Thermal cracking of alkanes usually
Thermal cracking of alkanes usually
Explanation
Three rock types by formation: Igneous (from cooled magma/lava) – granite, basalt. Sedimentary (from compressed sediments) – sandstone, limestone, shale. Metamorphic (changed by heat/pressure) – marble, slate, quartzite.
Igneous rocks: intrusive (cooled slowly underground, large crystals) vs extrusive (cooled quickly on surface, small crystals). Sedimentary rocks often contain fossils and form in layers.
Rock cycle: any rock type can transform into another given enough time and the right conditions. Rocks weather into sediments, compress into sedimentary rock, metamorphose under pressure, or melt and cool into igneous rock.