Geology, Geosciences, teaching-learning, rock cycle, Geosciences teaching
Abstract
THE ROCK CYCLE IN NATURE Cyclical changes occur permanently on Earth, a dynamic planet where slow or fast changes affect all the materials from the surface to the core. Even rocks can not be considered eternal, because they are affected by varying degrees of recycling, as well as minerals and every object else found on Earth. The time scales of the changes are extremely variable, they can be extremely fast or extremely slow. The Rock Cycle belongs to the Tectonic Plates model; it is a complex network of processes, which control changes in the mineral kingdom. This article seeks to expose some fundamental aspects of this intricate chain of interactions, as the processes, the products and the natural environments where they occur. It is given attention to the fact that they take part of other natural cycles, and thus interfere in human life, too
