EARTH & LIFE SCIENCE
Rocks
Mineralogy
-The study of minerals
Petrology
-a science that dels with the origin, history, occurrence,
structure, chemical composition and classification of rocks.
Lesson 1. Rocks
Rocks are combined
aggregation of minerals.
Petrologist classified rocks
based on how they were
formed. In general, rocks are
classified as igneous,
sedimentary, and metamorphic
rock.
What are rocks?
A rock is a naturally occurring solid mixture of one or
more minerals, or organic matter.
Rocks are classified by how they are formed, their
composition, and texture
Rocks change overtime through the rock cycle
Three types of Rocks
Igneous Rocks
fire
“IGNIS”
-formed from hardening and crystallization of
magma or molten material that originates deep
within the earth.
Two types of igneous rock:
A. Extrusive/Volcanic rock - forms when magma makes its way to
Earth’s surface as lava and then cools. The crystals are very small (fine-
grained) since the cooling process is fast.
B. Intrusive/Plutonic - It cools slowly beneath the Earth surface and
are created by magma. The intrusive igneous rocks have very large
crystals (coarse grained).
Igneous rocks 1. Composition- it refers to rock’s mineral and
are classified chemical make-up.
based on
Felsic
– igneous rocks that are light in
colors; feldspar and silicates
Mafic
• dark-colored
igneous rocks
made up of
magnesium,
calcium and
iron
Intermediate
• – refers to igneous rocks
between mafic and felsic
composition.
Ultramafic
• denotes igneous
rocks that
composed chiefly
of mafic minerals.
2. Texture - overall
appearance of a rock
based on the size,
shape, and arrangement
of interlocking mineral
crystals.
• Aphanistic –
fine-grained
rocks with
crystals seen
by aid of
microscope.
• Phaneritic -
coarse-grained
rocks
• Porphyritic – large
crystals with small
crystals
• Glassy - a rock that looks
like colored glass with no
visible mineral crystal.
• Pyroclastic- results
from explosive
fragmentation of
volcanic material.
Metamorphic-
forms from pre-existing rocks:
either metamorphic, igneous,
sedimentary or other metamorphic
rocks that have been altered by
agents of metamorphism.
Examples: quartzite, marble, slate,
phyllite
Metamorphism - transformation of one rock type into another.
2 types of metamorphism
1. Regional-due to changes in pressure and temperature over large
region of the crust. It may happen when rock is buried deep below
the surface of the earth.
2. Contact-the rock minerals and textures are changed mainly by heat
due to contact with magma.
Classification:
[Link] - refers to the size arrangement and grains within the rock.
Foliation - any planar arrangement of mineral grains or structural
features within the rock.
a. Foliated rocks – can be arranged in terms of increasing
metamorphism, and it appeared layered or banded with compressed
mineral grains. Example: mica
b. Non-foliated rocks – usually made up of only few minerals.
Sedimentary rocks provide information about surface conditions that
existed in the Earth’s past.
• Particles of sand, shells, pebbles, and other fragments of materials
called sediments, accumulate in layers and over long period of time
harden into rocks.
• Compaction-due to increase of pressure of layered sediments it bind
together to form the sedimentary rocks.
Three types of sedimentary rocks
a. Clastic Sedimentary rock - formed from accumulation of clasts: little
pieces of broken rocks and shells.
Examples: conglomerate, breccia, sandstone, shale
b. Chemical - formed when dissolved minerals precipitate from a
solution.
Example: Halite - formed when a body of seawater becomes closed off
and evaporates.
c. Organic - rocks formed from the accumulation of animal debris
Example: Coal - composed of organic matter in the form of plants
fragments.
