The diagram below is a version of the rock cycle, modified from the one that appears in your text (Murck, Skinner and Porter, Fig. 1-19, p. 35).  A copy of this modified rock cycle will be distributed to you, so that you can see the details more clearly.  (NOTE: You may click on image for higher resolution, suitable for printing.)

There are different ways of portraying the rock cycle.  This becomes apparent when you compare representations of the rock cycle in different text books.  In general, rock cycles serve the purpose of portraying the relationships between geologic MATERIALS and PROCESSES.  In the version of the rock cycle shown above, the materials are shown in the baloons, and the processes are shown as the bold arrows.  Materials are transformed by the processes indicated by the arrows, only in directions indicated by the arrows.

The exercises in this lab are self-explanatory, and designed to familiarize you with geologic materials and how they are related by geologic processes to one and other. There are two problems for you to work through. In each problem, you will be describing a sequence of materials and processes, which collectively constitute a geologic history. For each problem, list on a piece of paper the sequence of materials and processes.  Then trace the sequence on your paper copy of the rock cycle.  A highlighter works well.  Where part of the sequence traces over an earlier part of the sequence, draw the later part of the trace outside the earlier one.

Start here:

Problem 1:  Step-by-step sequence of events, starting at a specific condition in the rock cycle.

Problem 2:  Interpreting the intermediate sequence of materials and processes from specific starting and ending conditions.