The Rock Cycle 3D Lab

The Rock Cycle 3D Lab links large-scale tectonic and surface processes in Earth's crust to the microscopic mineral textures of rocks. On the left, a 3D geological cross-section features a glowing underground magma pluton, an erupting volcano cone, a layered sedimentary basin, and a deep metamorphic heat-and-pressure zone. On the right, a rotating 3D rock specimen inside a magnifier ring displays procedural mineral textures for coarse intrusive Granite, fine extrusive Basalt, layered clastic Sandstone, and banded foliated Gneiss. Students drag the specimen marker between crust stations or adjust depth and cooling/pressure sliders to see real-time changes in temperature, pressure, and crystal texture.

• Drag the golden Specimen Marker between the deep Magma Pluton and the surface Volcano Cone to compare slow-cooled coarse Granite with rapid-cooled fine Basalt.
• Move the marker to the Sedimentary Basin to inspect stratified quartz sand beds formed by weathering, deposition, compaction, and cementation.
• Drag the marker down into the deep Metamorphic Zone (24 km depth) to see how intense heat and directed pressure recrystallise rock into foliated Gneiss.
• Click or drag the large 3D Specimen inside the cyan magnifier ring to rotate it and compare grain sizes, vesicles, bedding planes, and gneissic banding.

1. 1Classify rocks into igneous (intrusive and extrusive), sedimentary, and metamorphic based on their formation process.
2. 2Explain why slow underground cooling of magma produces large visible crystals (phaneritic granite) whereas rapid surface lava cooling produces tiny crystals (aphanitic basalt).
3. 3Describe how weathering, erosion, deposition, compaction, and cementation transform pre-existing rocks into clastic sedimentary strata.
4. 4Explain how high temperature and directed tectonic pressure create foliated metamorphic banding without melting the rock.

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