Chapter 6

Rocks

Short Answer Questions

Question 1

State two points of distinction between rocks and minerals.

Answer

Rocks Minerals

Rocks are Minerals are solid

aggregates of inorganic
mineral substances
elements. occurring naturally.

A rock has no Minerals have a

definite chemical definite chemical
composition. composition.

Question 2

Name any three elements of the earth's crust.

Answer

Three elements of the earth's crust are iron, silicon and aluminium.
Question 3

Name three types of rocks.

Answer

Three types of rocks are-

1. Igneous rocks
2. Sedimentary rocks
3. Metamorphic rocks

Question 4

Give two differences between Extrusive Igneous and Intrusive Igneous rocks.

Answer

Extrusive Igneous Intrusive

rocks Igneous rocks

They are formed by They are formed

the cooling of when magma
molten magma on solidifies within
the earth's surface. the earth's crust.

These rocks are

These rocks are
coarse textured,
smooth, crystalline
hard rocks with
and fine grained.
large crystals.

For example- For example-

Basalt Granite
Question 5

Name any two characteristics of Igneous Rocks.

Answer

Two characteristics of Igneous Rocks are-

1. They are hard and compact.

2. They are formed by solidification of molten magma.

Question 6

State two characteristics of Basic Igneous Rocks.

Answer

Two characteristics of Basic Igneous Rocks are-

1. They have higher percentage of oxides of denser elements and silica

content varies between 40 to 60 percent.
2. It is heavy and dark in colour.

Question 7

Name two important landforms made by Igneous Rocks.

Answer

Two important landforms made by Igneous Rocks are lava sheets and lava
plateaus.

Question 8

What are Sills? Give an example.

Answer

Sometimes magma flows between layers of rocks horizontally. It then hardens

there. This layer of intrusive rock is called sill. For example- Archuleta Mesa in
southern Colorado.
Question 9

Which rocks are associated with ores of metals and which rocks are associated
with fossil fuels?

Answer

Igneous rocks are associated with ores of metals and sedimentary rocks are
associated with fossil fuels.

Question 10

Mention any two characteristics of Sedimentary Rocks.

Answer

Two characteristics of Sedimentary Rocks are-

1. Sedimentary rocks are formed from materials derived from other rocks.
They may also have plant and animal remains. These rocks may thus
contain fossils.
2. Sedimentary rocks are generally soft and layered as they are formed by
deposition of sediments.

Question 11

Name the rocks which are most widespread on the earth. Give two examples.

Answer
Sedimentary rocks are most widespread on the earth. Examples of sedimentary
rocks are Gypsum and sand stone.

Question 12

Name the three stages of lithification of Sedimentary rocks.

Answer

The three stages of lithification of Sedimentary rocks are-

 1. Evaporation
2. Compaction
3. Cementation

Question 13

Name the types of Sedimentary rocks based on agents of formation.

Answer

The types of Sedimentary rocks based on agents of formation are-

1. Riverine rocks
2. Lacustrine rocks
3. Glacial rocks
4. Aeolian rocks
5. Marine rocks

Question 14

Which agents are responsible for deposition of sediments?

Answer

The main agents responsible for deposition of sediments are water, wind and ice.

Question 15

What are known as metamorphic rocks? Give two examples.

Answer

Metamorphic rocks are formed by complete change of texture and composition of

pre-existing rocks through volcanism and diastrophism. For example, slate is
formed from clay and graphite from coal.

Question 16

Briefly define Mechanical Metamorphism.

Answer

Mechanical metamorphism is the mechanical transformation of pre-existing rocks,

in which texture of rocks is changed by crushing and rubbing processes associated
with heat and compression created by mechanical action.

Distinguish between each of the following

Question 1

Plutonic and Volcanic rocks.

Answer

Plutonic rock Volcanic rock

They are also

They are also called
called intrusive
extrusive rocks.
rocks.

They are formed They are formed by

when magma the cooling of
solidifies within molten magma on
the earth's crust. the earth's surface.

These rocks are

These rocks are
coarse textured,
smooth, crystalline
hard rocks with
and fine grained.
large crystals.

For example-
For example- basalt
granite
Question 2

Thermal and Dynamic Metamorphism.

Answer

Thermal Dynamic
Metamorphism Metamorphism

It occurs when the

It occurs when the
transformation
transformation of
occurs mainly
the original rock
because of
takes place due to
pressure at a great
the influence of
depth within the
high temperature.
earth's crust.

For example-
marbles used in
For example- slate
Taj Mahal at Agra
is formed from
are
clay
metamorphised
from Dolomites.

Question 3

Sills and Dykes.

Answer
 Sills Dykes

The magma
Sometimes magma when forced
flows between upwards fills
layers of rocks vertical cracks or
horizontally and fissures in
hardens there. This existing rocks
layer of intrusive and then
rock is called sills. hardens there to
form dykes.

Sill is a layer like Dyke is a wall

mass. like mass.

Question 4

Calcarious and Carbonacious rocks.

Answer

Carbonacious
Calcarious rocks
rocks

These rocks are These rocks are

formed by the formed by the sea
deposition of plants which
shells and remain buried for a
skeletons of sea very long time .
organisms like
 Carbonacious
Calcarious rocks
rocks

corals, oysters
etc.

For example- For example- coal,

chalk, limestone. peat.

Question 5

Acid Igneous Rocks and Basic Igneous Rocks.

Answer

Acid Igneous Basic Igneous

Rocks Rocks

These rocks have

These rocks have
higher percentage
silica content
of oxides of denser
between 65% to
elements and
85 %. They lack in
silica content
iron and
varies between
magnesium.
40% to 60%.

For example- For example-

granite. basalt
Structured Questions

Question 1(a)

Distinguish between rocks and minerals.

Answer

Rocks Minerals

Rocks are Minerals are solid

aggregates of inorganic
mineral substances
elements. occurring naturally.

A rock has no
Minerals have a
definite
definite chemical
chemical
composition.
composition.

Elements are
Minerals are organised to form
organised to compounds which
form rocks. are known as
minerals.

For example-
For example- iron,
basalt, granite
silicon etc.
etc.

Question 1(b)

Describe how igneous rocks are formed. State their main characteristics.
Answer

Igneous rocks are formed due to cooling, solidification and crystallisation of

magma found at great depths in the interior of the earth.

The main characteristics of igneous rocks are-

1. They are hard and compact.

2. They are formed by solidification of molten magma.
3. They are granular and crystalline.
4. They are either fine grained, smooth and compact or may have large
crystals with coarse texture.
5. The size of their crystals depends upon the rate of cooling of the molten
material.
6. These rocks are less affected by chemical weathering because water
does not percolate in these rocks.
7. Most of them consist of silicates.
8. They do not have layers. They are generally weathered by mechanical
weathering.
9. They are associated with volcanic activity and are found mostly in
volcanic regions.

Question 1(c)

Give a reason for each of the following:

(i) Igneous rocks also called the primary rocks.

(ii) Igneous rocks are used by builders and sculptors.

(iii) Sedimentary rocks are called secondary rocks.

Answer

(i) Igneous rocks also called the primary rocks as they form the basis of formation
of other types of rocks.

(ii) Igneous rocks are used by builders and sculptors because these rocks are easily
available, economical, and feasible in nature. These rocks are very strong, which is
considered the best option for the construction of strong structured statues and
buildings.

(iii) Sedimentary rocks are called secondary rocks because they are formed by the
solidification of sediments of original igneous, sedimentary or metamorphic parent
rocks.

Question 1(d)

Study the picture. Identify the rocks formed in case of A, B and C. Give reasons to
support your answer.
Answer
 1. A — Rock A is Extrusive Igneous rock. This is because it is located on the
surface of the Earth, where lava has flowed out through fissure and
solidified.

2. B — Rock B is a Dyke. This is because magma when forced upwards fills

vertical cracks or fissures in existing rocks. It then hardens there to form
dykes.

3. C — Rock C is a Sill. This is because magma flows between layers of rocks

horizontally and then hardens there. This layer of intrusive rock is called
Sill.

Question 2(a)

How are sedimentary rocks formed?

Answer

When igneous rocks are exposed on the surface of the earth, they are broken down
by weathering and carried away by forces of gradation. They are then deposited as
sediments over long periods in seas, lakes, streams etc. Subsequent layers are
added and due to their own weight from above, the sediments get cemented
together to form sedimentary rocks.

Question 2(b)

Explain the formation of sedimentary rocks on the basis of agents of formation.

Answer
There are five main types of sedimentary rocks on the basis of agents of formation:

1. Riverine Rocks — These are formed by the sediments deposited by

running water or river.
2. Lacustrine Rocks — These are formed by the deposition of silt etc on
the bed of lakes.
3. Glacial Rocks — These are formed by the debris carried on and
deposited by glaciers.
4. Aeolean Rocks — These are formed by the deposition of sand particles
accumulated by wind.
 5. Marine Rocks — These are formed by the deposition of sediments at
the ocean floor. These are of two types- Calcarious sedimentary rocks
and Carbonaceous sedimentary rocks.

Question 2(c)

Give a reason for each of the following:

(i) Mechanically formed sedimentary rocks are also termed as stratified rocks.

(ii) Rocks like peat, lignite and anthracite are called carbonaceous rocks.

(iii) Fossils are present in sedimentary rocks.

Answer

(i) Mechanically formed sedimentary rocks are also termed as stratified rocks
because such rocks are formed in layers.

(ii) Rocks like peat, lignite and anthracite are mainly made out of carbon
composition (almost 60-90%). Due to this majority of carbon composition in these
rocks, these rocks are known as carbonaceous rocks.

(iii) Fossils are found in sedimentary rocks, where gentler pressure and lower
temperature allows preservation of past life-forms. Fossils become a part of
sedimentary rocks when sediments such as mud, sand, shells and pebbles cover
plant and animal organisms and preserve their characteristics through time.

Question 2(d)

What is metamorphism? What are its causes? Give an example of rocks formed by
heat and pressure.

Answer

Metamorphism refers to the alteration of the composition or structure of a rock by

heat, pressure or other natural agency. Metamorphism is caused by heat and
pressure.
For example- graphite.
Question 3(a)

State the chief characteristics of metamorphic rocks.

Answer

The chief characteristics of metamorphic rocks are-

1. They are harder and more compact than their original form.
2. Most of them are impermeable.
3. They do not have fossils.
4. They are formed due to change in texture and composition of the pre-
existing rocks.
5. New minerals are formed during the process of metamorphosis.

Question 3(b)

State the economic significance of rocks.

Answer

The economic significance of rocks are-

1. Rocks are of great resource value, some directly and some as

constituents of minerals.
2. Soils are derived from weathering of rocks.
3. Almost all types of building materials used for paving roads, floors or
building walls of houses or various other structures including bridges
come from rocks.
4. Rocks are a source of precious metals like gold, silver, platinum etc.
5. Apart from minerals and fossil fuels, even rock wastes have now been
used in manufacturing various articles.

Question 3(c)

What is Rock Cycle? How does it keep the earth young?

Answer
Rocks undergo cyclic transformation. The continuous process of transformation of
old rocks into new ones is known as rock cycle. The cycle may also pass through
the process of formation of sedimentary, metamorphic and igneous rocks.

To keep the earth young, rocks melt again resulting in the formation of igneous
rock. This disintegrated material again forms sedimentary rock, which takes
hundreds and thousands of years.

Question 3(d)

Draw a well labelled diagram of Rock Cycle.

Answer