The Rock Cycle — Interactive Diagram
See how the three types of rock change into one another over millions of years.
TL;DR: See how the three types of rock change into one another over millions of years.
Written & reviewed by the Syllab.in Academic Team (CBSE/NCERT subject experts) · Updated
The Rock Cycle: See how the three types of rock change into one another over millions of years.
Why it matters: Igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks and how they transform is key to geography and earth science.
The Rock Cycle — Step by Step
- Hot molten rock (MAGMA) cools and hardens to form IGNEOUS rock — like granite and basalt.
- Wind and water break rocks into tiny bits. These settle in layers and get pressed together into SEDIMENTARY rock — like sandstone.
- Deep underground, heat and pressure change rocks into METAMORPHIC rock — like marble and slate. Melt it again and the cycle repeats!
Quick Notes — the Exam Crux
- Igneous rock forms when molten magma or lava cools and solidifies (e.g. basalt, granite).
- Sedimentary rock forms when sediments are deposited in layers and compacted (e.g. limestone, sandstone).
- Metamorphic rock forms when existing rock is changed by heat and pressure (e.g. marble from limestone, slate from shale).
- Weathering breaks rocks into sediments; intense heat can melt rocks back into magma.
- The three types keep changing into one another over long periods — this is the rock cycle.
- Fossils are usually found in sedimentary rocks.
Remember It (Memory Trick)
Three rock types keep transforming: Igneous (cooled magma), Sedimentary (compacted layers), Metamorphic (heat + pressure). "Fire, Layers, Squeeze."
Real-Life Example
The marble of the Taj Mahal is a metamorphic rock — limestone (a sedimentary rock) that was changed deep underground by heat and pressure into hard, gleaming marble.
Test Yourself
How does igneous rock form?
By the cooling and solidifying of molten magma or lava.
What two factors turn a rock into a metamorphic rock?
Heat and pressure.
Which rock type usually contains fossils?
Sedimentary rock.
📖 Read the full explanation of The Rock Cycle →
More Visual Lessons
- The Water Cycle
- States of Matter
- Life Cycle of a Butterfly
- Phases of the Moon
- The Solar System
- The Greenhouse Effect
🤖 Stuck on any of these? Ask Syllab's free AI Tutor to explain step by step →