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The rock cycle is the natural, continuous process that forms, breaks down, and reforms rock through geological, chemical, and physical processes. Through the cycle, rocks convert between igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary forms.
The rock cycle is a basic concept in geology that describes transitions through geologic time among the three main rock types: sedimentary, metamorphic, and igneous. Each rock type is altered when it is forced out of its equilibrium conditions.
The rock cycle is the process that describes the gradual transformation between the three main types of rocks: sedimentary, metamorphic, and igneous. It is occurring continuously in nature through geologic time.
Sedimentary Rock Cycle Process. Rocks exposed to the atmosphere are variably unstable and subject to weathering and erosion. Abrasion and erosion break down the original rock into smaller pieces and remove dissolved materials. This shredded material accumulates and is embedded by additional material.
Sedimentary rocks form by the compaction and cementing together of sediments, broken pieces of rock-like gravel, sand, silt, or clay (figure 5). Those sediments can be formed from the weathering and erosion of preexisting rocks.
Rock is weathered, both physically (breaking into smaller pieces) and chemically (by alteration of the minerals). These weathering products—mostly small rock and mineral fragments—are eroded, transported, and then deposited as sediments.
Mineral crystals grow around and between the particles, binding them together (cementing them). The hardened cemented sediments are sedimentary rock. Figure 6.8 shows an example of an ancient sedimentary rock in which ripple structures are preserved, and visible in cross-section as wavy lines. Figure 6.8 Ripples preserved in 1.2 Ga old ...
There are three main types of rocks: sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic. Each of these rocks are formed by physical changes—such as melting, cooling, eroding, compacting, or deforming —that are part of the rock cycle. Sedimentary rocks are formed from pieces of other existing rock or organic material.
Sedimentary rocks can change into metamorphic rocks due to heat and pressure from the movements of the Earth. Those metamorphic rocks can be weathered, eroded, and the pieces transported away.
Sedimentary rocks are formed by the lithification of inorganic and/or organic sediments, or as chemical precipitates. There are two types of sedimentary rocks: Clastic and Chemical