ROCKS
DEFINITION
A rock by a simple definition is a solid with more than
one component of a mineral or mineraloid.
A single crystal is not a rock but crystals that are joined
together even if they are same mineral are technically a
rock.
IMPORTANCE OF ROCKS
The General Character of the landscape.
The development of particular landforms
The nature and qualities of soils
The occurrence of mineral wealth
The availability of building material
The quality and quantity of surface and sub-surface water supply.
CLASSIFICATION OF ROCKS
Igneous Rocks
Sedimentary Rocks
Metamorphic Rocks
IGNEOUS ROCKS
Igneous rocks are produced by the crystallization of molten Magma. Magma is
formed when rock is heated to high temperature (between 625 and 1200 Celsius)
beneath the earth surface. The word igneous means fire. Hence sometimes it is
called fire rocks.
If magma cools and hardens inside the earth it is called intrusive rock. These rocks
cool slowly and have large crystals. When the magma comes out of earths crust
through a volcano it is called extrusive. It cools off quickly and the crystals are
small.
IGNEOUS ROCKS
Molten or hot , liquid rock is called Magma when it is still inside the earth but once
it comes out through a volcano it is called lava.
CLASSIFICATION OF IGNEOUS ROCKS
A. On the Basis of the composition of magma
ACID MAGMA BASIC MAGMA
• It is rich in Si, Na, K, and poor in Ca, Mg • It is rich in Ca, Mg and Fe , and poor in Si,
and Fe. Na, K.
• Light in color • Dark in color
• Low specific gravity • High specific Gravity
• High portion of minerals like quartz, • High portion of minerals like augite,
feldspar etc. hornblende etc.
CLASSIFICATION OF IGNEOUS ROCKS
B. On the Basis of the Silica content
Ultra Basic rocks
Basic Rocks
Intermediate Rocks
Acid rocks
CLASSIFICATION OF IGNEOUS ROCKS
C. On the Basis of mode of occurrence
Plutonic Rocks
Volcanic Rocks
Hypabyssal Rocks
CLASSIFICATION OF IGNEOUS ROCKS
D. On the Basis of Texture
Glassy
Aphanitic
Phaneritic
Pegmatitic
Porphyritic
DIFFERENT TYPES OF IGNEOUS BODIES
COMMON IGNEOUS ROCKS
Name Chemistry Minerals Color Texture Origin Figure
Mostly
plagioclase,
White with
Diorite Intermediate fledspars Phaneritic plutonic
dark specs
and little or
no quartz
Plagioclase Glassy,
Generally
Basalt Basic and Vascular and volcanic
black
pyroxenes porphyntic
COMMON USES OF IGNEOUS ROCKS
Granites are extensively used as building stones for structural as well as
decorative ,monumental and architectural purposes. They are the strongest
available stones. Poor varieties of granites are used as road materials.
Diorites have been used more for crushed stone and for monumental and also for
decorative purposes.
The Hawaiian island and most of the ocean floor is made of Basalt.
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
Sedimentary rocks are formed by the deposition and consolidation of ‘New
Sediments’ in layers over the pre-existing rocks.
The new sediments are in fact eroded away from some old rocks by weathering
and are transported by agents like wind , water, ice etc.
These eroded sediments after traveling some distance may get deposited over
some existing rocks which on consolidation will result in the formation of what are
known as Sedimentary rocks.
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
1. Stratification and bedding:
a. Rhythmic Layering b. Cross Bedding c. Graded Bedding
d. Non-sorted Sediments
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
2. Surface Features:
c. Rain drops
d. Fossils
a. Ripple Mrks b. Mud cracks
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
3. Color:
Iron oxides and sulfides along with buried organic matter give rocks a dark color .
Deposition in oxidizing environment produces red colored iron oxides.
METAMORPHISM
Metamorphism is defined as a process or
phenomena by which the existing rocks are
modified texturally structurally and mineralogically
under the influence of factors such as heat,
pressure, and hot chemically active fluids such as
water.
METAMORPHISM
1. Heat:
Heat is an important agent in metamorphic modification of rock .
Rocks begin to change chemically at temperature above 200 Degree Celsius.
At this temperature, the crystalline structure of the minerals in the rock are
broken down and transformed using different combinations of the available
elements and compounds. As a result new minerals are created.
The process stops when the temperatures become high enough to cause
complete melting of rocks.
METAMORPHISM
2. Pressure:
Rock that are buried subjected to pressure because of the weight of overlying
materials.
Pressure can also be exerted on rocks due the forces involved in a variety of
tectonic processes.
The most obvious effect of pressure on rocks is the reorientation of mineral
crystals.
METAMORPHISM
3. Chemical Action of Fluids
Water and Carbon dioxide are often found in small amounts in the perimeter
between mineral crystals or in the pore space of rocks.
When mixed , the resulting fluid enhances metamorphism by dissolving ions and
by causing chemical reactions.
Usually the end product of the process is the creation of new minerals by the
substitution, removal or addition of chemicals.
METAMORPHIC ROCKS
A metamorphic rock is a result of a transformation of a pre-
existing rock.
The original rock is subjected to very high heat and pressure,
which cause obvious physical and/or chemical changes.
Examples of these rock types include marble, slate, gneiss,
schist.
COMMON METAMORPHIC ROCKS
[Link]:
Low-grade metamorphism of shale or
pyroclastic igneous rock.
Aphanitic
Slaty cleavage.
Composed predominantly of small
colorless mica flakes and some chlorite.
Variety of colors.
COMMON METAMORPHIC ROCKS
2. MARBLE:
Granular texture.
Unfoliated; No rock cleavage
Derived from contact or regional
metamorphism of limestone or dolomite.
Essentially composed of calcite or dolomite.
Snow white color when pure; Impurities
account for wide variety of colors.
COMMON METAMORPHIC ROCKS
3. QUARTZITE:
Derived from metamorphism of
quartz rich sandstone.
Metamorphism of any grade.
Unfoliated.
Pure quartzite is white.
COMMON METAMORPHIC ROCKS
4. GNEISS
Most commonly formed during high
grade regional metamorphism.
Granular.
Banded appearance, component
minerals arranged in parallel layers.
Exhibits rock cleavage but far less
pronounced than in schists.
ROCK CYCLE
THE END