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CLASSIFYING ROCKS
6.10B CLASSIFYING ROCKS
Term | Definition |
---|---|
EARTH'S EVOLUTION | Process that formed & changed planet Earth from its beginning to the present. |
MINERAL COMPOSITION | Unique combination of solid elements & compounds that make up a mineral. |
ROCK CYCLE | Earth's rocks change from 1 type into another over time due to various Earth processes; changes occur in mineral compositions & physical structures. |
IGNEOUS ROCK | Formed when lava or magma cools & solidifies; lava (above ground) cools quickly & forms rocks with small crystals, while magma (below ground) cools slowly & forms rocks with larger crystals. |
LAVA | Molten rock or magma that has reached Earth's surface by volcanic action; characterized by small crystals due to rapid cooling on Earth's surface. |
MAGMA | Melted or molten rock material beneath Earth's surface; cools slowly to form rocks with larger crystals. |
METAMORPHIC ROCK | Formed deep underground where heat & pressure cause existing rocks to be changed in both mineral composition & structural characteristics. |
HEAT and PRESSURE | Changing variables due to the weight of overlying rocks, causing changes to rock characteristics & mineral composition, thus forming metamorphic rocks. |
SEDIMENTARY ROCK | Forms when particles of other rocks are deposited in layers & are compacted (crushed together), & cemented (binding of sediments). |
COMPACTION | Occurs when rock particles or sediments are pressed together or packed down by gravity & the pressure of overlying rock layers. |
CEMENTATION | Occurs when compacted sediments stick together & turn into rock. |