THE ROCK CYCLE

Interactive
Next Process: Cooling & Crystallization

Molten rock beneath the Earth's surface.

Plate Tectonics

The lithosphere is broken into tectonic plates that float on the semi-fluid asthenosphere.

DIVERGENT
← →
Rifts
CONVERGENT
→ ←
Mountains
TRANSFORM
⇅
Quakes

Deep Time

Geologic time is measured in millions of years (Ma). The Earth is approximately 4.54 billion years old.

AGE OF EARTH4.54 Ga

Mineralogy

MOHS SCALE
SOFT (Talc)HARD (Diamond)