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Beginner · 3 min

Trace more than one possible path

The rock cycle describes connections among rock-forming processes, not a compulsory sequence. An igneous rock may weather into sediment or undergo metamorphism. A sedimentary rock may also weather again before it is buried deeply. The route depends on conditions and history, so a rock does not have to pass through every rock type.

Practice

Must every igneous rock become sedimentary before it becomes metamorphic?