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Rock Cycle Simulation Lab

Name: ______________________________________ Period: ________ Date: _________

Goal: To simulate the rock cycle using


crayons to represent rocks.

Materials:
• Crayons
• Aluminum Foil Square
• Paper Towels

Part I - Making
Sedimentary Rock
Erosion
1. In nature, rocks are broken down by the forces of nature. In this simulation
the crayons represent rocks, the coin represents erosion (wind, sun, ice, rain) that cause rocks to
break down into smaller pieces.

2. Watch as the teacher erodes the rock.

3. Answer these questions about your eroded rocks:

a. What do the different colored crayons represent?

b. Are the fragments all the same size or shape? Describe.

c. Would this be true of rock fragments in nature?

d. What are some of nature’s tools to erode rocks?


Deposition

1. Once rock fragments have been created, they are usually moved by some force of nature like
gravity and dropped in a new location (DEPOSITION). Here you will act as a depositional force.

2. In your square of aluminum foil watch as the teacher piles her rock fragments in a neat pile in the
center of the foil. She will then move and lay down (DEPOSIT) the rock fragments.

3. Answer the following questions:

a. Describe the shape and size of spaces between your rock (crayon) pieces. Are they large
or small and irregular or regular shaped?

b. How does nature move and lay down (DEPOSIT) rock?

Compaction / Cementation

1. This part of the simulation requires you to understand the cementation process. Spaces between
the fragments are reduced in size by pressure (COMPACTION) and filled in with cementing
agents (CEMENTATION). This simulation will not add cementing agents. It will only simulate
compaction. The compaction process occurs as sediment layers are continually covered by new
layers of sediments. The lower layers become compacted by the weight of the new layers above.

2. Watch as the teacher folds the loose layers of crayon shavings inside the aluminum foil.

3. Watch as she compacts the eroded rocks (crayon shavings).

4. Unwrap the foil to find the SEDIMENTARY ROCK!

5. Answer the following questions:

a. Do you see any layers? Are they thin or thick?

b. Describe the compaction. Are they tightly or loosely compacted?

5. We have just created Sedimentary Rock! (Save a small piece of it)


Part II- Making Metamorphic Rock
Heat and Pressure
1. As the pressure deep within the earth increases, temperatures increase as well. A temperature
change is probably occurring in this activity. Metamorphic rock may become contorted in appearance
and actually flow like a plastic material--in response to the HEAT and PRESSURE that is caused by
the over-riding rock.

2. The teacher will rewrap the loosely compacted, sedimentary rock-type crayons shavings in the
aluminum foil.

3. The teacher will apply HEAT and PRESSURE to your sedimentary rock.

4. Answer the following questions:

a. Do you see any layers? Are they thin or thick?

b. Describe the compaction. Are they tightly or loosely compacted?

5. Save one small piece of “metamorphic rock.”

Part III - Making Igneous Rock


Melting and Cooling of Rock
1. Igneous rocks form deep within the earth. They originate in magma chambers embedded in solid
rock.

2. The teacher will then demonstrate the melting and cooling process that forms igneous rock.

3. Answer the following questions:

a. Describe what the melted “rock” (magma) looked like.

b. Describe the cooling process and the final appearance of the “igneous” rock.
Part IV – Conclusions
1. Look at all three “rock” samples. Use your simulated “rocks” to help you describe the following
rock types.

1. SEDIMENTARY:
a. How are these rocks formed?

b. What is the source of energy that forms sedimentary rocks?

2. METAMORPHIC:
a. How are these rocks formed?

b. What is the source of energy that forms metamorphic rocks?

3. IGNEOUS:
a. How are these rocks formed?

b. What is the source of energy that forms igneous rocks?

Draw the rock cycle below. Include the following terms: (this can also be done on a separate piece of paper)
Magma Igneous Pressure and heat
Sedimentary Compaction Sediments
Metamorphic Cementation Melting
Weathering Deposition Cooling

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