I have no idea what my nephew is talking about the rock cycle he doesn't understand the language can you help

Answer 1

The rock cycle is the transition of rocks from one type to a another through geologic processes such as weathering, and melting.

There are 3 main types of rocks: sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic.

Igneous rocks are formed by cooling magma inside the Earth's crust (intrusive/plutonic) or cooling lava on the surface of the Earth (extrusive/volcanic).

Metamorphic rocks are either igneous or sedimentary rocks that have been physically and/or chemically changed by heat and pressure, typically in the Earth's crust.

Sedimentary rocks are igneous, metamorphic, and other sedimentary rocks that have been broken down by weathering (physical or chemical) and cemented into new rocks.

The rock cycle is the transition between these types.

Igneous rock can either be broken down to from sedimentary rock, subjected to heat and pressure to from metamorphic rock, or remelted to make new igneous rocks.

Metamorphic rocks can be weathered down to make new sedimentary rocks or remelted to create new igneous rocks or under go more metamorphism to create higher grades of metamorphic rocks.

Sedimentary rocks can be broken down further, melted to make new igneous rocks or be subjected to heat and pressure to make metamorphic rocks.

Most Earth Science texts have a simple diagram showing the schematics of this cycle. Its is highly simplified but it shows the basic idea.

Here is a very simple one: http://gpc.edu/~pgore/Earth&Space/GPS/rockcycle.gif