KIMBERLY GULAPA ROCKS

B.S MED-TECH 1

Sedimentary Cycle- A cycle which comprises the weathering of an existing rock, followed by the
erosion of minerals, their transport and deposition, then burial.

THE ROCK CYCLE

1. WEATHERING-is the breakdown of rocks at the earths surface, extremes of temperature, and biological activity. It does not involve the removal of rock material.

THERE ARE THREE TYPES OF WEATHERING

A. PHYSICAL WEATHERING- is caused by the effects of changing temperature on rocks, causing the rock to break apart. The process is sometimes assisted by water. B. CHEMICAL WEATHERING- is caused by rain water reacting with the mineral grains in rocks to form new minerals (clays) and soluble salt. These reactions occur particularly when the water is slightly acidic. C. BIOLOGICAL WEATHERING - living organisms contribute to the weathering process in many ways: Trees put down roots through joints or cracks in the rock in order to find moisture. As the tree grows, the roots gradually prize the rock apart. Many animals, such as these Piddock shells, bore into rocks for protection either by scrapping away the grains or secreting acid to dissolve the rock. Even the tiniest bacteria, algae and lichens produce chemicals that help break down the rock on which they live, so they can get the nutrients they need. 2. EROSION AND TRANSPORT- Erosion is the process by which soil and rock particles are worn away and moved elsewhere by gravity, or by a moving transport agent-wind, water or ice. -Transport refers to the processes by which the sediment is move along-for example, pebbles rolled along a river-bed or sea shore, sand grains whipped up by wind, salt carried in solution. 3. DEPOSITION OF SEDIMENT- Deposition is the laying down of sediment carried by wind, water, or ice. Sediment can be transported as pebbles, sand and mud, or as salt dissolved in water. Salts may later be deposited by organic activity (ex. as sea-shells) or by evaporation. 4. BURIAL AND COMPACTION- Compaction happens when sediments are deeply buried, placing them under pressure because of the weight of overlying layers. This squashes the grains together more tightly.

5. DEFORMATION AND METAMORPHISM- the huge forces that move continents stretch and squash parts of the Earths crust, generating earthquakes and building mountains. They cause rocks near the surface to be fractured and faulted. At greater depth, the heat and pressure involved can cause folding and/or metamorphism. 6. MELTING-where plates move apart, the hot rock of the Earths mantle layer gets closer to the surface and begin to melt, forming runny basalt magma. 7. CRYSTALLIZATION OF MAGMA- the rate at which magma cools controls the grain size of the igneous rock that is formed. More rapid cooling produces finer-grained rocks. 8. UPLIFT-this is the movement of rock beneath the earths crust to the surface and those after sometimes weathering occurs and the rock cycle process starts again.