Magma

greenspun.com : LUSENET : Introductory Geology, Oswego State : One Thread

Magma is molten ROCK material, and rocks are formed from magma, so in a way isn't this a chicken and the egg scenario?

-- Deb Richards (Kizmet727@yahoo.com), February 17, 2001

Answers

Deb brings up a good point. Notice when we drew the rock cycle, we said there is no single starting point. Rocks can start out anywhere on the cycle and change. Most of the changes we described in the rock cycle occur as a result of plate tectonic processes. James Hutton, who first described the rock cycle in his book "Theory of Earth," pointed out that the earth processes that form rocks have "no vestige of a beginning -- no prospect of an end".

-- Sharon Gabel (gabel@oswego.edu), February 17, 2001.

in the long run does it really matter, the rock cycle will continue after we are all dead, this is a good example of the chicken/egg syndrome. when looking at the rock cycle, it is a circular cycle with no definate begining or end.

-- kelly cleason (cleason@oswego.edu), February 27, 2001.

The rock cycle DOES have a begining, when this planet was formed.

-- Michael (pickle70_90272@yahoo.com), April 01, 2003.

Moderation questions? read the FAQ