Forces cause changes in the rock cycle and in the rocks themselves.
The rock cycle continually changes rocks from one type to another, giving us an abundance of different types of rocks and gems. Knowing the forces that cause changes in the rock cycle, creating changes in the rocks themselves, can help you understand the process.
Heat
When rocks are pulled deep under the Earth's surface, they encounter extreme heat. Heating a rock to just before the melting point can cause the rock to undergo changes, such as crystal formation. The resulting rock is called a metamorphic rock. Pressure may also aid heat in changing rocks.
Cooling
Molten rock is rock that has been heated past its boiling point. When molten rock cools, whether quickly or slowly, crystals form, changing the structure of the rock. These changes result in igneous rocks.
Compaction
Weathering creates small particles of rock. These particles, called sediment, can build, and over many years, layers of sediment may develop in one place. The weight of the sediment layers compact together, and with the help of water, become cemented together. The resulting rock is called sedimentary rock.
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