(ii) What do you understand by 'ROCK CYCLE?
Answers
The rock cycle is the process by which rocks of one kind change into rocksof another kind
Answer:
With heating, melting, erosion, deposition, and chemical reaction, one group of rocks leads to the formation of another group and this cyclic formation and development of three types of rocks is known as the rock cycle.
Igneous or primary rocks are formed first. After being broken down into sediments by natural processes like weathering and erosion, these are deposited and compacted to form sedimentary rocks. After being subjected to great heat and pressure, igneous and sedimentary rocks are transformed into metamorphic rocks. Sedimentary rocks may be buried again and melted due to heat from the interior of the earth forming magma. Metamorphic rocks may be broken into sediments due to natural forces later forming sedimentary rocks and even buried again to form magma. Thus, a cyclical relationship exists between the three rock groups. The entire process is powered by the energy of the Sun and involves processes, both on the surface as well as in the interior of the Earth.