Astronomers studying the planet of Rhombus have detected sedimentary rock on its surface. One astronomer wonders if material in this sedimentary rock used to be in igneous rock deep in Rhombus’s interior. Can igneous rock become sedimentary rock? Explain your answer.

Answer 1

Yes, igneous rock can become sedimentary rock through a geological process known as the rock cycle. Here’s how this process works:

1. Weathering and Erosion: Igneous rock can be exposed to weathering due to atmospheric conditions, water, wind, and temperature changes. This exposure breaks the igneous rock down into smaller particles or sediments, such as sand, silt, and clay.

2. Transport: After the igneous rock is weathered into smaller particles, these sediments can be transported by wind, water, or ice to new locations.

3. Deposition: Eventually, the transported sediments are deposited in various environments, such as riverbeds, lakes, or ocean floors. Over time, as more sediments accumulate above them, the lower layers are subjected to increased pressure.

4. Lithification: The deposition of sediments can lead to lithification, a process where the accumulated layers compact due to the pressure from the overlying materials and may also undergo cementation by minerals precipitating from groundwater. This turns the loose sediments into solid sedimentary rock.

Thus, the cycle from igneous rock to sedimentary rock is part of the broader rock cycle, demonstrating how different types of rocks can transform into one another over geological time scales.