. Mineral cement binds buried sand grains together. This most directly illustrates lithification.

Worked examples

Try itOriginal teaching scenario: Fragments from a mountain travel into a basin. Which idea from this section does it most directly illustrate?Show answer

Step 1 — Read the observation: Fragments from a mountain travel into a basin. Step 2 — Recall the relevant idea: Breakdown and movement provide sediment that may later form sedimentary rock. Step 3 — Connect the observation to the idea: The scenario is an illustration of weathering and transport. Step 4 — Check the limit: This short scenario illustrates the concept; it does not establish every detail or exclude every other influence in a real situation.

Try itOriginal teaching scenario: Mineral cement binds buried sand grains together. Which idea from this section does it most directly illustrate?Show answer

Step 1 — Read the observation: Mineral cement binds buried sand grains together. Step 2 — Recall the relevant idea: Compaction and cementation turn loose sediment into sedimentary rock. Step 3 — Connect the observation to the idea: The scenario is an illustration of lithification. Step 4 — Check the limit: This short scenario illustrates the concept; it does not establish every detail or exclude every other influence in a real situation.

Metamorphism and Uplift and exposure

Objective: Explain metamorphism and uplift and exposure, distinguish their meanings, and apply them to a described case.

Metamorphism: Metamorphism changes minerals or textures in solid rock without complete melting. Uplift and exposure: Tectonic uplift and erosion can bring buried rocks toward the surface. The rock cycle has branching pathways and no required starting point. A sedimentary rock can weather again, become metamorphic, or eventually melt under suitable conditions. Heat from the interior and solar energy driving surface processes help power different portions of the network. Distinguish the process that changes a rock from the rock category produced, and avoid assuming every transition takes the same amount of time. Application: A buried shale develops new minerals under pressure. This most directly illustrates metamorphism. Formerly deep rock becomes exposed after overlying material erodes. This most directly illustrates uplift and exposure.

Worked examples

Try itOriginal teaching scenario: A buried shale develops new minerals under pressure. Which idea from this section does it most directly illustrate?Show answer

Step 1 — Read the observation: A buried shale develops new minerals under pressure. Step 2 — Recall the relevant idea: Metamorphism changes minerals or textures in solid rock without complete melting. Step 3 — Connect the observation to the idea: The scenario is an illustration of metamorphism. Step 4 — Check the limit: This short scenario illustrates the concept; it does not establish every detail or exclude every other influence in a real situation.

Try itOriginal teaching scenario: Formerly deep rock becomes exposed after overlying material erodes. Which idea from this section does it most directly illustrate?Show answer

Step 1 — Read the observation: Formerly deep rock becomes exposed after overlying material erodes. Step 2 — Recall the relevant idea: Tectonic uplift and erosion can bring buried rocks toward the surface. Step 3 — Connect the observation to the idea: The scenario is an illustration of uplift and exposure. Step 4 — Check the limit: This short scenario illustrates the concept; it does not establish every detail or exclude every other influence in a real situation.

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