PURWANCHAL VIDYAMANDIR
Session: 2021 - 2022
Class: IX
Subject: Geography
Study Material: 3
Materials of the Earth’s Crust: ROCKS
A rock can be defined as an aggregate of minerals that forms more or less a definite unit of the Earth’s crust.
Minerals are naturally occurring solid inorganic substances having definite chemical composition and
physical properties.
TYPES OF ROCKS
Rocks differ from each other in colour, texture or origin. On the basis of their mode of formation/origin,
rocks can be classified as igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks.
IGNEOUS ROCKS:
The word ‘Igneous’ is derived from the Latin word ‘ignis’, meaning fire. These rocks were formed due to
cooling, solidification and crystallisation of hot molten material of the earth known as magma, found at great
depths in the interior of the Earth.
Classification of Igneous Rocks:
According to Mode of Origin, Igneous Rocks are of two types- Intrusive Igneous rocks & Extrusive Igneous
rocks.
Intrusive Igneous Rocks: Cooling and solidification of magma within the Earth’s crust leads to the
formation of coarse textured intrusive igneous rocks. E.g.: granite, gabbro, dolomite etc. When the magma
solidifies below the earth’s surface, it forms different types of intrusive landforms like: batholiths, sills and
dykes.
❖ SILLS: when magma is being forced upwards, some of it may push its way in between two layers of
rock and get solidified there. The intrusive rock this formed is called sill and is almost horizontal.
❖ DYKES: Magma also forces its way before reaching the main fissure, trying to go up, but gets
solidified before reaching the surface. These intrusive rocks, lying in a slanting direction as an
offshoot are called dykes.
❖ BATHOLITHS: They are deep-seated intrusion of igneous rocks. They are usually dome-shaped,
with no definite floor and they form cores of mountain ranges (Bathos meaning depth).
Extrusive Igneous Rocks: They are formed by the cooling of lava on the Earth’s surface. The lava which is
brought to the surface through fissures or volcanic eruptions, solidifies to form rocks. Hence, such rocks are
smooth, crystalline and fine grained. Basalt is a common extrusive igneous rock and other examples include:
gabbro, feldspar, pumice, scomia and obsidian.
According to Chemical Composition, Igneous Rocks are of two types- Acidic Igneous rocks & Basic
Igneous rocks.
Acidic Igneous Rocks: Acidic rocks are light coloured and less dense. These rocks have a silica content
between 65 to 85 per cent. They generally lack in iron and magnesium. Granite is acidic igneous rock; it is
made up of large crystals of quartz, feldspar and mica. It is commonly used as a building material.
Basic Igneous Rocks: Basic rocks are denser and darker in colour than acidic rocks. They have higher
percentage of oxides of denser elements and silica content varies between 40 to 60 per cent. Basalt, dolerite
and gabbro are typical examples of this group.
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS:
Sedimentary is derived from a Latin word ‘sedimentum’ which means ‘settling down’. Denudation is the
disintegration and decomposition of rocks, as well as the wearing away of the surface of the land.
Consequently, the rocks are formed in layers from the raw materials provided by the processes of
weathering, erosion, transportation and deposition. The loose particles get consolidated or compacted into
sedimentary rocks by the presence of cementing substances like lime or the presence of overlying deposits.
Lithification is the cementation, compaction and hardening of sediments into sedimentary rocks.
Classification of Sedimentary Rocks:
According to nature of sediments, origin, composition and mode of formation, sedimentary rocks are of
three types: mechanically formed, chemically formed and organically formed.
Mechanically formed rocks: These contain fragments from breaking up of other rocks. These sediments
are also called clastic sediments. The breaking up of older rocks takes place through denudation by agents
like river, glaciers and wind. Mechanically formed rocks include shale, sandstone, clay and conglomerates.
Chemically formed rocks: These are formed by then direct precipitation of mineral matter from solution.
The accumulation takes place in lakes and lagoons. They are compacted through evaporation. For example:
gypsum, rock salt and potash. Rock salt is found in Dead Sea, Aral Sea as well as Sambhar Lake in
Rajasthan.
Organically formed rocks: These rocks contain remains of dead plants and animals. Limestone (or
calcareous rocks) is formed by decomposition of skeletons, shells and animal remains. It contains large
proportions of lime. The rocks like peat, lignite, bituminous and anthracite are termed as carbonaceous
rocks. Other types of organically formed rocks are siliceous rocks, formed due to the dominance of silica
content. Chalk is a form of carbonate rocks. It is formed due to precipitation of carbonate materials.
METAMORPHIC ROCKS:
The word Metamorphic is derived from the word ‘metamorphose’ which means change in form. These rocks
were once igneous or sedimentary and then underwent change through physical or chemical processes. The
factors that take part in changing the form of rocks are composed of minerals, these may change their
composition and texture under great pressure and temperature.
The process of metamorphism may be of three types: thermal, dynamic and regional.
Thermal Metamorphism: It occurs when the transformation of the original rock takes place due to the
influence of high temperature. For example, slate is formed from clay, and graphite from coal. The heat may
be from hot magma or from the pressure of overlying rock layers.
Dynamic Metamorphism: It occurs when the transformation takes place mainly because of pressure at a
great depth within the earth’s crust. Chemically active hot gases while passing through the rocks change
their chemical composition. Under conditions of this change, minerals get arranged in a series of bands
known as foliation.
Regional Metamorphism: Due to mountain building process, igneous and sedimentary rocks are buried
deep inside the crust. The pressure of overlying rocks and the intense heat caused by large-scale earth
movements transform such rocks. Such a process is known as the regional metamorphism. When a small
area is affected by such a change its known as local or contact metamorphism.
ROCK CYCLE
The rock cycle is not only the relationship between the three types of rocks- igneous, sedimentary and
metamorphic, but, also how, when and where the changes that they undergo take place, to what extent and
how these changes are interrelated.
ASSIGNMENT
1. Give reasons for the following:
a. Igneous rocks are also called primary rocks.
b. Sedimentary rocks are called stratified rocks.
c. Silicates are the most common rock forming minerals.
d. The Dead Sea abounds in chemically formed sedimentary rocks.
[Link] between the following:
a. Volcanic and Plutonic Rocks
b. Sills and Dykes
c. Acid Igneous Rocks and Basic Igneous Rocks
d. Thermal and Dynamic Metamorphism
[Link] in brief:
a. Why are igneous rocks crystalline? Explain the difference between extrusive and intrusive rocks.
b. Why are sedimentary rocks also called secondary rocks? Define Lithification.
c. State the properties of metamorphic rocks. Why are metamorphic rocks called so?
d. Briefly explain the rock cycle with a suitable diagram.