Question

An igneous rock forms when sediments are compacted over time and cemented together, then the rock breaks down and becomes a metamorphic rock, as time passes and the rock is weathered and eroded, it becomes a sedimentary rock.

a) True
b) False

Answer 1

The assertion that igneous rocks form from sediment compaction, which then become metamorphic and later sedimentary rocks, is false. Igneous rocks solidify from magma, sedimentary rocks form from compacted sediments, and metamorphic rocks result from the transformation of existing rocks due to heat and pressure.

Step-by-step explanation:

The statement given in the question misrepresents the processes of rock formation and is therefore false. Igneous rocks are formed when magma or lava cools and solidifies. Minerals then crystallize and interlock, creating the igneous rock. Sedimentary rocks, on the other hand, form through the compaction and cementation of sediments, which can be fragments of igneous, sedimentary, or even metamorphic rocks.

These sediments are often deposited by wind or water. Finally, metamorphic rocks are created when existing igneous, sedimentary, or even older metamorphic rocks are subjected to new heat and pressure conditions but do not melt. This process can cause a physical and chemical transformation of the rock, producing a metamorphic rock with a distinct foliated or non-foliated texture.