The Rock Cycle

Rockling — The Rock Cycle Motherlode Vault

Rockling here! You've reached Motherlode Vault.

I keep our rock-history records beside this old vault door.

The Grumblies mixed up the pathways. Will you investigate with me?

Here's what I know. Rocks can change in many ways.

The rock cycle connects processes that form and change rocks.

It has no single required starting point.

And every rock doesn't follow the same route.

Let's begin with one possible path: cooling molten rock.

When molten rock cools and solidifies, igneous rock forms.

Exposed igneous rock can weather into smaller pieces.

Erosion can carry that sediment elsewhere.

Deposition leaves sediment where it settles.

Compaction and cementation can turn that sediment into sedimentary rock.

That's one route. Let's see where it could go next.

Burial can expose rock to different temperatures and pressures.

Change without melting can produce metamorphic rock.

If rock melts, it becomes molten material.

Cooling that melt can make new igneous rock.

Hmm... our first route made a loop. Are loops required?

No! A rock can take a different route.

Sedimentary and metamorphic rocks can weather, too.

Igneous rock can become metamorphic without first becoming sedimentary.

A metamorphic rock can experience further metamorphic changes.

Different rock types can melt under suitable conditions.

The arrows show possible changes, not a required timetable.

Different changes take different amounts of time.

Many rock-cycle processes take very long periods.

We won't watch a whole mountain change during this visit!

A metamorphic rock weathers. Its grains settle, then become cemented.

What kind of rock could those joined grains make?

Sedimentary rock! The process tells us how the new rock formed.

It didn't have to melt first. That's another valid pathway.

Good thinking. You followed the evidence instead of memorizing a loop.

Remember three beginnings: cooling melt, joining sediment, changing solid rock.

Rocks can change through many connected processes.

There is no required start or single fixed sequence.

Now we're back at the vault with clearer rock-history clues.

Bring your curiosity into the adventure. I'll be there with you.

Train more, start this adventure, or choose any map destination.

Free The Rock Cycle teacher guide and practice (PDF)