1. Can a rock that has undergone metamorphism turn into a sedimentary rock? If so, how? If not, why not?

2. By what process does hot molten magma become rock?

3. Carbonate rocks found in the Colorado Rocky Mountains imply what type of deposition environment?

4. In what section (s) of the rock cycle are gemstones formed? Support your answer?

5. The Big Island of Hawaii is 1 Million years old, yet hikers thare almost never step on rock taht is more than 1 thousand years old. Explain.

1. Yes

The sedimentary rocks are the rocks that form the last, and they form from a parent material from the igneous and metamorphic rocks. When we have a metamorphic rock, it means that we have a rock that has formed deeper into the ground, when it has been exposed to higher temperatures and pressure. Over time though, with the geological activities, this metamorphic rock can be pushed on the surface. Once this happens, the metamorphic rock will be exposed to erosion and weathering, thus it will start to get broken apart, and sediments will form from it. If the conditions are right, then those sediments can merge back together, to create a softer, new type of rock, a sedimentary rock.

2. Crystallization

The hot molten magma is the one that forms the igneous rocks, which are the basis for the formation of the other two types of rocks, the metamorphic and sedimentary rocks. In order for the magma to become rock, in needs to cool off, and this happens both on the surface and inside the crust. As the magma cools off, it starts to undergo a process of crystallization, which basically means that it solidifies and crystals are formed. Depending on the location of the crystallization, as well as the speed of it, different types of igneous rocks can be formed.

3. warm and humid

The carbonate rocks are rocks that are very high in carbon content. This type of rocks forms when there has been very large depositions of biomass, mostly by wood, which managed to merge with sediments, and under particular temperature and pressure created a rock. The carbonate rocks can be found exclusively on places that have had warm and humid climate in the past, as the enormous amounts of wooden mass required for this rocks to form can only be found in places like that, as well as the proper conditions that the wooden mass is quickly covered with mud from the outside influences.

4. In all sections of the rock cycle

The gemstones are a group of rocks that can be igneous, metamorphic, or sedimentary. There is a very big variety among them, and that is largely attributed to the fact that these rocks form in the mantle, deep into the crust, close to the surface, and on the surface. It is not just that these rocks have very big variety, but they also differ a lot in which section of the rock cycle do they form, as they can form in pretty much every section of the rock cycle, depending on the type of gemstone. In the gemstone category we have the diamond, quartz, opal, ruby, sapphire etc.

5. Even though the Big Island of Hawaii is one million years old, it is almost impossible to set foot on rocks of that age, but in general the rocks on the surface are not older than 1,000 years. The main reason for this is that the island has an active volcano. Not just that the volcano is active, but it is also a type of volcano that has calm eruptions with enormous amounts of lava flows. The lava flows constantly cover the rocks that already existed, and as it cools of and crystallizes, it forms a new layer of rocks. This process has been going on continuously, so the rocks on the surface tend to be very young because they are formed from the more recent lava flows.