One Step Closer to Rock Cycle

Image source: http://geology.com

When you obtain a rock from a certain area of ground and examine it, actually, the
rock which taken by you can clearly tell you about how far their journey had passed,
and why you can find it in those area. But, how could?
This phenomenon called rock cycle, familiar words in fundamental geology
lesson. Just a few of people who know that actually rocks formed from magma, and can
return into magma form again. Rock cycle is a scheme which can tell you a life story
of a rockfrom how, where, and when a rock was bornof course, from magma fluid;
until how, where, and when a rock diesback into magma phase.
Okay, we will start from the formation of rocks. I would like to tell by
introducing magma chamber, a huge room which fullfilled by super hot and viscous
fluids called magma. In a certain deep area of earth crust, theres big holes contain
magma. The holes called magma chambersmany big rooms located in earths ring of
fire, or surrounds it. Sometimes, magma chamber situated in subduction area of
continental plate and oceanic plate. When theres a rock fall into the chamber, high
temperature and high pressure will melt it down onto magma fluids. The pressure and
temperature also keep magma in fluids phase.
But, when the temperature and pressure reduced, the hot magma gradually getting
cold. Consequently, because of the cooling situation, particles of magma will wrinkle.
The cooling magma will crystallize, condense, become compact, and then, become a
form of rock, which is called igneous rock. This kind of rock have characteristics:
compact, have no fossils, have no rock layers, and sometimes, we can see the minerals
former inside it. For example: gabbro stone, obsidian stone, or basalt stone. Usually,
igneous rocks from inside of earth throwed in earth surface trough volcanic process (ex:
volcanic eruption). But, lava from a volcano also can freeze into igneous rock.
Although seem tough, igneous rocks can also wither into small pieces. This thing
happens when on earth surface, igneous rocks meet conditions which cause withering
like extreme temperature and high pressure which can break rocks, chemical reaction
which can erodes rock composer; or maybe the break of the rocks also can caused by
tree roots. This process called withering.

Sometimes, withering products eroded and brought by river water or wind, make
those rock rubbing with ground, then the particles gradually reduce into small materials.
When river stream or wind not strong enough to bring the materials anymorebecause
they have brought too many materialsthe materials will deposite in riverbed. Then,
the process of sedimentation happens. Sedimentation is not only occurs in river or
windy area, but also in seabed even deep ocean floor. Sedimentation is a process where
the deposited materials collect. It can cause a new form of rock called sedimentary rock
trough a process called litification. It happens when materials sorted into certain
composition, and all of materials become solid.
Sedimentary rocks have different characteristic, depend on its sedimentary area. If
we find a rock with layered structure, the rock can be assumed form in a location when
theres a stream which can cause layers in rock material. Different with a rock with
calcite vein and fossils, which can be a sign of shallow seabed. If a sedimentary rock
has gradate structure of little rocks inside, it can be decided that the rock occurs in a
lake or deep ocean, where rock material will perfectly sortedheavy materials deposits
in the most bottom position of the rock, and the finest materials is in uppest side of rock.
The examples of sedimentary rocks are limestone, bre
The next phase of rock cycle is metamorphic rocks. A metamorphic rock is a rock
that through the change of its real structure, texture, colors, even its mineral former.
This change named metamorphism. Metamorphic rock is not only formed from
sedimentary rock. Igneous rock, even other metamorphic rocks can through
metamorphism processby criteria: the rock have to be placed in a place with extra hot
temperature and pressure, also by sufficient material former.
Locations of metamorphism occurence are various. But, the common area of
metamorphism is the subduction area of two plates, where temperature condition reachs
its high point, and there are many pressures come frome earth layer above it. If a rock
brought into those area and deposits there in very long time, gradually the structure,
texture, form, and hardness of rock will change. Sometimes it followed by a process of
mineral altering. The rock will change become harder and more compact than before.
Many kinds of metamorphic rock are: schist stone (from mudstone), marble (from
limestone), quartzite (from sandstone mixed by quartz mineral), serpentinite (ultramafic
stone), and many more.
After metamorphism process, when theres a suitable condition to melt, rock will
through melting process and become fluid phaseback into magma again. It happens
when a rock fall into a very hot zona and the temperature allow the chemical elements
inside the stone reach their melting point. Consequently, although the fallen rock is a
super hard metamorphic rock, if its chemical composition attain its melting point, the
rock becomes softer and softer, then it changes into magma. Then, the cycle will spin
from the first step of igneous rock formation.
Well, thats the journey of a rock. By learn about characteristic of rock and stone
deeper, we will get more information of this earth, and realize how detail this earth.
make us proud and become more grateful to Godsomeone can perfectly create this
complicate earth!