The Rock Cycle Rock – a naturally occurring solid mixture of one or more minerals or organic material Rock cycle – the continual process by which new rock forms from old rock material Erosion – the process by which wind, water, ice, or gravity moves soil and sediment from one location to another Deposition – process in which sediment moved by erosion is dropped and comes to a rest Uplift – is movement within the Earth that causes rocks inside the Earth to be moved to the Earth’s surface Composition – the chemical makeup of a rock: describes either the minerals or other materials in the rock