Answer:
1. When things like frost wedging break rocks into smaller pieces:
- Frost wedging is a process in which water seeps into cracks in rocks, freezes, and expands. This expansion puts pressure on the rock, causing it to break into smaller pieces. This process is common in cold climates where freeze-thaw cycles occur.
2. This occurs when roots take hold in rock:
- When roots from plants grow into cracks in rocks, they exert pressure on the rock as they continue to grow and expand. Over time, this pressure can cause the rock to break apart.
3. The sum of surface processes on earth that wear away soil or rock:
- This is known as erosion. It is the process by which soil or rock is gradually worn away and transported by natural agents such as water, wind, ice, or gravity. Erosion plays a crucial role in shaping the Earth's surface over long periods of time.
4. This sedimentary rock type is left behind when water evaporates:
- Evaporite is the sedimentary rock type that is left behind when water evaporates. As the water evaporates, dissolved minerals in the water are left behind and eventually form solid deposits. Examples of evaporite rocks include rock salt, gypsum, and limestone.
5. After sediments are transported elsewhere, this occurs:
- Deposition occurs after sediments have been transported by natural agents such as water, wind, or ice. When the transporting agent loses its energy, it can no longer carry the sediment, causing it to settle or be deposited in a new location. This process is responsible for the formation of sedimentary deposits.
6. This occurs when water or wind run sediments into each other:
- This process is called abrasion. It involves the physical wearing down and smoothing of sediments as they rub against each other under the action of water or wind. Abrasion can result in the formation of rounded or smooth rocks and pebbles.
7. This rock type occurs after sediments get compacted and cemented together:
- This rock type is known as sedimentary rock. Sedimentary rocks are formed when sediments, such as sand, silt, and clay, are deposited and undergo compaction and cementation. Compaction refers to the squeezing together of sediments due to the weight of overlying layers, while cementation involves the binding of sediments by minerals, such as calcite or silica.
8. This sedimentary rock type is made up of the remains of living things:
- Organic sedimentary rock is the type of rock made up of the remains of living things. Examples of organic sedimentary rocks include coal, formed from the remains of plant matter, and limestone, formed from the accumulation of the shells or skeletons of marine organisms.
9. When the chemical makeup of rock is changed:
- This process is known as metamorphism. Metamorphism occurs when existing rocks undergo changes in mineral composition, texture, or structure due to high temperature, pressure, or the presence of fluids. This can result in the formation of new minerals and the development of new rock types, such as marble from limestone or slate from shale.