metamorphic rock
—A kind of rock that forms
when heat or pressure changes the minerals in
igneous rock or sedimentary rock.
mineral
—A natural solid material with a specific
chemical makeup and structure.
rock
—A natural solid material made of minerals.
sedimentary rock
—A kind of rock that forms as
layers of soil and bits of rock build up and are
pressed and cemented together.
soil
—A mixture of broken-up rock, air, water, and
rotting plant and animal material.
stalactite
—A buildup of minerals that hangs down
from the ceiling of a cave.
stalagmite
—A buildup of minerals that grows from
the floor of a cave.
tectonic plate
—One of the large slabs of rock that
makes up Earth’s crust.
trace fossil
—Evidence of how an ancient creature
lived.
weathering
—The breaking down of rock by plant
roots or repeated freezing and thawing.
46
