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Rocks
Rocks
By following the processes of the rock cycle, we can determine what processes the rocks went through to become the rocks we see. Rocks can be broken down into three sub groups:
Igneous (INTRUSIVE AND EXTRUSIVE)
Metamorphic
Sedimentary
Igneous rocks form from other melted rocks, magma, that come up through magma chambers and become igneous rocks. Igneous rocks can be intrusive, beneath the surface, or extrusive, above the surface (Igneous).
Metamorphic rocks are formed deep beneath the surface of the earth. When rocks go through a combination of high pressure and high temperature is when they become metamorphic rocks (Metamorphic).
Sedimentary rocks are created when other rocks get eroded and get transported to a running water source, where they are able to travel through the water and become sediments that will eventually settle out of the water. After sediments are burried deep enough and with enough pressure through compaction, and cementation they will become sedimentary rock (Sedimentary).
are rocks that were previously igneous extrusive and began weathering, eroding, got transported, or deposited and became sediments that then underwent pressure to become rocks.
Weathering and erosion also comes into play when we are talking about rocks, this happens to the rocks on the surface of the earth. There are two types of weathering: mechanical/physical and chemical. Mechanical/physical weathering is predominate in cold climates. It is when the rocks break but do not change. The types of physical weathering are frost wedging, plants, wind, and salt. Frost wedging is when water gets in cracks or holes and freezes overnight and then defrosts during the day and the cycle repeats. The other types of physical weathering a pretty much self explanitory.
Then we have chemical weathering, i.e. changing the chemistry of the rocks. This is predominate in warm climates. There are two types of chemical weathering: Oxygen and Acids. Oxygen changes the elements, we can see this when we take hematite and expose it to water and we get limonite. The soil of oxygen chemical weathering is typically red, brown, or yellow. In acid based chemical changes we see that hydrogen substitutes Calcium, sodium, and potassium. This increases the acidity of the rocks.
Works Cited
“What Are Igneous Rocks?” What Are Igneous Rocks? | U.S. Geological Survey, https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/what-are-igneous-rocks#:~:text=Igneous%20rocks%20(from%20the%20Latin,then%20rises%20toward%20the%20surface.
“What Are Metamorphic Rocks?” What Are Metamorphic Rocks? | U.S. Geological Survey, https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/what-are-metamorphic-rocks#:~:text=Metamorphic%20rocks%20form%20when%20rocks,or%20where%20tectonic%20plates%20meet.
“What Are Sedimentary Rocks?” What Are Sedimentary Rocks? | U.S. Geological Survey, https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/what-are-sedimentary-rocks#:~:text=Pieces%20of%20rock%20are%20loosened,and%20cemented%2C%20forming%20sedimentary%20rock.
Rocks of Lucerne Valley
Rocks of Lucerne Valley
There is not much information about how the rocks of Lucerne Valley in general came about, but I was able to find information about Cougar Buttes, which is a portion of Lucerne Valley. Cougar Buttes was formed because of alluvial fans that uplifted the San Bernardino Mountains during late Pliocene and Quaternary time frame (Cougar).
As i'm sure you know, there are many quarry's located in and near the High Desert. Lucerne Valley is know for their large quantities of limestone, which is a sedimentary rock. "The Lucerne Valley Limestone Province contains enormous reserves of cement-grade and high-brightness, high-grade calcite limestone" (West). This is why in and around the high desert, you may see many cement trucks such as Robertsons Inc. From my research, I learned that "the Lucerne Valley Limestone Province products are shipped more than 3000 km east to Chicago and 3000 km southwest to Hawaii"(West), which is great for the surrounding states that don't have access to the same rocks we do to create their products.
In Cougar Buttes, which is a part of Lucerne Valley, there is what was left behind from a rock quarry that was quarrying granite, an igneous intrusive rock. It is a unique sight to see because there are all these slabs of granite piled up.
Works Cited
Cougar Buttes, https://digital-desert.com/cougar-buttes/.
“The West's Largest Calcium Carbonate Producer: Lucerne Valley Limestone Province, Southern California.” Lucerne Valley Limestone Province, http://www.lucernevalley.net/history/mining.htm#:~:text=The%20Lucerne%20Valley%20Limestone%20Province,%2C%20high%2Dgrade%20calcite%20limestone.
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