Which part of the rock cycle can only occur because of thermal convection

The rock cycle refers to the changing of the rocks from one type to another due to the different factors and conditions. The rocks alter between sedimentary, igneous and metamorphic rocks.

The thermal convection refers to the formation of convection currents in the mantle, that pushes the magma upward towards the crust. As the hot magma rises upward, its temperature decreases and gradually becomes dense. This magma at many places undergoes cooling that leads to the formation of igneous rocks.

In addition to this, the heat energy provided from the interior of the earth, also responsible for the transformation of igneous rocks into metamorphic rocks.

The rock cycle

Explanation:

Earth's internal heat engine, which moves material around in the core and the mantle and leads to slow but significant changes within the crust, and the hydrological cycle, which is the movement of water, ice, and air at the surface, and is powered by the sun.

The rock cycle is still active on Earth because our core is hot enough to keep the mantle moving, our atmosphere is relatively thick, and we have liquid water. On some other planets or their satellites, such as the Moon, the rock cycle is virtually dead because the core is no longer hot enough to drive mantle convection and there is no atmosphere or liquid water.