Rocks & Minerals
Rock cycle, types of rocks, mining in SA
Rocks and Minerals
Rocks are made of one or more minerals. Three types: igneous (from cooled magma), sedimentary (from compressed layers), and metamorphic (changed by heat and pressure). The rock cycle describes how rocks change from one type to another.
Example
Rocks in South Africa
Igneous: granite, kimberlite (contains diamonds). Sedimentary: sandstone in the Drakensberg. Metamorphic: marble (from limestone). South Africa is rich in gold, platinum, diamonds, chrome, and coal.
Note
Key Point
Mining is a major SA industry but has environmental impacts: water pollution, habitat destruction, air pollution. Mining must be done responsibly.
Key Vocabulary
Igneous rockRock formed when magma or lava cools and solidifies
Sedimentary rockRock formed from layers of sediment compressed over millions of years
Metamorphic rockRock changed by extreme heat and pressure underground
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Igneous rock
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