Mining companies have technology that can detect rock formations underneath Earth’s outer layer. One mining company detects an igneous rock formation underneath Earth’s outer layer. The geologists working for the company wonder if material in this igneous rock used to be sedimentary rock at Earth’s surface.

Question

Can material in sedimentary rock become igneous rock? In your response, use the CER framework to argue your choice. In your response, make sure to clearly state your claim, provide evidence from class, and offer reasoning that connects the evidence to your argument.

Answer 1

Claim: Material in sedimentary rock can become igneous rock.

Evidence: According to the rock cycle, sedimentary rock can undergo significant changes through processes such as heat and pressure or melting. When sedimentary rock is subjected to extreme heat and pressure, particularly from tectonic forces or from the Earth’s mantle, it can transform into metamorphic rock. If enough heat is applied, metamorphic rock—or directly the sedimentary rock itself—can melt, resulting in magma. When this magma cools and solidifies, it forms igneous rock.

Reasoning: This transformation is a fundamental process in the rock cycle. The processes of melting and cooling are key indicators that material from one rock type can be converted into another. Sedimentary rocks are composed of particles that may have originated from the weathering and erosion of other rocks, including igneous and metamorphic ones. Furthermore, as sedimentary rock undergoes metamorphism, it is not limited to becoming only metamorphic rock; it possesses the potential to completely melt into magma. Once this molten material cools, it crystallizes and becomes igneous rock. Therefore, while material from sedimentary rock does not directly become igneous rock by means of simple change, it can transition through stages of metamorphism to melting and, ultimately, to solidification as igneous rock. This demonstrates the interconnectedness of the rock types in the geological processes of the Earth, confirming that sedimentary material can indeed contribute to the formation of igneous rock under the right conditions.