Explanation of the Rock Cycle
The Rock Cycle is the cycle of the formation of rocks starting with magma. Magma is molten rock present within the mantle of the earth. This magma cools and crystallizes forming igneous rocks. These igneous rocks can either melt back into magma, be subjected to heat or pressure within the earth and metamorphose into metamorphic rocks or they can be slowly eroded through processes of weathering (by wind, water, weather or human activity) and become tiny rock granules referred to as sediment. This sediment will then be carried and then deposited in sediment beds which are slowly compressed, the water is forced out from between the particles and the pressure causes chemical bonds so sedimentary rocks are formed. These sedimentary rocks can re-erode returning to sediment, or they can be slowly buried deeper within the earth and subjected to heat and pressure which alters their chemical composition and causes them to interact chemically and metamorphose into metamorphic rocks. These metamorphic rocks can be subjected to weathering and become sediment, or they can be buried so deep within the earth that they melt and return to their original state of magma completing the rock cycle.
The Rock Cycle is the cycle of the formation of rocks starting with magma. Magma is molten rock present within the mantle of the earth. This magma cools and crystallizes forming igneous rocks. These igneous rocks can either melt back into magma, be subjected to heat or pressure within the earth and metamorphose into metamorphic rocks or they can be slowly eroded through processes of weathering (by wind, water, weather or human activity) and become tiny rock granules referred to as sediment. This sediment will then be carried and then deposited in sediment beds which are slowly compressed, the water is forced out from between the particles and the pressure causes chemical bonds so sedimentary rocks are formed. These sedimentary rocks can re-erode returning to sediment, or they can be slowly buried deeper within the earth and subjected to heat and pressure which alters their chemical composition and causes them to interact chemically and metamorphose into metamorphic rocks. These metamorphic rocks can be subjected to weathering and become sediment, or they can be buried so deep within the earth that they melt and return to their original state of magma completing the rock cycle.