Rocks

Understand the Rock Cycle

Identify Characteristics of Igneous Rocks
Identify Characteristics of Sedimentary Rocks
Identify Characteristics of Metamorphic Rocks

What is a Rock?
Naturally-occurring mixtures of minerals,
mineraloids (no crystals), or organic
matter

What is the difference

between a rock and a mineral?
A rock is made up of one or more
minerals.
A mineral is a rock but a rock is not
necessarily a mineral.

Three Types of Rocks

Igneous rock: forms when magma/lava cools

and hardens
Sedimentary rock: forms when sediments
are buried, compacted & cemented together
Metamorphic rock: forms when existing rock
is subjected to great heat & pressure over a
long period of time

Once a rock is formed, does it

stay the same rock forever?
No-Rocks continue to change from one
form to another.

 Rocks are continually changed by many

processes, such as weathering, erosion,
compaction, cementation, melting, and
cooling
Rocks can change to and from the three
types

What is the process through

which rocks change?
The Rock Cycleearth materials change
back and forth among the different
types of rocks
The processes of melting, cooling,
weathering and erosion, cementation
and compaction, and heat and pressure.
There is no set path a rock must follow

How are rocks redistributed?

The core, mantle, & crust are one giant
rock recycling machine

Igneous Rocks

Ignis = Latin for fire

Formed from the cooling of either magma or
lava
The most abundant type of rock
Classified according to their origin and
composition
Igneous Rocks come from magma/lava
cooling down.

Origin-Where the rock Forms

Intrusive Rocks
form below the surface of the earth
Cooling magma
Usually has large crystals
Cool slowly taking as long as hundreds of
years.

Extrusive Rocks
Form at the earths surface
Cooling Lava
Usually have small to no crystals
Cool very quickly-even happening in the
air after a volcanic eruption.

Occasionally rocks
will have both large
and small crystals
called porphyritic
Cools in two
stages-in the
ground large
crystals grew at
the surface small
crystals grew.

Granite- Intrusive or Extrusive?

Why?

Obsidian- Intrusive or Extrusive?

Why?

Gabbro- Intrusive or Extrusive?

Why?

Pumice- Instrusive or Extrusive?

Why?

Basalt-Intrusive or Extrusive? Why?

Composition
Basaltic Igneous Rocks made from
lava/magma that is low in silica, rich in
iron and magnesium. Rocks are darkcolored.

 Granitic Igneous Rocksmade from

magma/lava high in silica and oxygen.
Rocks are light-colored

 Andesitic Igneous Rockshave a

composition between basaltic and
granitic.