The Rock Cycle in a Museum Building materials

The Rock Cycle in a Museum: Building materials as geologic samples Thursdays for Teachers September 24, 2009

Rock Cycle The earth’s recycling system

Rock Cycle Rocks related to other rocks Related by processes There is a cyclicity of earth processes Product of our dynamic planet

igneous rock magma molten rock

Igneous Rocks Form from cooling and crystallization of magma (molten rock) Liquid -> solid Atoms, ionic complexes With cooling, movement slows Aligned, ordered Form minerals

Igneous rocks (as well as other rock types) can be uplifted and exposed at the earth’s surface Subject to atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere Break down - weathering Solid rock -> small particles & dissolved material

uplift & weathering igneous rock cooling & crystallization magma molten rock

An example of chemical weathering Dissolution of the mineral calcite

sediment uplift & weathering igneous rock cooling & crystallization magma molten rock

Sediment Transported by water, wind, ice, gravity Deposited in different environments Weight of overlying sediment compresses sediments below Compaction of grains, expulsion of water Voids filled with minerals (cement) Forms sedimentary rocks

sediment transportation, deposition, & cementation uplift & weathering igneous rock cooling & crystallization magma molten rock sedimentary rock

Metamorphic rocks Continued burial, pressure & temperature rise Chemical reactions occur (minerals out of stability fields) Create new minerals and textures Metamorphism (change)

sediment transportation, deposition, & cementation uplift & weathering sedimentary rock increased T & P metamorphism igneous rock metamorphic rock cooling & crystallization magma molten rock

Increase P & T -> melting metamorphic igneous

sediment transportation, deposition, & cementation uplift & weathering sedimentary rock increased T & P metamorphism igneous rock metamorphic rock cooling & crystallization magma molten rock melting

Is this all there is? Can you think of any modifications we should make to the rock cycle to make it more realistic? i. e. do all metamorphic rocks melt? do all sedimentary rocks become metamorphic rocks? How can the rock cycle link to the water cycle or the tectonic cycle?

shortcuts sediment transportation, deposition, & cementation uplift & weathering sedimentary rock increased T & P metamorphism igneous rock metamorphic rock cooling & crystallization magma molten rock melting

Objective tonight Look for different rock types in the museum Think about how you could use your school or nearby buildings