5: Earth Materials - Rocks
- Page ID
- 33340
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There are three types of rocks, each composed of minerals formed in very different ways. Igneous rocks form as minerals crystallize when molten material cools. Metamorphic rocks form when elevated temperatures and pressures, plus the introduction of fluids, cause minerals to become unstable and change (or "morph") into new minerals without going through the melting phase. Sedimentary rocks are formed in several ways including through the collection, compaction, and cementation of sediment (loose material) and through the precipitation of mineral material from solution.
A foundational concept in Geology explores how these rock types are related. A diagram called the "Rock Cycle" shows these relationships as Earth materials are constantly in a state of change and one rock type turns into another.