Earth’s Materials

Rocks are solid materials that make up Earth's crust. They are formed through natural processes over millions of years. Scientists classify rocks into

Minerals are natural, solid materials found on Earth. Each mineral has a unique set of properties that help scientists identify it. Some properties, l

Minerals are the building blocks of rocks and are found all around us. They are naturally occurring, solid substances with a specific chemical composi

Have you ever looked at a shiny crystal or a smooth rock and wondered where it came from? Minerals don’t just appear—they grow and change deep inside

The rock cycle is a natural process that describes how rocks change from one type to another over time. These changes happen through melting, cooling,

Igneous rocks form when magma or lava cools and hardens. These rocks begin as molten rock inside the Earth, known as magma. When magma reaches the sur

Igneous rocks form when melted rock, such as magma or lava, cools and solidifies. These rocks are classified into two main types based on where the ma

Sedimentary rocks form through a process that takes place over long periods of time. These rocks begin as particles of sand, silt, clay, or small piec

Lithification is the process that turns loose sediments into solid sedimentary rock. After sediments like sand, silt, or clay are deposited, they buil

Metamorphic rocks form when existing rocks are changed by heat, pressure, or chemical processes deep inside the Earth. These changes do not melt the r

Igneous rocks form when molten rock cools and hardens, either beneath the Earth’s surface as magma or above the surface as lava. Even when lava comes

The type of igneous rock that forms depends on more than just where the magma cools. It also depends on what the magma is made of, especially how much

As magma contains less silica, it begins to form darker, denser, and heavier igneous rocks. Whether magma cools at Earth’s surface or deep underground