All about rocks
By National Geographic, adapted by Newsela staff on 10.15.19
Word Count 603
Level 460L
Image 1. Devils Tower in Wyoming formed when molten rock intruded into the existing rocks. Wind and water eroded the sedimentary rock
surrounding the tower faster than the harder igneous rock, creating the Tower's iconic shape. Photo by: PhotoAlto/Jerome Gorin via Getty
Images
Rocks are very common. You probably see them all the time. Yet you may not think much about
them. Rocks are important, though. They are clues to what Earth was like long ago. Rocks can help
scientists understand how our planet has changed over time.
What Is A Rock?
Geologists are scientists who study the Earth. They look closely at the rocks that make
up our planet. They study how rocks have changed over time.
So what is a rock?
A rock is a natural material. It is made up of crystals of different minerals. These crystals have
fused. This means they have been "glued" together by nature. Now they form a solid lump. That
lump is a rock.
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Geologists put rocks into groups. The groups are
based on how the rock formed. There are three main
groups. The first is igneous. The second is
sedimentary. The third is metamorphic.
Igneous Rocks
Igneous
rocks are
common
in Earth's
crust.
These
rocks are
volcanic.
Some are
formed
from
magma. Magma is a hot melted material. It can be found below Earth's surface. When magma
becomes a solid, it makes igneous rock.
Sometimes magma reaches Earth's surface. It may shoot out of a volcano, for example. Then it is
called lava. Over time, lava will cool down. It will become a solid. That solid is also igneous rock.
Granite and basalt are two other kinds of igneous rock. Granite makes up large parts of the
continents. These rocks can be very old. Some granite in Australia is thought to be over 4 billion
years old!
Basalt is a kind of dark lava. It forms the seafloor. Basalt can also be found in volcano flows.
Sedimentary Rocks
Sedimentary rocks are made from parts of other
rocks. Animal remains can also make up sedimentary
rocks. So can plants. Over time, these bits of rock and
other matter build up. This usually happens in lakes,
oceans and deserts. More and more material layers
up. The bits end up packed tightly together. Over
time, they are pressed into solid rock.
Sedimentary rock forms in layers. These layers are
called strata. Sandstone is made from pressed sand.
Mudstone is made from pressed mud.
Limestone is another kind of sedimentary rock. It is made up of shells and bonelike minerals.
Fossils are often found in sedimentary rock.
Metamorphic Rocks
This article is available at 5 reading levels at [Link]
Metamorphic rocks are rocks that have changed their
form. That is what the word "metamorphic" means.
Metamorphic rocks were once sedimentary or
igneous. They become metamorphic when something
changes their form. They may be changed by pressure
or heat. They may also be changed by fluids.
The heat that creates metamorphic rock can come
from nearby magma. It can also come from
subduction. Subduction is a process that takes place
below the Earth's surface. It is when one of Earth's
tectonic plates slips under another one. This pulls rocks down. Deep beneath the surface,
metamorphic rocks are made.
Marble and quartzite are two kinds of metamorphic rocks. Marble was once limestone. Quartzite
was once sandstone. Gneiss is another metamorphic rock. This rock begins as granite.
This article is available at 5 reading levels at [Link]
Quiz
1 How does sedimentary rock form?
(A) layers of material are packed together tightly
(B) rocks are pulled down under tectonic plates
(C) hot lava cools down and gets hard
(D) one type of rock changes into another
2 Which sentence from the introduction [paragraph 1] explains why rocks are helpful to scientists?
(A) Rocks are very common.
(B) You probably see them all the time.
(C) Yet you may not think much about them.
(D) They are clues to what Earth was like long ago.
3 Read the selection from the section "What Is A Rock?"
A rock is a natural material. It is made up of crystals of different minerals. These crystals have
fused. This means they have been "glued" together by nature.
What does the word "fused" mean?
(A) moved
(B) grown
(C) joined
(D) split
4 Read the selection from the section "Igneous Rocks."
Sometimes magma reaches Earth's surface. It may shoot out of a volcano, for example. Then it is
called lava.
What is a "surface"?
(A) hot spot
(B) below ground
(C) top layer
(D) rocky place
This article is available at 5 reading levels at [Link]