Rock Cycle & Silicate mineral

The Rock Cycle and Minerals

Rock Cycle

The Earth 's crust consists of rocks of varying sizes , colours and shapes . These rocks are further categorized into three groups : igneous sedimentary , and metamorphic . Any of these rocks can form into another type of rock (Slade 2007 . The rock cycle is the best illustration to show how the three types of rocks are related . It also shows how Earthly processes change rock types throughout time (Teachers Association 2001

Igneous Rocks

The rock cycle can start with any type of rock . This discussion will

br start with the igneous rock . Igneous means fire . This type of rocks is formed when magma , the molten rock located below the surface , cools down . When magma cools down , its colour turns to shades of red (James Madison University 2000

Igneous rocks are further divided into two subgroups . These are the intrusive igneous rocks and extrusive igneous rocks . Intrusive igneous rocks refer to rocks which are formed below the Earth 's surface Typically , magma cools down in underground chambers and they form into rocks that have large crystals . On the other hand , the extrusive igneous rocks form above the Earth 's surface . They are also known as volcanic rocks . Lava , the name for magma when it flows out of the volcano , cools down at the Earth 's surface , forming extrusive igneous rocks (Gardiner 2003

Igneous rocks have silicate minerals , formed from the elements in magma . These minerals include quartz , pyroxenes , olivine , and feldspars to name a few . Igneous rocks...