Rock Cycle Worksheets - - Free Printable

Let's solve the Rock Cycle worksheet step by step. The diagram shows a circular flow of rock types and the processes that transform one type into another. We’ll fill in each blank with the correct rock type, examples, and the process involved.

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🔁 Understanding the Rock Cycle

The rock cycle involves three main types of rocks:
1. Igneous Rocks – Formed from cooled magma/lava.
2. Sedimentary Rocks – Formed from sediments compacted and cemented.
3. Metamorphic Rocks – Formed when existing rocks are changed by heat and pressure.

Processes include:
- Melting → Magma
- Cooling → Igneous rock
- Weathering & erosion → Sediments
- Deposition, compaction, & cementation → Sedimentary rock
- Heat & pressure → Metamorphic rock

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🧩 Step-by-step Completion:

We'll go around the cycle clockwise starting from the volcano (magma) at the bottom.

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#### 🔹 1. Bottom center: Volcano (Magma)
- Box: Magma
- Examples: (none — magma is molten rock, not solid yet)
- Process leading to next stage: Cooling

> From magma → cooling → igneous rock

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#### 🔹 2. Top right: Crystalline rock (granite-like texture)
- Box: Igneous rock
- Examples: basalt, granite
- Process from previous: Cooling
- Process to next: Weathering & erosion

> Igneous rock breaks down into sediments via weathering and erosion.

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#### 🔹 3. Right side: Layered rock (sedimentary appearance)
- Box: Sedimentary rock
- Examples: sandstone, limestone
- Process from previous: Deposition, compaction, & cementation
- Process to next: Heat & pressure

> Sediments turn into sedimentary rock through deposition, compaction, and cementation.

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#### 🔹 4. Bottom left: Folded/layered rock (metamorphic)
- Box: Metamorphic rock
- Examples: quartzite, marble
- Process from previous: Heat & pressure
- Process to next: Melting

> Metamorphic rock can melt back into magma under high temperature.

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#### 🔹 5. Left side: Crystalline rock (again)
- Box: Igneous rock
- Examples: basalt, granite
- Process from previous: Cooling
- Process to next: Weathering & erosion

> This is the same as the earlier igneous rock — it’s part of the cycle.

Wait — actually, this seems like a duplicate? Let’s recheck the layout.

But looking closely at the diagram:
- There are four boxes around the cycle:
1. Top right: Igneous rock
2. Right: Sedimentary rock
3. Bottom left: Metamorphic rock
4. Left: ????

Wait — actually, the left box is pointing back to magma, so let’s trace carefully.

Let’s label the positions:

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✔ Final Corrected Flow (Clockwise):

1. Start at volcano: Magma
- Process out: Cooling → forms Igneous rock

2. Top right: Igneous rock
- Examples: basalt, granite
- Process out: Weathering & erosion → forms Sediments

3. Right side: Sediments
- Examples: sand, gravel
- Process out: Deposition, compaction, & cementation → forms Sedimentary rock

4. Bottom right: Sedimentary rock
- Examples: sandstone, limestone
- Process out: Heat & pressure → forms Metamorphic rock

5. Bottom left: Metamorphic rock
- Examples: quartzite, marble
- Process out: Melting → becomes Magma

6. Back to Magma → completes the cycle.

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🧩 Now, fill in the blanks on the diagram:

Let’s assign each box:

#### 🔹 Top Box (above igneous rock):
- Box: Igneous rock
- Examples: basalt, granite
- Process from previous: Cooling (from magma)

#### 🔹 Right Box (next to sedimentary rock):
- Box: Sedimentary rock
- Examples: sandstone, limestone
- Process from previous: Deposition, compaction, & cementation

#### 🔹 Bottom Box (below metamorphic rock):
- Box: Metamorphic rock
- Examples: quartzite, marble
- Process from previous: Heat & pressure

#### 🔹 Left Box (pointing to magma):
- Box: Magma
- Examples: (no solid example; magma is liquid)
- Process from previous: Melting

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✔ Final Answer Key:

| Position | Rock Type / Process | Examples | Process Involved |
|--------|---------------------|---------|------------------|
| Top | Igneous rock | basalt, granite | Cooling |
| Right | Sedimentary rock | sandstone, limestone | Deposition, compaction, & cementation |
| Bottom | Metamorphic rock | quartzite, marble | Heat & pressure |
| Left | Magma | (none) | Melting |

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🔄 Summary of the Rock Cycle:

1. Magma → Igneous rock via cooling
2. Igneous rock → Sediments via weathering & erosion
3. Sediments → Sedimentary rock via deposition, compaction, & cementation
4. Sedimentary rock → Metamorphic rock via heat & pressure
5. Metamorphic rock → Magma via melting

This cycle repeats continuously in Earth’s crust.

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✔ Completed Worksheet Answers:

- Top box: Igneous rock
- Examples: basalt, granite
- Process: Cooling

- Right box: Sedimentary rock
- Examples: sandstone, limestone
- Process: Deposition, compaction, & cementation

- Bottom box: Metamorphic rock
- Examples: quartzite, marble
- Process: Heat & pressure

- Left box: Magma
- Examples: (none)
- Process: Melting

> Note: The "examples" for magma aren't typically listed since it's molten. You could write “molten rock” if needed, but it’s not a solid rock type.

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Let me know if you'd like a printable version or a labeled diagram!