Science Common Sense
876 - What are the different types of rocks and how are they formed?
There are three main types of rocks: Igneous, Sedimentary, and Metamorphic. Each type is formed in a different way.
Igneous Rocks: These rocks are formed from melted lava or magma (molten rock) from volcanoes. When the lava cools down, it solidifies into rocks like granite or basalt.
Sedimentary Rocks: These rocks are formed from small particles like sand, mud, or shells that settle at the bottom of oceans or lakes. Over time, these particles are compressed and stuck together to form rocks like sandstone or limestone.
Metamorphic Rocks: These rocks are formed when existing rocks are changed by heat and pressure. For example, if you squeeze limestone (a sedimentary rock) really hard and heat it up, it can turn into marble (a metamorphic rock).
These three types of rocks are the building blocks of our Earth's surface and are all connected in the rock cycle, where rocks can change from one type to another over millions of years.