Imagine this: A rock has weathered and eroded.  The sediment is deposited in a river delta. Everyday, more and more sediment is deposited on top of the first batch of sediment. As the layers build up, they begin to press down on that first layer of sediment, pushing most of the air and water out of it, pushing the particles closer together. This is the process of compaction. This process occurs underground and is part of the way that sedimentary rocks are formed. 

Cementation is the next step in the recipe for making sedimentary rocks. In this step, loose sediments are glued together by natural glues like calcite and silica. Some glues are stronger than others. 

Roll: 

1 - 3 - Stay where you are. Station #1
4 - 6 – Go to Sedimentary Rocks: Station #4 

When rocks get pushed underground the temperature and pressure increase. This causes the rocks to morph, or change. Their minerals start to align, and start to change into different minerals. 

Roll: 

1 - 5 – Go to Metamorphic Rocks: Station: #5 

6 – Go to Melting: Station #7 

Sediments in geology are solid fragments of inorganic or organic material that come from the weathering of rock and are carried and deposited by wind, water, or ice. 

Roll: 

1 – Go to Melting: Station #7 

2 - 5 – Go to Compaction and Cementation: Station #1 

6 – Stay at Sediments: Station #3 

Over the course of millions of years, the igneous rocks are weathered down by forces of wind and water. Fine particles of dirt begin to cover the landscape. Often, these small rock particles end up being suspended in water, and find their way to the bottom of lakes, streams, and the ocean. 

Roll: 

1-2 – Go to Weathering, Erosion, and Deposition: Station #10 

3-4 – Go to Melting: Station #9 

5 – Go to High Temperature and Pressure: Station #2 

6 – Stay at Sedimentary Rocks: Station #4 

Metamorphic rocks form deep within the Earth, when heat and pressure are applied to either igneous rocks, or sedimentary rocks. This heat and pressure, in essence, cooks the rocks, changing their structure substantially. 

Roll: 

1 – Go to High Temperature and Pressure: Station #2 

2-3 – Go to Melting: Station #7 

4-5 – Go to Weathering, Erosion, and Deposition: Station #10 

6 – Stay at Metamorphic Rocks: Station #5 

All rocks on Earth were initially igneous in nature. Igneous rocks from as liquid magma or lava cools, forming crystal structured rocks. There are many different types of igneous rocks. 

Roll: 

1-2 – Go to Melting: Station #7 

3-4 – Go to Weathering, Erosion, and Deposition: Station #10 

5 – Go to High Temperature and Pressure: Station #2 

6 – Stay at Igneous Rocks: Station #6 

The inside of the Erath is very hot. When rock is buried deep within the Earth, it melts and becomes liquid rock, or magma. 

Roll: 

1-6 Go to Magma: Station #9 

Magma cools slowly within the Earth, forming large crystals in intrusive igneous rocks into which it solidifies. When magma reaches the surface of the Earth, it is called lava. Lava cools much more quickly because the temperature at the surface of the Earth is very cold compared to the temperature with in the Earth. Because of this the lava doesn’t have time to grow large crystals, so the rocks that are formed (extrusive igneous rocks) have a very small crystal structure. 

Roll: 

1-5 – Go to Igneous Rocks: Station #6 

6 – Stay at Cooling and Hardening: Station #8 (You are intrusive) 

A miscture of molten rock and solids that is found beneath the surface of the Earth. Besides molten rock, magma may also contain suspended crystals and gas bubbles. Magma often collects in magma chambers that may feed a volcano. Magma is capable of intrusion into adjacent rocks, extrusion onto the surface as lava, and explosive ejection to from pyroclastic rock. 

Roll: 

1-5 – Go to Cooling and Hardening: Station #8 

6 – Stay at Magma: Station #9 

Rocks on the surface of the Earth are attacked by weather, which breaks them down. Wind, water, ice, and rock break down rocks into sediment (loose particles). This process happens on or near the surface. This is called weathering. 

Erosion is the process during which sediment that was loosened by weathering is transported elsewhere. 

Deposition is the process during which sediment is placed somewhere on the surface. 

Roll: 

1-5 – Go to Sediments: Station # 3 

6 – Stay at Weathering, Erosion, and Deposition: Station #10 

 

2.Which station did you spend the least rolls at?

 

3. In terms of years, how many years did you spend at the place you spent the most amount of time at?

 

 

4. How many years did you spend the least amount of time at?

 

 

5. Were there any stations that you did not go to? What were those?

 

 

6. Is it okay that you didn't go to those stations?

 

 

7. What are three things you learned from the rock cycle stations?

 

A.

 

B.

 

C.