Well, back to the book chapter. You should have read sections 3.3 and 3.4 (pp 86 – 88) when you completed the Earth Science module. If you need to review them, please do so. If not, continue through the chapter and read Section 3.5 (p 88 - 92), Section 3.6 (p 92 – 96), and section 3.7 (p 96 – 100). Meet me back here when you’re done reading as I’ll have a few things that I want to reinforce.
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Okay? Did you work through the Objective Guide? You’ll probably notice a few holes in your notes that we’ll fill in now.
First, I’d like you to review the table that summarized the stocks and flows of the Rock Cycle from the Earth Science module. I went ahead and included it below. This should help remind you of the vocabulary that was introduced in Section 3.3 (p 86 – 88).
So, now that you have the vocabulary fresh in your head, watch this animation. (This animation is required viewing.) Use this animation to visualize the processes listed in the table below.
As you go through the animation, be certain not to just click “continue” but to click on the flashing images for information on how each rock type forms. These will help you to see how extrusive igneous rocks form, how sediments are transported into a basin, how sediments undergo deposition and lithification, how metamorphosis results in foliation of gneiss, and how rocks completely melt to start the cycle over again.
On the next page, we will look more closely at putting the Rock Cycle into the context of Plate Tectonics and mineral formation.