Māris kļaviņŠ, azamat azizov, JĀnis zaļoksnis environment, pollution, development: the case of uzbekistan

Figure 4.14. 
Layers 
of sedimentary rocks 
(Devon, the UK). 
Sedimentary rocks 
have originated from 
the transformation 
of minerals from the 
Earth’s solid crust. They 
moved with water flows 
and were deposited 
in waterbodies. The 
different composition 
of layers is evidence 
for environmental 
condition changes 
in the atmosphere, 
hydrosphere and 
biosphere.
Sediment litification
Heat and pressure
Heat and pressure
Come to the
Earth’s surface
Come to the
Earth’s surface
Weathering and erosion
Accumulation of sedimentary rocks 
in the continents and oceans
SEDIMENTS
Cooling
Heat and pressure increases
SEDIMENTARY
ROCKS
METAMORPHIC
ROCKS
Melting
MAGMA
IGNEOUS
ROCKS
Figure 4.15. 
Rock cycle

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60 
ENVIRONMENT, POLLUTION, DEVELOPMENT:  THE CASE OF UZBEKISTAN
Accordingly,  different  minerals  have  quite  different  roles  in  the 
formation of the Earth’s crust. Some minerals are enduring and 
stable, and they have remained intact throughout the environ ment, 
pressure and temperature changes. Others, in contrast, are dynamic, 
have repeatedly changed their mineral form and play an active role 
in the transformations of the composition and properties of the 
Earth’s crust. This process is called the rock cycle (Figure 4.15), and 
for stable minerals it can last for billions of years.