The Rock Cycle
Stephen Liang
The Rock Cycle
Valley Of Fire/Sandstone
The Valley of Fire, located in Clark County, Nevada, has many red sandstone formations. Sandstone is a sedimentary rock.
Basalt
Basalt is an extrusive igneous rock. This one was found in Greece.
Slate
Slate is a metamorphic rock. It is made from shale, a sedimentary rock, being heated and compressed.
About Rocks
Granite- An Igneous Rock
Granite
Granite is an igneous rock. Granite cools intrusively and is the most common rock in the continental plates of Earth. It is felsic, meaning it is composed highly of quartz. In fact, the main chemical that granite is composed of is quartz.Igneous Rocks
Igneous rocks are formed by lava or magma hardening. Since lava is above the surface of the earth and magma rests below the surface, extrusive refers to lava cooling and intrusive refers to magma cooling. Granite is intrusive. They are classified as sometimes having glassy textures (Obsidian), sometimes porous (Pumice), and maybe coarse-grained (Granite). Igneous rocks are found near volcanoes because they were formed from hardening magma or lava.
Igneous rock photos
Granite
Granite is a felsic, intrusive, coarse-grained igneous rock.
Pumice
Pumice is a very porous igneous rock.
Gabbro
Gabbro is a coarse-grained, intrusive, mafic igneous rock.
Basalt
This basalt is compared to a penny.
Rhyolite
Rhyolite is a hard, pink colored, felsic igneous rock.
Obsidian
Obsidian is a smooth, glassy, felsic, extrusive igneous rock.
Sandstone- A Sedimentary Rock
Sandstone is a clastic sedimentary rock made from vast amounts of Quartz and feldspar. Since sandstone is so similar to sand, the color varies with the regions. Sandstone is very common throughout the world where there is sand. It can be used to build stonemasonry. In the western part of the US, you can see sandstone formations, like in Antelope Canyon, Arizona.
Sedimentary Rocks
Sedimentary rocks are formed by the compaction of sediments (Eroded Rock Material). Sometimes, rocks move into the ocean. The gigantic water movements push on the rock, eroding it to sediment. After that, more sediment is pushed on, making the sediments into one rock. The final process mentioned here is called compaction. Sedimentary rocks are found in places where there has been water once. Sedimentary rocks are classified by their rough texture and the feel that sediments are falling off everytime you touch it. Sedimentary rock is not hard; pieces will fall off when you hit it.
Shale
Shale is a sedimentary rock made from clay sediments and quartz.
Claystone
Claystone is a clastic sedimentary rock made up of clay-sized particles.
Siltstone
Siltstone is a sedimentary rock that has grains the size of silt.
Coal
Coal is a sedimentary rock that can be used to power trains. The primary chemical in coal is carbon, although hydrogen and sulfur are also found.
Chalk
Chalk is a sedimentary rock made from fossils and is mainly made from calcium carbonate. This picture shows a chalk deposit, which was in an ancient ocean.
Travertine
Travertine is a sedimentary rock deposited by hot springs. The picture shows travertine terraces in Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park.
Gneiss- A Metamorphic Rock
Gneiss
Gneiss is a metamorphic rock that is usually formed from granite being heated and compressed. Common chemicals in gneiss are : quartz and feldspar. It is composed of many layers. Gneiss makes up the largest part of the Earth's lower crust. If you watch a gneiss closely, you will notice that it is made from layers.
Metamorphic Rocks
Metamorphic rocks are rocks that have gone through extreme heat and pressure. That process makes the rock change its structure. It classified as having ribbonlike layers (Gneiss) and may have shiny crystals (Quartzite). It is found at the roots of mountains.
Quartzite
Quartzite is a metamorphic rock that has over 95 percent quartz. Quartzite is made from sandstone being heated and compressed.
Slate
Slate is a metamorphic rock that is common for making roofing shingles.
Marble
Marble is a metamorphic rock that can be used as flooring.
Soapstone
Soapstone is a metamorphic rock rich in talc.
Amphibolite
Amphibolite is a metamorphic rock that is mainly made from Amphibole.
Greenschist
Greenschist is a metamorphic rock derived from basalt.