The rock cycle is a conceptual model describing the transformation of rocks through various geological processes, including the formation of igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks. This cycle is crucial for understanding the dynamic nature of Earth’s crust and the processes that recycle materials over geological time scales.
Reference: Skinner, B. J., & Porter, S. C. (2004). “The Dynamic Earth: An Introduction to Physical Geology.” Wiley.