THE ROCK THE ROCK CYCLECYCLE

Important termsImportant terms

WeatheringWeathering

The The breakdown of breakdown of rock into rock into smaller piecessmaller pieces

There are two There are two big categories big categories of weatheringof weathering

Mechanical WeatheringMechanical Weathering

Breakdown of rock into smaller Breakdown of rock into smaller pieces by physical means (by pieces by physical means (by force)force)

Mechanical Mechanical WeatheringWeathering Mechanical Weathering Video

Mechanical Mechanical WeatheringWeathering

IceIce

Water that seeps into cracks in a Water that seeps into cracks in a rock freezes and expands, rock freezes and expands, breaking the rockbreaking the rockhttp://www.phschool.com/atschool/science_activity_library/weathering_freezing.html

AbrasionAbrasion

The action of rocks and sediments The action of rocks and sediments grinding against each other that is grinding against each other that is caused by:caused by:i).i). Wind blowing sand/sediments Wind blowing sand/sediments

across rocksacross rocks

ii). Water causes rocks to bump along ii). Water causes rocks to bump along each other in a river or streameach other in a river or stream

iii). Gravity causing a landslideiii). Gravity causing a landslide

PlantsPlants

Plant roots Plant roots enter cracks in enter cracks in rocks and rocks and push the rock push the rock apart over apart over timetime

AnimalsAnimals

Creatures like Creatures like earthworms, earthworms, ants, and ants, and moles move moles move sediments sediments around, around, exposing them exposing them to the weatherto the weather

Chemical Chemical WeatheringWeathering

Chemical Weathering Video

Chemical WeatheringChemical Weathering

Chemical breakdown (at a Chemical breakdown (at a molecular level) of rocks and molecular level) of rocks and minerals into new substancesminerals into new substances

This type of weathering is This type of weathering is caused by:caused by:

WaterWater

Over time, Over time, water water gradually gradually dissolves many dissolves many minerals minerals

AcidAcid Acid precipitation = Acid precipitation = rain rain

that contains acids due to that contains acids due to pollution; breaks down pollution; breaks down rocksrocks

Acid in ground water = Acid in ground water = some locations have weak some locations have weak acids in groundwater that acids in groundwater that cancan break down limestone break down limestone and form cavesand form caves

Acid in living things = Acid in living things = lichens produce acids that lichens produce acids that break down rocksbreak down rocks

AirAir

Oxygen in the Oxygen in the air can cause air can cause rocks rocks containing containing iron to form iron to form rust (iron rust (iron oxide)oxide)

EROSIONEROSION

The breakdown and transport The breakdown and transport (movement) of sediments, rocks, (movement) of sediments, rocks, and mineralsand minerals

Erosion is caused by 4 major Erosion is caused by 4 major factors:factors:

WindWind

The blowing of The blowing of sediments sediments (typically (typically small particles small particles like sand)like sand)

Can cause Can cause sand dunes to sand dunes to formform

The Power of WindThe Power of Wind

https://www.youtube.com/watch?https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQmon7Rj6ns v=PQmon7Rj6ns

WaterWater

Ocean waves Ocean waves change the change the coastlinecoastline

Streams and rivers Streams and rivers move sedimentsmove sediments

https://https://www.youtube.com/www.youtube.com/watch?watch?v=ofhQvAu_L1I v=ofhQvAu_L1I

The Power of WavesThe Power of Waves

https://www.youtube.com/watch?https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUh3WeilFN4&list=PLYfqHMNCuerqqv=zUh3WeilFN4&list=PLYfqHMNCuerqq1-4wfEXMH9l8JTHXjJIr&index=2 1-4wfEXMH9l8JTHXjJIr&index=2

IceIce

Glaciers Glaciers (enormous mass (enormous mass of moving ice) of moving ice) can move large can move large amounts of rockamounts of rock

The Power of IceThe Power of Ice

https://www.youtube.com/watch?https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IScnw7nt2Sw v=IScnw7nt2Sw

GravityGravity Can cause rocks to shift in Can cause rocks to shift in

landslides or more slowly landslides or more slowly anywhere the ground isn’t levelanywhere the ground isn’t level

https://www.youtube.com/watch?https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5wBdZ1x8rE v=T5wBdZ1x8rE

DEPOSITIONDEPOSITION

Takes place when the sediments Takes place when the sediments moved by erosion finally settlemoved by erosion finally settle

Typically occurs on the ocean Typically occurs on the ocean bottom, a lake bottom, or the bottom, a lake bottom, or the base of a hill/mountainbase of a hill/mountain

To Sum Up:To Sum Up:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyysL02ZvQ8 v=lyysL02ZvQ8