Question

What do you mean by rock cycle?

Answer 1

Hint:Rock is a naturally occurring mass that is made of a mineral or a mixture of minerals. Rocks are mainly of three types- igneous , metamorphic and sedimentary.

Complete answer:Rock cycle is a group of changes that enable sedimentary, igneous and metamorphic rocks to transform from kind to another through processes like melting, cooling, eroding, compacting and deforming.

Igneous rock is the primary rock which is formed by cooling of magma. When lava cools down near earth’s surface it is called extrusive igneous rock. When magma cools down deep inside it forms intrusive igneous rocks.

Rocks on earth surface when acted on by wind and water get weathered and eroded. These rocks break into smaller pieces called sediments. These sediments get deposited and as the fragmented material gets accumulated they are buried by additional material. With the process of lithification these fragments are slowly compacted into new kinds of rocks from the weight of overlying sediments.

When these sedimentary rocks or igneous rock are put under high heat and pressure they transform into metamorphic rocks. One kind of metamorphic rock can also turn into another kind of metamorphic rock when subjected to heat and temperature.

Note:One example of igneous rock is granite. Sandstone and limestone are examples of sedimentary rocks. One should note that granite forms the metamorphic rock gneiss and limestone when met with the right condition turns into the metamorphic rock marble.