What defines a rock cycle?

The rock cycle is defined as a continuous transformation of rock types, which highlights the dynamic and interconnected processes that change rocks from one form to another over geological time. This cycle includes processes such as melting, crystallization, erosion, sedimentation, and metamorphism.

Igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks all play vital roles in this cycle. For example, igneous rocks can be broken down into sediments, which can then form sedimentary rocks. Similarly, sedimentary rocks can undergo metamorphism to become metamorphic rocks, and these can melt to return to the magma stage, completing the cycle.

This comprehensive view illustrates that the rock cycle encompasses all rock types and emphasizes the ongoing processes that shape Earth's materials rather than a singular or static aspect of geology. Other options, such as the static formation of minerals or the limitation to specific rock types, do not capture the complexity or the ongoing nature of the rock cycle.