Figure 21 There are many different paths in the rock cycle. Depending on their pathway through the cycle, rocks can wear away, undergo metamorphism, or melt and form new igneous rock.
Reviewing Concepts
What are the three groups into which geologists classify rocks?
What are the two ways in which igneous rocks can form?
What are the three main groups of sedimentary rocks, and how does each group form?
How are metamorphic rocks formed?
Describe a path through the rock cycle that begins with magma and ends with a sedimentary rock.
Critical Thinking
Comparing and Contrasting How is conglomerate different from sandstone?
Applying Concepts What do the crystal sizes of granite and basalt tell you about where they formed?
Predicting Forces inside Earth may push granite, a coarse-grained igneous rock, deep below the surface. Predict how the granite could be changed by heat and pressure.
Steps in a Process Write a paragraph describing the steps in the rock cycle by which an igneous rock could become a sedimentary rock and then a metamorphic rock.