How are rocks recycled?
The rock cycle The forces of nature are constantly morphing rocks into different forms 1 Igneous rock Igneous, which means ‘born of fire or heat’, is the rock type formed when molten magma cools enough to become solid. Intrusive igneous rock forms when the magma cools slowly under the Earth’s surface, and extrusive igneous rock forms when the magma cools rapidly on the surface, such as after a volcanic eruption. 2 Rising heat The intense heat found below the surface – sometimes stemming from the planet’s superheated core – can generate temperatures up to 1,300 degrees Celsius, causing the rock to melt into a molten form called magma, which rises towards the cooler surface via convection. The Rock Cycle 3 Metamorphic rock The combination of intense pressure and high temperatur...