The correct option is (b).
Explanation
The rock cycle is a continuous geological process describing how rocks change from one type to another through various processes such as cooling, weathering, erosion, deposition, lithification, metamorphism, and melting.Statement 1 is Incorrect: Igneous rocks can change into sedimentary rocks. When igneous rocks are exposed to the surface, they undergo weathering and erosion by agents like wind, water, and ice. The resulting fragments (sediments) are transported, deposited, and lithified to form sedimentary rocks.
Statement 2 is Correct: Sedimentary rocks can transform into metamorphic rocks. When sedimentary rocks are subjected to intense heat and pressure (usually due to tectonic activity or burial deep within the Earth), their mineral composition and texture change without melting, resulting in metamorphic rocks.
Statement 3 is Incorrect: Metamorphic rocks can melt. If metamorphic rocks are subjected to temperatures high enough to exceed their melting point, they melt to form magma. This magma eventually cools and solidifies to form igneous rocks, completing the cycle.
Key Takeaway: The rock cycle is a closed system where any rock type (Igneous, Sedimentary, or Metamorphic) can transform into any other type, including itself, given the specific geological conditions of heat, pressure, weathering, or melting.