Return to Geology Index PageRock Cycle
The Rock Cycle describes the process by which rocks are cycle once they are created. All rocks begin as igneous rocks except sedimentary organic. Igneous Rocks are form from magma or lava, which is liquid rock. Once this liquid cools and harden igneous rocks are formed. After igneous rocks are formed they can either become igneous again through remelting, sedimentary by physical and chemical weathering or metamorphic by being buried deep and placed under heat and pressure and partially remelt. Once the rocks have reached the sedimentary stage they can divided into four different families of sedimentary rocks. These families include compaction, conglomerate, organic and chemical/evaporate. Sedimentary Rocks can be weathered again and form new sedimentary rocks or totally remelted to make igneous rocks again or buried deep within the Earth and placed under heat and pressure and partially remelted to make metamorphic rocks. Once the rocks are metamorphic they can become metamorphic again by partially remelting through heat and pressure or be weathered and become sedimentary or be totally remelted and and become igneous again.