Earth's History and the Rock Cycle

Granite has only recently been exposed at a location on Earth's surface. What will need to happen first in order for granite to become sedimentary rock?

• A thick layer of humus must form on top of the granite.

• The granite must be broken into smaller pieces by weathering processes.

• Erosion by wind and water must move pieces of granite to other locations.

• Microorganisms must begin to break down the remains of plants and animals.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

Fred observed a rock that he found at the beach. He concluded that the rock was sedimentary. Which observation best supports this conclusion?

• the layers within the rock

• the yellow color

• the hardness of the rock

• the location where the rock was found

The process by which water, wind, ice, and changes in temperature break down rock into fragments called sediments.

• Deposition
• Erosion
• Weathering
• Igneous Rock

Rock that forms when pressure, temperature, or chemical processes change existing rock.

• Igneous Rock
• Sedimentary Rock
• Metamorphic Rock
• Rock Cycle

Rock that forms when minerals form from solutions or sediment from older rocks get pressed and cemented together.

• Sedimentary Rock
• Metamorphic Rock
• Igneous Rock

The process by which igneous rocks are formed...

• heat and pressure
• melting and cooling
• compaction and cementation

The process by which metamorphic rocks are formed...

• heat and pressure
• compaction and cementation
• melting and cooling

Granite forms when magma slowly cools within the Earth's crust. Basalt forms when lava cools on Earth's surface. What do granite and basalt have in common?

• They are identical in color and texture.

• They are kinds of igneous rock.

• They are not made up of minerals.

• They are made up of layers of sediment.

Repeated temperature changes can cause a rock to break down into smaller pieces. Which part of the rock cycle is this example of?

• sediment

• weathering

• deposition

• erosion

A metamorphic rock can become ______.

• igneous
• metamorphic
• sedimentary
• all of these