crystallization
formation of mineral crystals as molten rock cools
erosion
transport of weathered sediments by water, wind, ice, or gravity
igneous rock
rock that forms when magma or lava cools
metamorphic rock
rock that forms when existing rock is changed by extreme heat and/or pressure inside Earth
metamorphism
process in which existing rock changes inside Earth to metamorphic rock due to extreme heat and/or pressure
outcrop
exposed rock formation that extends out of the ground
precipitate
solid that separates out of a liquid, usually when the liquid evaporates
rock cycle
continuous series of processes by which rocks change from one type to another
sediment
small particle of soil or rock deposited by wind, water, or other agent of erosion
sedimentary rock
rock that forms when sediments are compacted and cemented or precipitate from liquid
sedimentation
process in which sediments are laid down in a deposit
weathering
chemical or physical breakdown of rocks, soils, or minerals at Earth's surface
Bowen's Reaction Series
order in which minerals undergo melting or crystallization as temperature increases or decreases
extrusive rock
any type of igneous rock that forms on Earth's surface from rapidly cooling lava
felsic rock
type of igneous rock that is made mostly of low-density, light-colored minerals such as quartz and feldspar
fractional crystallization
crystallization of a fraction of the minerals in magma
intermediate rock
type of igneous rock that is intermediate in density and color between felsic rock and mafic rock
intrusive rock
any type of igneous rock that forms beneath Earth's surface from slowly cooling magma
mafic rock
type of igneous rock that is made mostly of high-density, dark-colored minerals such as olivine and pyroxene
partial melting
melting of some but not all of the minerals in rock
pluton
intrusive igneous rock that has cooled in the crust
porphyritic
type of igneous rock texture in which large, visible crystals are found within a matrix of tiny crystals
ultramafic rock
type of igneous rock that contains more than 90 percent mafic minerals such as olivine and pyroxene
vesicular
type of igneous rock texture that includes holes left by gas bubbles in the magma
volcanic rock
another name for extrusive igneous rock because it forms from volcanic activity
biochemical sedimentary rock
rock that forms mostly from the remains of organisms
bioclastic rock
sedimentary rock that forms from sediments that include organic remains
cementation
sticking together of sediments by mineral crystals from fluids
chemical sedimentary rock
rock that forms from the hardening of chemical precipitates
clastic rock
sedimentary rock that forms from inorganic sediments
compaction
squeezing together of sediments by the weight of overlying sediments
lithification
formation of rock from sediments by the processes of compaction and cementation
organic
related to living things
contact metamorphism
changes in rock due to heating by contact with hot magma
foliation
formation of layers in rock due to extreme pressure
regional metamorphism
changes in rock over a large area due to pressure from other rock or geological processes