Rock Identification Name __________________________________

The Identification of Rocks

This lab introduces the identification of igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks
based on mineralogy (composition) and texture.

I. Classification of Igneous Rocks

Textures of Igneous Rocks

For igneous rocks, texture refers to the size, shape and geometry of adjacent minerals
in a rock. The texture of an igneous rock is predominantly controlled by composition of
the magma/lava and the cooling rate (intrusive v. extrusive).

Phaneritic Texture (coarse grained)

Individual crystals are all large enough to be visible to the
naked eye and are all approximately the same size.

Porphyritic-Phaneritic Texture
There are two distinct crystal sizes where both populations of
crystals are large enough to be visible to the naked eye. The
smaller crystals constitute a matrix or groundmass and the larger
crystals are known as phenocrysts.

Aphanitic Texture (fine grained)

Individual crystals are so small that they are not visible to the
naked eye

Porphyritic-Aphanitic Texture
There are two distinct crystal sizes where the smaller
groundmass crystals are too small the be visible to the naked eye
and the larger phenocrysts are visible to the naked eye.

Vesicular Texture
The sample contains cavities (known as vesicles) from escaping
gas. Vesicular texture is common in extrusive rocks and is not a
primary texture. Rocks with vesicular texture are commonly
aphanitic or porphyritic-aphanitic in texture. Phaneritic rocks are
never vesicular.

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Glassy Texture
Has a glassy appearance and may
occur as a massive rock or have a
thread-like mesh that resembles spun
glass.

Pyroclastic Texture
Consists of broken, angular fragments of ash, glass, pumice
and broken crystals.

Mineralogy of Igneous Rocks

USGS

There are three major mineralogic criteria used to classify igneous rocks:
1. presence or absence of quartz - quartz is an essential component of felsic rocks.
2. composition of feldspars - orthoclase (potassium feldspar) and Na-rich plagioclase
feldspar are essential minerals in felsic rocks. Ca-rich plagioclase feldspar is
characteristic of mafic rocks.
3. proportions of ferromagnesium minerals - mafic rocks are rich in ferromagnesium
minerals. Olivine is restricted to mafic and ultramafic rocks. Pyroxene is present in

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mafic to ultramafic rocks. Amphibole is most common in intermediate rocks but may
occur as an accessory mineral in felsic and mafic rocks. Biotite is a common
accessory mineral in felsic to intermediate rocks.

Recognizing Common Minerals in Igneous Rocks

Mineral Properties

K-feldspar (feldspar Usually white to pink/orange

group) Equidimensional crystals

Plagioclase (feldspar Usually white (in Na-rich varieties) to dark gray (in Ca-rick
group) varieties).
Equidimensional crystals
Crystals may show striations

Quartz Colorless to gray

Irregular crystal shape
May form equidimensional crystals as phenocrysts in
extrusive rocks

Biotite (mica group) Shiny and black

One perfect direction of cleavage
Forms platy crystals

Muscovite (mica Shiny and silvery to tan

group) One perfect direction of cleavage
Forms platy crystals

Hornblende Black with shiny, splintery appearance

(amphibole group) Elongate crystals

Augite (pyroxene Black to greenish black to brownish black

group) Glassy to dull luster
Blocky crystals

Olivine Light green to yellow-green

Glassy luster
Small equidimensional crystals

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II. The Identification of Sedimentary Rocks

The two types of sediment that are produced by weathering are the basis for classifying
sedimentary rocks into two categories:
1. Detritral sedimentary rocks are made from solid particles derived from outside the
depositional basis
2. Chemical sedimentary rocks are formed by precipitation of ions from solution within
the depositional basin.

Detrital Sedimentary Rocks

Detrital rocks predominantly consist of fragments (rock fragments and mineral grains)
that are the debris from other rocks. Detrital rocks are classified by grain size with
some subdivisions based on the composition and the shape of the detrital particles.

Rock’s Textural and other distinctive properties Rock Name

Mainly gravel Rounded grains Conglomerate

(≥2 mm)
Angular grains Breccia

Mostly quartz Quartz S

Sandstone a
n
d
Mainly sand Mainly feldspar and quartz Arkose s
(1/16 - 2 mm) t
o
Sand mixed with silt and clay Graywacke n
e

Mostly silt (1/256 - 1/16 mm) Breaks into blocks or layers Siltstone

Breaks into layers (fissile) Shale

Mostly clay (≤1/256 mm)
Breaks into blocks Mudstone

Conglomerate and Breccia consist of coarse fragments (>2 mm) that are held together
by a matrix of sand, clay and cements (commonly calcite or silica). Conglomerates
have rounded particles (pebbles) that indicated that they were transported a long
distance from the source region of the sediment. Breccia consists of angular particles;

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the angular particles indicate that the sediment was deposited in a region that is close to
the source of the sediment (not rounded by transport).

Sandstone is formed from the deposition of sand and are commonly composed of
quartz grains. The individual quartz grains may be rounded indicating the degree of
transport from the source region. Calcite, silica, and iron oxides are common cements
in sandstones.
Arkose is a type of detrital sedimentary rock like sandstone but is composed of >25%
feldspar grains. Arkose indicates that the sediment was not transported very far from
the source region (otherwise feldspar would have been significantly weathered to form
clay minerals).
Graywacke commonly has a darker color than quartz sandstone due to the presence of
clay and other minerals (in addition to quartz). Graywacke may be thought of as dirty
sandstones and are commonly formed in marine environments from sediment-laden
currents carrying sediment from a shelf region downslope to deeper water.

Siltstone is a fine-grained detrital rock composed of clay and silt-sized particles. The
silt particles in siltstone commonly feel more abrasive than finer clay particles.
Geologist commonly grind a small amount of the material between their front teeth; it
feels gritty if it is siltstone and feels slippery or smooth if it is shale or mudstone).
Shale is a fine-grained detrital rock composed of clay particles (<1/256 mm). Shales
characteristically have fine bedding where it breaks into layers (due to the alignment of
clay particles in the rock) know as fissility.
Mudstone is similar to shale except that it lacks fissility and breaks into irregular blocks
(due to the lack of alignment of the clay particles.

Chemical Sedimentary Rocks

Chemical rocks are precipitated directly from water. Precipitation may be the result of
inorganic processes such as evaporation. Some chemical sedimentary rocks are the
result of biochemical precipitation of minerals by organisms (ex. calcite) to form shells.

Limestone is a varied family of chemical sedimentary rocks that are composed

predominantly of calcite. The mineral calcite my form inorganically by precipitation from
seawater or by biochemical processes where organisms secrete calcite to form shells.
Since limestone are composed of calcite, they readily react to acid. There are many
varieties of limestone.

Micritic limestone (or micrite) is composed of calcite crystals that are too small to be
seen with the naked eye. It is commonly yellow to buff in color.

Coquina limestone is composed of almost entirely of shells and shell fragments that are
loosely cemented.

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Chalk is composed of microscopic shells (mostly foraminifera) and has a soft, porous,
fine-grained texture. It is formed from the accumulation of microscopic shells in a
shallow-water environment. Chalk is commonly white to buff in color.

Oolitic limestone is composed of small spherical grains known as oolites that may
have a concentric structure. Oolites range in size up to 2 mm in diameter and form by
the precipitation of calcite around a grain nucleus composed of another particle or shell.
Oolites form by successive precipitation of calcite in shallow water where waves and
currents agitate the particles as they form.
Composition Description Rock Name

Mainly plant Black dense and coal

B fragments or brittle or porous
i charcoal-like and sooty
o
c Mostly very fine grained to
h Micritic
microcrystalline calcite and/or
e limestone
microfossils
m
i Mainly fossils Porous, poorly cemented mass
shells, fragments Coquina
c of shells and shell fragments
a or microfossils
l and calcite Mostly very fined grained,
Limestone
crystals earthy, chalky, light-colored Chalk
mass of microfossils
Effervesces in
HCl Spherical grains like tiny beads Oolitic
with concentric laminations limestone

Mostly medium to coarse Crystalline

crystals of calcite limestone
I
n Mainly dolomite Micro- Effervesces in
Dolostone
o CaMg(CO3)2 crystalline HCl if powdered
r
g Micro-
a Mainly varieties crystalline
scratches glass Chert
n of silica Conchoidal
i fracture
c
Crystals
formed as Can be
Mainly gypsum
inorganic scratched with Rock Gypsum
CaSO4·2H2O
chemical your fingernail
precipitation

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Crystalline limestone is composed of tight interlocking calcite crystals that are large
enough to see with the naked eye. Crystalline limestone is commonly formed in shallow
seas.

Dolostone is a chemical sedimentary rock that is similar to limestone but is composed

predominantly of a different carbonate mineral dolomite (instead of calcite). The mineral
dolomite may be distinguished from calcite with the acid test. Whereas calcite readily
reacts to acid, dolomite reacts when powdered.

Chert is a commonly chemical sedimentary rock that forms from the precipitation of
silica (microcrystalline quartz). It may have a wide range of colors. Since is is
composed of quartz, it is characterized by a hardness of 7 and the common presence of
conchoidal fracture.

Rock Gypsum is a chemical precipitate that is composed almost exclusively of the

mineral gypsum. Gypsum commonly ranges in color from orange to light red and is
characterized by the low mineral hardness of gypsum (Mohs hardness = 2). Gypsum
forms from evaporation of seawater in a closed basin and arid environment.

Coal is composed of highly altered plant remains that forms from the burial of swamp
deposits. It is opaque and ranges in color from brown to black. Coal does not neatly fit
into our categories of rocks and is commonly considered a chemical sedimentary rock.

Recognizing Common Minerals in Sedimentary Rocks

MIneral Properties

Quartz White to light gray

Hardness = 7

Chert White, gray, black, red, green

(microcrystalline Extremely fine-grained
quartz) Smooth, conchoidal fracture

Feldspar K-feldspar most common in sedimentary rocks.

White to pink in color
Commonly angular

Clay White, gray, green, red, black

Very fine particles
Soft (H = 1 - 2.5)

Iron Oxide Yellow to orange to red and is strong coloring agent

(hematite common) Mainly found as cement in sedimentary rocks

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MIneral Properties

Calcite White to gray to black

Essential constituent of limestones
Hardness = 3
Reacts vigorously to acid

Dolomite Gray to buff in color

Hardness = 3.5
Bubbles slowly in acid but more vigorously when powdered

Gypsum White to orange to light red

Soft (H = 1)

III. The Identification of Metamorphic Rocks

Metamorphic rocks form from rocks that were previously igneous, sedimentary or other
metamorphic rocks through the process of metamorphism. Metamorphism changes the
character of the rock because of a change in the environmental conditions such as
increased temperature, pressure and the presence of chemically active fluids.
Metamorphism occurs incrementally, from slight change (low-grade) to dramatic change
(high-grade) from the parent rock. The parent rock is the original rock before
metamorphism.

Metamorphic Textures
The degree of metamorphism that a rock is subjected to is reflected in its mineralogy
and texture (shape and orientation of minerals).
There are two major types of textures that develop
during metamorphism:
1. Foliated texture. The orientation of the minerals
in some metamorphic rocks will align
themselves, giving the rock a layered or banded
appearance. The mineral grains realign and
recrystallize perpendicular to stress. Foliated
texture is characteristic of differential stress and
regional metamorphism. The image to the right
shows a gneiss where the minerals are oriented
in the same direction.
2. Non-foliated texture. Not all metamorphic rocks develop a foliated texture — there
are a number of metamorphic rocks with nonfoliated texture where there is no

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alignment of the minerals. Nonfoliated texture is characteristic of uniform confining

pressure and contact metamorphism.

Common Foliated Metamorphic Rocks

Slate is a low-grade, very fine grained foliated rock composed of microscopic grains of
quartz, mica and other minerals. The alignment of the platy minerals gives slate
excellent rock cleavage. Shale, mudstone, and siltstone are the common parent rocks
of slate.
Phyllite is a low- to moderate-grade foliated rock composed of microscopic grains of
quartz, mica, and other minerals. Although the crystals are microscopic, they are large
enough to give it a shiny luster relative to slate. It commonly breaks along wavy
surfaces. Phyllite is the result of the progressive metamorphism of a slate, thus the
parent rock is slate (although the original parent of the slate was a fine-grained
sedimentary rock).
Schist is a moderate- to high-grade rock where the platy minerals (micas) (>50%) are
large enough to see with the naked eye. Schist commonly forms crystals that are
characteristic of metamorphism (such as garnet or staurolite). Schist is the result of the
progressive metamorphism of a phyllite, thus the parent rock is phyllite.
Gneiss is a high-grade metamorphic rock where the minerals have segregated into
alternating bands of light and dark minerals and may or may not possess rock cleavage.
Gneiss may form from the progressive metamorphism of schist or from the high-grade
metamorphism of granitic rocks. Common minerals include feldspars, quartz, micas
and other metamorphic minerals (such garnet).

Common Non-foliated Metamorphic Rocks

Marble is a metamorphic rock that forms from the metamorphism of limestone or
dolostone (parent rock).
Although there may be some change in mineralogy, they contain the same minerals
(calcite or dolomite) as the parent rock. Marble is commonly white, gray or pink and
may have a texture that is fine- to coarse-grain.
Quartzite is formed from metamorphosed quartz sandstone. During metamorphism, the
quartz sand grains to fuse together to form a rock with a fine- to coarse-grain. Since
quartzite is composed of fused quartz, it is a very hard rock.

Recognizing Common Minerals in Metamorphic Rocks

MIneral Properties
K-feldspar White to pink; commonly forms crystals that are stubby
(equidimensional) crystals or rounded; cleavage in 2 directions
Plagioclase White to gray; commonly forms crystals that are stubby
feldspar (equidimensional) or elongate; striations may be visible;
cleavage in 2 directions

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Quartz Commonly colorless or grey in metamorphic rocks; crystals are

irregular in shape; glassy luster
Biotite Mica Black to brown; excellent cleavage in one direction forms platy
crystals; flat crystals align with direction of foliation
Muscovite Mica Silvery to tan; excellent cleavage in one direction forms platy
crystals; flat crystals align with direction of foliation
Hornblende Commonly black in metamorphic rocks; elongate crystals may
Amphibole look splintery; 2 good directions of cleavage not at 90°; elongate
crystals align with direction of foliation
Garnet Red to brown common; forms equidimensional or 12-sided
(soccer ball) or rounded shapes; characteristic of metamorphic
rocks
Staurolite Brown to black; may form elongate crystals that are cross- or x-
shaped crystals; vitreous luster
Kyanite Light blue to gray; forms elongate blade-shaped crystals that
may look splintery
Talc White to gray or green; pearly luster; soft H=1
Serpentine Commonly multi-colored mass ranging from black to green to
greenish gray; commonly does not form good distinct crystal
shapes; when present, it dominates the rocks (few other
minerals)
Calcite Usually white but may be gray or pink, forms fine-grain
aggregate to large crystals; 3 directions of cleavage not at 90°;
reacts to acid
Dolomite Usually white to pink; fine-grained aggregate to large crystals; 3
directions of cleavage not at 90°; reacts to acid when powdered

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