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What is the rock cycle?
All rocks, whether they are sedimentary, igneous or metamorphic, are constantly being created and destroyed. Whenever a rock is exposed at the surface the forces of weather and erosion slowly break it down. The broken particles are carried along by winds or rivers and eventually accumulate, forming sedimentary rocks. These may melt and solidify as igneous rocks, or may be compressed to form metamorphic rocks. If they reappear at the surface, the process, called the rock cycle, starts all over again.
The minerals that form rocks take part in an endless round of construction and destruction.
The minerals that form rocks take part in an endless round of construction and destruction.
 
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