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Rocks:
Forged By
Fire
be described as
intrusive and
plutonic (formed
from magma inside
the Earth), or
extrusive and
volcanic (formed
from lava above the
-Earths
Igneous
rocks that form below the Earths surface are
surface).
called intrusive igneous rocks (or plutonic). The word
plutonic comes from Pluto, the name for the Greek
god of the underworld.
- They form when magma enters a pocket or chamber
underground that is relatively cool and solidifies into
crystals as it cools very slowly.
Characteristics of Magma
Magma consists of three
components:
A liquid portion, called melt,
that is composed of mobile
ions
Solids, if any, are silicate
minerals that have already
crystallized from the melt
Volatiles, which are gases
dissolved in the melt,
including water vapor (H2O),
carbon dioxide (CO2), and
sulfur dioxide (SO2)
Characteristics of Magma
- A major portion of all magma is silica, which is a
compound of silicon (the second most abundant
element on Earth), and oxygen (the most abundant
element on Earth). Magma also contains gases, which
expand as the magma rises.
- Magma that is high in silica resists flowing, so
expanding gases are trapped in it. Pressure builds up
until the gases blast out in a violent, dangerous
explosion.
- Magma that is
relatively poor in silica
flows easily, so gas
bubbles move up
through it and escape
fairly gently.
Characteristics of Magma
Role of heat
- Temperature increases
within Earths upper crust
(called the geothermal
gradient) average between
20oC to 30oC per kilometer
- Rocks in the lower crust
and upper mantle are near
their melting points
- Any additional heat (from
rocks descending into the
mantle or rising heat from
the mantle) may induce
melting
Characteristics of Magma
Role of pressure
- An increase in confining pressure causes an
increase in a rocks melting temperature or
conversely, reducing the pressure lowers the
melting temperature
- When
confining
pressures
drop,
decompression
melting
occurs
Characteristics of Magma
Role of volatiles
Volatiles (primarily water) cause rocks to melt
at lower temperatures
This is particularly important where oceanic
lithosphere descends into the mantle
Characteristics of Magma
Sometimes as it is forming, magma can change its
composition. This may result in different types of magma
coming out in one volcanic event.
- Assimilation: Changing
a magmas
composition by the
incorporation of
foreign matter
(surrounding rock
bodies) into a magma
- Magmatic
differentiation:
Separation of a melt
from earlier formed
crystals to form a
different
composition of
magma
Olivine
Pyroxene
Amphibole
Biotite Mica
Quartz
Muscovite Mica
Feldspar
Comprise the
ocean floor as well
- Large outpourings of
basaltic magma are common
Aphanitic Basalt
Phaneritic Diorite
Porphyritic Andesite
Glassy Obsidian
Pyroclastic Tuff
Pegmatite