Different kinds of rocks

Granite rock

There are three different kinds of rocks on Earth, and

they form in very different ways. The first kind is igneous
rock, which means “fire rocks”. Igneous rocks started out
far underground, where it is very hot and they were
melted. Then they shot out of a volcano as lava, and
cooled back into rocks as they fell back down to earth, or
after they landed. Granite is a common igneous rock.

Limestone

The second kind of rock is sedimentary rock, or

“sitting rock”. This is rock that was originally mud, or
the shells of tiny sea creatures. The little bits of dust,
or mud, or shells fall to the ground, or to the bottom of
a pond or ocean, and get covered up by more layers
of mud or shells. Eventually the pressure of all the
stuff on top of them mashes them together into a hard
rock. Limestone is a common sedimentary rock.

Diamonds

The third kind of rock is made out of the first two

kinds. We call these metamorphic, or “changed”
rocks. Metamorphic rocks are not as common as
the first two. But sometimes an igneous or a
sedimentary rock meets up with a lot of heat or
pressure. This makes crystals form in the rocks, or,
if the rock already has crystals, it can make bigger
crystals. This turns the rock into a new kind of rock.
A good example is carbon turning into diamonds.
What is Weathering?

Weathering breaks down and loosens the surface minerals of rock so they can be
transported away by agents of erosion such as water, wind and ice. There are two
types of weathering: mechanical and chemical. Mechanical Weathering.
Mechanical weathering is the disintegration of rock into smaller and smaller
fragments.

What are the 5 main agents of chemical weathering?

 Water. Weathers rock by dissolving it.

 Oxygen. Rocks that contain iron will oxidize or rust. ...
 Carbon dioxide. Becomes dissolved in rain water and in water that sinks
through air pockets in the soil becoming carbonic acid which will easily
weather marble and limestone.
 Living organisms (ex. Lichen) ...
 Acid rain.

1. Water
Weathers rock by dissolving it

2. Oxygen
Rocks that contain iron will oxidize or rust. Rust makes rocks soft and crumbly and gives it a red
or brown color

3. Carbon dioxide
Becomes dissolved in rain water and in water that sinks through air pockets in the soil
becoming carbonic acid which will easily weather marble and limestone

4. Living organisms (ex. Lichen)

Produce weak acids that weather rock

5. Acid rain
Burning fossil fuels produce this, causing rapid chemical weathering