An Introduction To The Rock Cycle
Our planet is a complex whole that is made up of many interacting parts. Rocks, considered over very long periods of time, are in constant formation, change and reform, fulfilling a cycle: the cycle of rocks, this helps us understand the origin of the rocks by showing us the relationships of internal processes and external to the earth and how each of the three basic groups of rocks relates to each other.
Magma, for example, which is formed at a great depth below the Earth's surface, cools and solidifies (crystallization), either below the Earth's surface or on the surface, originating igneous rocks. When igneous rocks emerge at the surface they will undergo a sedimentary process, giving rise to a sedimentary rock; if this sedimentary rock is also buried deep and subjected to metamorphic processes, the rock will react to the changing environment and become a metamorphic one. Finally, when the latter is exposed to additional pressure changes or even higher temperatures, it will melt, creating a magma that will again end up crystallizing in igneous rocks. It should be said that something common to all these changes is that they require large amounts of time to be carried out.
[Image will be Uploaded Soon]
Magma, for example, which is formed at a great depth below the Earth's surface, cools and solidifies (crystallization), either below the Earth's surface or on the surface, originating igneous rocks. When igneous rocks emerge at the surface they will undergo a sedimentary process, giving rise to a sedimentary rock; if this sedimentary rock is also buried deep and subjected to metamorphic processes, the rock will react to the changing environment and become a metamorphic one. Finally, when the latter is exposed to additional pressure changes or even higher temperatures, it will melt, creating a magma that will again end up crystallizing in igneous rocks. It should be said that something common to all these changes is that they require large amounts of time to be carried out.
Uniformitarianism
A much more complete understanding of the rock cycle developed with the emergence of plate tectonic theory in the 1960s. (See Plate Tectonics I). Our modern concept of the rock cycle is fundamentally different in some respects from Hutton's: we now understand that the activity of the tectonic plates determines when, how and where the uprising occurs, and we know that heat is born inside the earth at through radioactive corrosion and exits towards the earth's surface by convection. Together uniformitarianism, plate tectonics, and the rock cycle provide a powerful instrument for observing the earth, allowing scientists to study the history of the earth and make predictions about the future.
[Image will be Uploaded Soon]
These images show how James Hutton originally conceptualized the rock cycle.
The Rock Cycle
Earth’s materials are in constant flux. Some techniques that form the Earth manifest fast; others take hundreds of thousands of years. This module describes the rock cycle, along with the historic improvement of the idea. The relationship between uniformitarianism, the rock cycle, and plate tectonics is explored in general and through the specific example of the Cascade Range in the Pacific Northwest.
The rock cycle consists of a series of constant processes, through which the materials of the earth change from one form to another as time passes. As with the water cycle and the carbon cycle, some processes in the rock cycle occur for millions of years and others occur much more rapidly. There is no beginning or end to the rock cycle, but it is wise to start exploring it by studying magma. You can open the rock cycle diagram below and continue to view the outline. Click on the sentence to open this diagram in a new window.
[Image will be Uploaded Soon]
An outline of the rock cycle. In this scheme, the boxes represent materials from the earth and the arrows represent the processes that transform those materials. The procedures are named in bold subsequent to the arrows. The foremost resources of power for the rock cycle are also shown; the sun provides energy for surface processes such as erosion and transport and the internal heat of the earth provides energy for processes such as subduction, fusion and metamorphism. Note that there are many possibilities at any step.
FAQs on Rock Cycle
1. What Drives the Cycle of Rocks in the Earth's System?
The rock cycle occurs because Earth is a dynamic planet. The internal heat and the gravitational field of the planet drive the movements of the plates and the generation of hot spots. The interactions between plates cause the lifting of mountain ranges, a process that leads to erosion and the production of sediments. The interaction between plates also generates situations in which metamorphism occurs, where the rock melts and where sedimentary basins develop.
On the Earth's surface, the gases initially released by volcanoes come together to form the ocean and the atmosphere. Heat (from the Sun) and gravity drive convection in the atmosphere and oceans, generating wind, rain, ice, and currents, weathering agents, and erosion. In the Earth System, life also plays a key role by adding corrosive oxygen to the atmosphere and contributing directly to the elements.
In summary, external energy (solar heat), internal energy (Earth's internal heat), gravity, and life all play a role in driving the rock cycle by maintaining the mantle, crust, atmosphere, and constantly moving oceans.
2. What are the Techniques Involved in the Rock Cycle?
The three main types of rock ionized in melt is a process that uses many techniques, some as metamorphic, and sedimentary. The 3 strategies that trade one rock to every other are crystallization, metamorphism, and erosion or sedimentation. This forms the rock cycle.
You learned about the three types of rocks: igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic. You also learned that all of these rocks can change. In fact, any rock can change and become another type of rock. These changes usually happen slowly. Some changes are generated below the Earth's surface. Some changes are general on the surface. These changes are part of the rock cycle. The rock cycle describes each of the major rock types, how they form and how they change.
