WEATHERING AND EROSION

Year 7
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Three Types of Rocks

Instructions: Read the information about each of the three types of rocks. Then,
complete each statement and answer the questions.

Sedimentary Rock Igneous Rock Metamorphic Rock

G
Conglomerate Basalt neiss
Sedimentary rocks form Igneous rocks form when Metamorphic rocks form
from silt, sand, rock molten earth material from heat and pressure.
pieces, and even plant and cools and hardens. Magma Bury a pre-existing rock
animal remains. These deep within the earth can deep enough in the earth
particles, or sediment, get slowly cool over millions of and it will change into a
compacted and cemented years. During this time, metamorphic rock.
together into a rock. mineral crystals grow large Faulting from movement of
Sedimentary rocks can and form igneous rocks. tectonic plates can change
also form when minerals in Lava on the earth's surface rocks into metamorphic
water crystallize. can also cool and form rocks. Sedimentary,
Sedimentary rocks are the igneous rocks. Lava cools igneous, and even
most common types of quickly, so these rocks metamorphic rocks can
rocks found on the earth's usually have small or no change into metamorphic
surface where water and mineral crystals. Most of rocks. But, if they melt,
wind create pieces of the earth's crust is made they will not form
sediment. Often, they form of igneous rocks. metamorphic rocks. They
as layers of rock when will form igneous rocks
younger sediment forms instead!
on top of older sediment.

1. All rock types can become metamorphic rocks.

 True
 False
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2.  Igneous rocks form only above the Earth's surface.

 True
 False
3. Metamorphic rocks are formed by bits of rock combining together.
 True
 False
4. All rocks Earth's surface can weather and become sediments.
 True
 False
5. Igneous rocks can be formed by volcanoes.
 True
 False
6.  Silt, sand, rock pieces and plant remains are all examples of
.

7. The most common type of rock found on earth's surface is

rock.

8.  If a rock melts, then hardens, it forms a                                                                         rock.

9. Metamorphic rocks form when rocks change because of heat and

.

10. The most common type of rock found on earth's surface is

rock.

11. When molten rock cools slowly, the crystals that form in the igneous rock are
.

12. When molten rock cools quickly, the crystals in the igneous rock that form are
.

13. Which type of rocks are pressed and cemented together?

 igneous rock
 fossils
 sedimentary rock
 metamorphic rock
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14. What type of rock is created from lava?

 metamorphic
 igneous
 sedimentary

15. Which best classifies the rock shown?

 igneous
 sedimentary
 metamorphic
16. Which best classifies the rock shown?

 igneous
 sedimentary
 metamorphic

17. Melted rock that is beneath Earth's surface is called                               .

 magma
 lava
 sediment
 sand
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18. Declan observed a rock that he found at the beach. The rock felt hard, it was
yellow, and appeared to be made in layers. Declan concluded that the rock was
sedimentary. Which observation BEST supports this conclusion?
 the yellow colour
 the layers within the rock
 the hardness of the rock
 the location where the rock was found

19. Granite forms when liquid magma slowly cools within Earth's crust. If the granite
is exposed to intense heat and pressure, it can change to gneiss. Which type of
change takes place when granite turns into gneiss?

 Sedimentary rock changes into igneous rock.

 Igneous rock changes into metamorphic rock.
 Metamorphic rock changes into igneous rock.
 Sedimentary rock changes into metamorphic rock.

20. Rocks are classified by

 How they are formed.
 When they are formed.
 Where they are formed.

• Igneous – Granite,

• Metamorphic -

• Sedimentary -

• Match the words below with the correct rock type:

• Granite, slate, limestone, marble, sandstone, basalt, chalk.

21. What does porous mean?

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_____________________________________________________________________

22. What does impermeable mean?

_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
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Weathering

Weathering is what makes rocks break up and wear away.

There are three types of weathering;

 Physical weathering

 Biological weathering

 Chemical weathering

Physical weathering is caused by physical changes, such as a change

in t____________, freezing and thawing, and the effect of wind, rain and waves.

When a rock gets hot it gets a little b___, and when it gets cold it gets a little

s______. If this change in temperature happens a lot of times, c____ form and

pieces of rock fall away. This happens a lot in d____ because it is very h___ in the

day and very cold at night. When water f_____ into ice it expands (takes up more space). If water

gets into a crack in a rock and then freezes, it can p_____ the crack apart. When it melts, water can

get further into the crack, so the next time it freezes the crack gets even b______. The wind can

blow tiny grains of s___ against a rock. These wear it away and w_____ it. R___ and w____ can also

lash against a rock to wear it away.

Biological Weathering is when p___ or a_____ wear away

rocks. R______ burrow into a crack in a rock which

might make the crack bigger and split the rock. S___ can grow in cracks in

rocks and plant r_____ grow into cracks in rocks. As the plant grows the roots push open the cracks.

People can cause weathering by w________! Their shoes wear away the rocks they walk on.

Chemical Weathering is caused by rocks wearing away because of c_______.

Carbon dioxide dissolves in r_______ to make it slightly a____. Minerals in rocks

may react with the rainwater which wears them away. Limestone

and Chalk are rocks that are easily worn away by rainwater. This

can make c____. Acid rain is caused by pollution. A___ r___

makes chemical weathering happen much faster and buildings and

s______ made of rock are damaged as a result.

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In the box below draw an annotated diagram showing how freeze-thaw weathering occurs. You will
need to add a series of labels.

Complete the table.

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1. Rock and soil that does not allow water to pass through it is known as . . . . . . .

2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . weathering is most likely to occur in a desert.

3. The breakdown of rock by weather, plants and animals is known as . . . . . . . . . . .

4. Loose, broken up rock is known as . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

5. Acid rain causes what type of weathering? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The Smith family went on holiday in December for a fortnight. They made sure to switch off all of
the taps. They also switched off the central heating while they were away to save money. “No point
heating an empty house” said Mr. Smith.

When they got back home the house was flooded with water and all the carpets were drenched. Why
did this happen?

_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
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_______________________________________________________________________________________________

What is the definition for weathering?

Weathering is ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
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You must remember this

definition.

What types of weathering can you see in the pictures below?

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Weathering spider diagrams.

Example – Chemical weathering

Rainwater containing
light acid reacts with
minerals in stonework
Hard edges are
smoothed off and
Surface of stone
carved features
slowly dissolves away CHEMICAL WEATHERING
become indistinct.

Freeze-thaw weathering
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EROSION

ABRASION CAVE HEADLAND STACK

ARCHWAY COAST HYDRAULICACTION STUMP
ATTRITION FETCH SOLUTION WAVES
BEACH GRAVITY SPIT WIND
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Missing words: Draw a picture of the process in the above boxes

 Cliff
 Rock
 Squashes
 Rounded Solution
 Loose sediment
 Salts
 Dissolve
 Water
 Smaller
 Blast out
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What is the definition of erosion?

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
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What is the difference between weathering and erosion?

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Below are 3 different types of erosion; Sea, Wind and Rain. Label the pictures below stating which type of erosion
has caused the damage and why you know this. You may want to use the words in the box below.

Weathered ridges gullies a rock formation damage worn rubbing

erosion eroded weight coastal

__________________________________________ _______________________________________

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__________________________________________ _______________________________________

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__________________________________________ _______________________________________

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___________________________________________

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Transportation

Erosion Transportation Deposition

Material being removed Material being moved along Material being dumped at
the river or by the sea another point on the river or
coast.
1. Hydraulic action 1. Traction Happens when the river
1. 2. loses energy and can’t carry
3. 3. the material anymore,
4. 4. Heaviest material gets
dropped first.
What are the other three What are the other three Like carrying loads of
types of erosion? types of transportation? shopping bags and then
being really tired. What do
you do? Put some bags
down
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