Rock Cycle
Compiled by Mark Francek (more info) at Central Michigan University
Find animations for the rock cycle including metamorphic rock formation,
clastic sedimentary rocks formation, igneous rock formation, and igneous rocks classification.
Rock Cycle, Exploring Earth: This highly simplified Flash animation displays some of the most common rock-forming processes. Embedded animations include crystallization of magma to form igneous rock, rock erosion to create sediment, transportation of sediment, deposition of sediment to create sedimentary rock, and creation of a metamorphic rock in a subduction zone. The neat feature of this animation is that each step in the sequence above is linked to other animations in the Exploring Earth collection, providing a fairly in depth exposure to the processes involved in the rock cycle. Caution students against the oversimplified linear pattern of igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rock formation. In reality, there are many interconnections in the cycle with, for example, sedimentary rocks being eroded and becoming transformed to a different sedimentary rock type without being metamorphosed or, as another example, igneous rocks never being reduced to sediment, and instead directly evolving to metamorphic rocks. The animation can be paused and rewound to stress important points.
: This comprehensive Flash animation contains three separate movies, each exhibiting the formation of an igneous rocks in a different environment: a) rocks forming from a deep magma chamber where the slow cooling of magma results in large interlocking crystals; b) rocks forming from a pyroclastic flow with a combination of large and small crystals; and c) rocks with small crystals created from a fast cooling lava results. The rock is further modified by bubbles from dissolved gases resulting in vesicles. Each movie concludes with a view of an actual hand specimen representative of each environment. The animation can be paused and rewound to stress important points.
Igneous Rocks Classification, Wiley: Through a simple Flash "roll over" view hand specimens of different igneous rocks classified according by texture and chemical composition. There are also views of the more common rock forming minerals. Expect long loading times.
Clastic Sedimentary Rocks Formation, Exploring Earth: Find a Flash animation tracing the formation of sedimentary rock from a beach environment where sea water minerals cement sand grains to form sandstone. An inset provides details of the process. The animation concludes with an real microscopic image of sandstone showing both mineral grains and cement. The animation can be paused and rewound to stress important points.
Metamorphic rock formation, Exploring Earth: The Flash animation shows the evolution of granitic igneous rock to a metamorphic rock focusing on changes in alignment of amphibole, plagioclase feldspar, and quartz crystals. An inset provides a close up of how pressure compresses mineral grains and forms new minerals. The animation can be paused and rewound to stress important points.
