Rock Cycle Diagram: Labeled With 3 Rock Types
Type the diagram you need and generate a labeled, textbook-style rock cycle diagram in seconds, or study the reference diagram and the three rock types below.
The full cycle, labeled
Five stations, five process arrows, and the two shortcut paths — drawn and labeled correctly.
The three rock types
Igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic explained with how each forms and an example.
Generate your own
Describe the diagram you need and get a labeled version to check against.
Rock cycle diagram
The Rock Cycle, Labeled
The diagram below shows the full rock cycle: magma, the three rock types, sediments, and the processes that connect them. Each arrow carries the name of the process that turns one stage into the next.
- Igneous rock
- Forms when magma or lava cools and solidifies. Granite and basalt are examples — fast cooling gives fine grains, slow cooling gives large crystals.
- Sedimentary rock
- Forms when sediments are compacted and cemented together over millions of years. Sandstone and limestone are examples, often showing layers and fossils.
- Metamorphic rock
- Forms when existing rock is transformed by heat and pressure without melting. Marble and slate are examples, showing the wavy bands of foliation.
Beyond the three types
What Else the Diagram Shows
Most courses require the three rock types and five processes, but these three facts complete the picture.
- Magma
- Molten rock underground — called lava once it erupts. It is the cycle’s starting point, and any rock can melt back into it.
- Sediments
- Broken-down bits of rock produced by weathering and erosion, carried by rivers and wind, and deposited in layers.
- The shortcuts
- The cycle is a web, not a strict circle: igneous rock can become metamorphic directly, and metamorphic rock can crumble straight into sediments.
Quick reference
Every Arrow in One Table
All five processes in one table — note that weathering, heat & pressure, and melting can start from any rock type. This table answers most rock cycle questions.
| From | Process | To |
|---|---|---|
| Magma | Cooling | Igneous rock |
| Any rock | Weathering & erosion | Sediments |
| Sediments | Compaction & cementation | Sedimentary rock |
| Any rock | Heat & pressure | Metamorphic rock |
| Any rock | Melting | Magma |
How it works
Make your own rock cycle diagram
- Step 1
Describe the diagram
Say which stations, arrows, and labels you need, and the level of detail.
- Step 2
Generate the labeled diagram
The generator draws the cycle with process labels on every arrow in textbook style.
- Step 3
Refine and export
Check each arrow against the table above, ask for corrections, then export.
FAQ
Rock cycle questions
What is a rock cycle diagram?+
A rock cycle diagram shows how the three rock types — igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic — change into one another over geological time. Five labeled arrows name the processes: cooling, weathering & erosion, compaction & cementation, heat & pressure, and melting.
What are the three types of rock?+
Igneous rock forms when magma or lava cools; sedimentary rock forms when sediments are compacted and cemented; metamorphic rock forms when existing rock is changed by heat and pressure without melting.
How does igneous rock become sedimentary rock?+
In two steps: weathering and erosion break the igneous rock into sediments, which are transported and deposited; then compaction and cementation bind the sediments into sedimentary rock.
Can sedimentary rock become igneous rock?+
Yes, but never directly. It must first melt into magma — either straight away or after becoming metamorphic rock — and the magma then cools into new igneous rock.
What is the difference between metamorphic and igneous rock?+
Metamorphic rock forms when rock changes under heat and pressure without melting. The moment it melts, it stops being metamorphic and becomes magma — which cools into igneous rock.
Can I create my own rock cycle diagram?+
Yes. With AcaDraw you describe the stations and labels you need and the generator creates a labeled diagram you can refine and export. The free plan is enough to try it; free-plan exports include a watermark.
Method and references
How this page was prepared
The diagram and the one-line explanations follow standard introductory geology references, including OpenGeology and the USGS. The figure is a product-generated teaching draft; it has not been independently peer-reviewed, so check anything critical against your course materials.
Last reviewed: 2026-10-07
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