January 18, 2014
Metamorphic Rocks:
There are 3 kinds of rocks. These rocks are formed by heat and pressure. These rocks are called Metamorphic rocks. Metamorphic rocks are formed deep below Earth's surface. That far under Earth's surface is really hot and there is a lot of rock pressing down. That changes the rock a lot. The heat and pressure come from Earth's solid core and mantle. The rock there is solid, but the rock can move around and flow. The rocks are bent and twisted, forming new insides of the rocks. When the rocks cool and come to Earth's surface they are known as Metamorphic rocks. Sometimes, when a mountain range wears away, what is left is the Metamorphic rocks that were beneath the mountain. Some Metamorphic rocks are marble and slate.
Metamorphic Rocks:
There are 3 kinds of rocks. These rocks are formed by heat and pressure. These rocks are called Metamorphic rocks. Metamorphic rocks are formed deep below Earth's surface. That far under Earth's surface is really hot and there is a lot of rock pressing down. That changes the rock a lot. The heat and pressure come from Earth's solid core and mantle. The rock there is solid, but the rock can move around and flow. The rocks are bent and twisted, forming new insides of the rocks. When the rocks cool and come to Earth's surface they are known as Metamorphic rocks. Sometimes, when a mountain range wears away, what is left is the Metamorphic rocks that were beneath the mountain. Some Metamorphic rocks are marble and slate.
January 18, 2014
Sedimentary Rocks:
There are 3 types of rocks. These are formed from the wearing away of rocks, or erosion, and pressure. These rocks are called Sedimentary rocks. Wind, rain, and ice are always wearing away rocks. Pieces of these rocks break off of the rocks forming tiny pieces called sediment. This sediment gets carried downhill by rivers and rain until it reaches an ocean. Over time, this sediment piles up, forming Sedimentary rock. Some of these are called limestone, sandstone, and conglomerate. Sometimes, rivers will dissolve some of the minerals in the rocks. When the water becomes a gas, or evaporates, those minerals are left behind forming crystals that create rocks. Some of these are halite and gypsum.
Sedimentary Rocks:
There are 3 types of rocks. These are formed from the wearing away of rocks, or erosion, and pressure. These rocks are called Sedimentary rocks. Wind, rain, and ice are always wearing away rocks. Pieces of these rocks break off of the rocks forming tiny pieces called sediment. This sediment gets carried downhill by rivers and rain until it reaches an ocean. Over time, this sediment piles up, forming Sedimentary rock. Some of these are called limestone, sandstone, and conglomerate. Sometimes, rivers will dissolve some of the minerals in the rocks. When the water becomes a gas, or evaporates, those minerals are left behind forming crystals that create rocks. Some of these are halite and gypsum.
January 18, 2014
Igneous Rocks:
There are 3 types of rocks on Earth. These rocks have a fiery origin. This rocks are called Igneous rocks. These rocks commonly come from volcanoes. These rocks start out as a hot liquid-like rock called magma. Large spots, or pools, of this magma are found deep below the surface of Earth. This magma will slowly come up towards the surface. When the magma makes it all the way to the surface of Earth, it erupts and turns into lava. This magma comes up through volcanoes and when it erupts from the volcano it is called lava. As this hot lava cools it forms Igneous rocks. Some of these rocks are obsidian, basalt, and pumice. These rocks will then pile up over time, making the volcano it erupted from larger. But, sometimes the magma doesn't make it all the way to the surface of the Earth. This magma cools and becomes Igneous rock. These rocks are known as Plutonic rocks. Some examples are granite, diorite, gabbro.
Igneous Rocks:
There are 3 types of rocks on Earth. These rocks have a fiery origin. This rocks are called Igneous rocks. These rocks commonly come from volcanoes. These rocks start out as a hot liquid-like rock called magma. Large spots, or pools, of this magma are found deep below the surface of Earth. This magma will slowly come up towards the surface. When the magma makes it all the way to the surface of Earth, it erupts and turns into lava. This magma comes up through volcanoes and when it erupts from the volcano it is called lava. As this hot lava cools it forms Igneous rocks. Some of these rocks are obsidian, basalt, and pumice. These rocks will then pile up over time, making the volcano it erupted from larger. But, sometimes the magma doesn't make it all the way to the surface of the Earth. This magma cools and becomes Igneous rock. These rocks are known as Plutonic rocks. Some examples are granite, diorite, gabbro.
December 15, 2013
The Core:
As you already know, there are two layers of the Earth called the Mantle and the Crust. Today, we will explore the two layers beneath the mantle. The first is the Outer Core. The Outer Core is a liquid and it flows around the Inner Core. The Outer Core is hot. It can range from 4,400 degrees Celsius (8,000 degrees Fahrenheit) to 6,100 degrees Celsius (11,000 degrees Fahrenheit)! The movement of the outer core actually causes a magnetic field around Earth that prevents Earth from being harmed by the Sun's winds. Then, there is the Inner Core. The pressure is so great at the Inner core that the material there doesn't have space to move and becomes a solid! The temperature there is 5,430 degrees Celsius (9,806 degrees Fahrenheit), as hot as the surface of the Sun! Now you know all about the Core!
The Core:
As you already know, there are two layers of the Earth called the Mantle and the Crust. Today, we will explore the two layers beneath the mantle. The first is the Outer Core. The Outer Core is a liquid and it flows around the Inner Core. The Outer Core is hot. It can range from 4,400 degrees Celsius (8,000 degrees Fahrenheit) to 6,100 degrees Celsius (11,000 degrees Fahrenheit)! The movement of the outer core actually causes a magnetic field around Earth that prevents Earth from being harmed by the Sun's winds. Then, there is the Inner Core. The pressure is so great at the Inner core that the material there doesn't have space to move and becomes a solid! The temperature there is 5,430 degrees Celsius (9,806 degrees Fahrenheit), as hot as the surface of the Sun! Now you know all about the Core!
Created September 17, 2013
Edited on December 15, 2013
Mantle and Crust:
There are four layers of the earth. These layers are the layers beneath our feet and shape our lives every day. The first part of Earth's interior is the crust. Its size is from the surface of the Earth at 0 kilometers, all the way down to 400 km or 250 miles. The crust is a small and thin layer of hard and dense rock that floats on the soft mantle. There are two types of crust. The oceanic (crust beneath the oceans) crust and the continental (the crust beneath the continents) crust. The oceanic crust is very thin and new. No oceanic crust is more than 200 million years. Also, the oceanic crust is no more than 7 km (4.3 miles) deep. The continental crust is the crust beneath the continents. It is up to 80 km (50 miles) deep. Also, the continental crust is old, the continental crust can be up to 3.8 billion years old. The next layer is the mantle. The mantle is made of soft rock and temperatures there can climb to 4,500 degrees centigrade (8,132 degrees fahrenheit)! It reaches from 10 km (6 miles) down over 3,000 miles. Mantle rock is so warm that it moves around really slowly and is known as mantle convection currents.
Edited on December 15, 2013
Mantle and Crust:
There are four layers of the earth. These layers are the layers beneath our feet and shape our lives every day. The first part of Earth's interior is the crust. Its size is from the surface of the Earth at 0 kilometers, all the way down to 400 km or 250 miles. The crust is a small and thin layer of hard and dense rock that floats on the soft mantle. There are two types of crust. The oceanic (crust beneath the oceans) crust and the continental (the crust beneath the continents) crust. The oceanic crust is very thin and new. No oceanic crust is more than 200 million years. Also, the oceanic crust is no more than 7 km (4.3 miles) deep. The continental crust is the crust beneath the continents. It is up to 80 km (50 miles) deep. Also, the continental crust is old, the continental crust can be up to 3.8 billion years old. The next layer is the mantle. The mantle is made of soft rock and temperatures there can climb to 4,500 degrees centigrade (8,132 degrees fahrenheit)! It reaches from 10 km (6 miles) down over 3,000 miles. Mantle rock is so warm that it moves around really slowly and is known as mantle convection currents.