What is the order of the rocks in terms of their formation and transformations?

Explanation:

To understand the order in which the listed rocks come, it is important to know the three main rock types: igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks. Igneous rocks, such as granite and basalt, form from the cooling and solidification of magma or lava. Sedimentary rocks, including shale, conglomerate, limestone, and sandstone, form from the compaction and cementation of rock fragments or precipitation of minerals from water. Metamorphic rocks like gneiss and schist originate from the transformation of existing rocks under heat and pressure conditions.

Based on this information, we can infer that the order of these rocks, from the original igneous state through the sedimentary process and subsequent metamorphic transformation, is:

1. Basalt [an igneous rock from cooled lava]
2. Granite [an igneous rock usually from cooled magma]
3. Shale [a sedimentary rock from compacted mud]
4. Sandstone [a sedimentary rock from compacted sand]
5. Limestone [a sedimentary rock from compacted marine organisms and sediment]
6. Conglomerate [a sedimentary rock from cemented gravel and stone]
7. Schist [a metamorphic rock that may originate from shale]
8. Gneiss [a metamorphic rock that often forms from granite or schist]