Rock Cycle Processes - Questions and Answers

1. How does a metamorphic rock become an igneous rock?

2. What can a intrusive igneous rock be used for?

3. How do igneous rocks convert to sedimentary rocks?

4. What do you think will happen to our planet if rock cycle end?

5. How the rock cycle is involved in earthquakes?

Answers:

1 - To become an igneous rock, any rock, including a metamorphic or sedimentary rock, must be exposed to so much heat that it melts completely to become magma.

2 - Intrusive igneous rocks cool underground. Deep in the crust, the magma cools slowly. Slow cooling gives crystals a chance to grow. Intrusive igneous rocks have relatively large crystals that are easy to see. Intrusive igneous rocks are also called plutonic. A pluton is an igneous rock body that forms within the crust. Granite is the most common intrusive igneous rock that consists of minerals such as quart, feldspar, and mica. Intrusive igneous rocks are used in building, statues, decorations, jewelry, etc.

3 - Igneous rocks can become sedimentary rocks by weathering, erosion, deposition, and compaction. Igneous rock at Earth's surface breaks down into sediments by weathering. Erosion carries the sediments and deposits them in layers. Over time, these layers become buried and compacted to form sedimentary rock.

4 - Almost all earthquakes occur at plate boundaries. All types of plate boundaries have earthquakes. Convection within the Earth causes the plates to move. As the plates move, stresses build. When the stresses build too much, the rocks break. The break releases the energy that is stored in the rocks. The sudden release of energy is an earthquake. During an earthquake, the rocks usually move several centimeters. Rarely, they may move as much as a few meters. Elastic rebound theory describes how earthquakes occur.

5 - Almost all earthquakes occur at plate boundaries. All types of plate boundaries have earthquakes. Convection within the Earth causes the plates to move. As the plates move, stresses build. When the stresses build too much, the rocks break. The break releases the energy that is stored in the rocks. The sudden release of energy is an earthquake. During an earthquake, the rocks usually move several centimeters. Rarely, they may move as much as a few meters. Elastic rebound theory describes how earthquakes occur.

Question - How can you find the age of a layer of rock that is surrounded by layers of volcanic ash?

How can you find the age of a layer of rock that is surrounded by layers of volcanic ash?

ANSWER:

Once you have found a radiometric age for the surrounding layers of volcanic ash, you can safely state that the age of the intervening layer is intermediate between those dates.

Question - Complete the rock cycle by filling in the blanks. The following terms are to be used: melting, cooling, compacting

Complete the rock cycle by filling in the blanks. The following terms are to be used: melting, cooling, compacting and cementing, weathering and erosion, heat and pressure. SOME TERMS ARE USED MORE THAN ONCE.

 1. _____________________ 

2. _____________________ 

3. _____________________ 

4. _____________________ 

5. _____________________ 

6. _____________________ 

7. _____________________ 

8. _____________________ 

ANSWER:

1. Melting 

2. Cooling 

3. Heat and Pressure 

4. Heat and Pressure 

5. Weathering and Erosion 

6. Weathering and Erosion 

7. Compacting and Cementing 

8. Weathering and Erosion

Question - Can an igneous rock become another igneous rock? If so, how?

Can an igneous rock become another igneous rock? If so, how?

ANSWER:

Yes, by melting again and then solidification. 

Question - Of the following tectonic environments, which would be associated with blueschist facies metamorphic rocks?

Of the following tectonic environments, which would be associated with blueschist facies metamorphic rocks? 

a) Volcanic arc 

b) Continental shelf 

c) Oceanic ridge 

d) Subduction zone (Convergent boundary)

ANSWER:

d) Subduction zone (Convergent boundary)

Question - A gradual change in the chemical composition of a rock during metamorphism is termed:

A gradual change in the chemical composition of a rock during metamorphism is termed: 

a) Porphyroblast development 

b) Metasomatism 

c) Cataclastic development 

d) Hydrothermal metamorphism

ANSWER:

b) Metasomatism 

Question - What do you understand by metamorphism?

What do you understand by metamorphism? 

ANSWER:

It may be defined as the response in solid rocks to pronounce charged of temperature, pressure and chemical environment. In other cases metamorphism means the partial or complete crystallization of a rock and the production of new structures.

Question - What is mean by metasomatism?

What is mean by metasomatism? 

ANSWER:

It may define as metamorphic process involving essentially formation of new minerals by the mechanism of chemical replacement of pre-existing minerals under the influence of chemically active fluids.

Question - How does a metamorphic rock become an igneous rock?

How does a metamorphic rock become an igneous rock? 

ANSWER:

To become an igneous rock, any rock, including a metamorphic or sedimentary rock, must be exposed to so much heat that it melts completely to become magma.

Question - What can a intrusive igneous rock be used for?

What can a intrusive igneous rock be used for? 

ANSWER:

Intrusive igneous rocks cool underground. Deep in the crust, the magma cools slowly. Slow cooling gives crystals a chance to grow. Intrusive igneous rocks have relatively large crystals that are easy to see. Intrusive igneous rocks are also called plutonic. A pluton is an igneous rock body that forms within the crust. Granite is the most common intrusive igneous rock that consists of minerals such as quart, feldspar, and mica. Intrusive igneous rocks are used in building, statues, decorations, jewelry, etc.

Question - How do igneous rocks convert to sedimentary rocks?

How do igneous rocks convert to sedimentary rocks? 

ANSWER:

Igneous rocks can become sedimentary rocks by weathering, erosion, deposition, and compaction. Igneous rock at Earth's surface breaks down into sediments by weathering. Erosion carries the sediments and deposits them in layers. Over time, these layers become buried and compacted to form sedimentary rock.

Question - What do you think will happen to our planet if rock cycle end?

What do you think will happen to our planet if rock cycle end? 

ANSWER:

If the rock cycle stops, the processes such as weathering, erosion, transport, and deposition will also cease, and there will be no uplifting of rocks to form mountains, due to which eventually our planet may not be capable of supporting life.

Question - How the rock cycle is involved in earthquakes?

How the rock cycle is involved in earthquakes? 

ANSWER:

Almost all earthquakes occur at plate boundaries. All types of plate boundaries have earthquakes. Convection within the Earth causes the plates to move. As the plates move, stresses build. When the stresses build too much, the rocks break. The break releases the energy that is stored in the rocks. The sudden release of energy is an earthquake. During an earthquake, the rocks usually move several centimeters. Rarely, they may move as much as a few meters. Elastic rebound theory describes how earthquakes occur.

Question - Granite and sandstone are two different kinds of rocks. Something has to happen in order for one type of rock

Granite and sandstone are two different kinds of rocks. Something has to happen in order for one type of rock to turn into another type. Use your knowledge of the rock cycle to explain how granite might change into sandstone.

ANSWER:

Granite can be weathered down into sediments. The sediment can keep being broken down into very small pieces of sediment/sand. The sand then can be compacted and cemented into sedimentary sandstone.

Question - Explain how sandstone might turn into granite.

Explain how sandstone might turn into granite.

ANSWER:

Sandstone can be taken over by magma and melted down. That magma then may cool into igneous granite rock.