Igneous Rocks

Igneous Rocks
Ignis means fire
Rocks that are formed from
cystallization of magma
Magma is molten rock
Lava

is magma that is on the Earths

Surface

Igneous Rocks
Two

Types of Igneous Rocks

Extrusive

(Exterior)
Intrusive (Interior)
Igneous

rocks that solidify into rock

beneath Earths surface
Coarse Grained
Cool Slowly
Granite

Extrusive Igneous Rocks

Extrusive (Exterior)
Igneous rocks
that solidify into
rock on Earths
surface
Fine Grained
Cool Quickly

Intrusive Igneous Rocks

Intrusive (Interior)
Igneous rocks
that solidify into
rock beneath
Earths surface
Coarse Grained
Cool Slowly
Granite

Igneous Rock Formation

Origin of Magma
Where

does the
heat come from
that melts rocks?
Formation

of

Earth
Heat from the
decay of
radioactive
elements

Factors that Affect Magma

Formation

Temperature
Increases

Pressure
Increases

with depth
with depth

Water Content
Decreases

melting

point

Mineral Composition
Different

minerals,
different melting points

Characteristics of Magma

Slushy Mix of molten

Compounds in Magma
rock, gases, and
Silica ( Si02)
mineral crystals
Most abundant
Common Elements
Greatest effect on Magma

Oxygen (O)
Silicon (Si)
Aluminum (Al)
Iron (Fe)
Magnesium (Mg)
Calcium (Ca)
Potassium (K)
Sodium (Na)

Characteristics
Effects melting temp
Viscosity of Magma

Types of Magma

Based on amount of Silica

Basaltic
Andesitic
Rhyolitic

Type of Magma

SiO2 Content

Rhyolitic

70%

Andesitic

60%

Basaltic

50%

Melting Rocks
Question
Does

a rocks melt like an ice cube, all

at the same time?

Melting Rocks
Rocks

melt according to their melting

points.
Example:
Which

This

Ice cube with wax

would melt first ice or wax?

example is known as partial melting.

Partial

Melting: some minerals melt at lower

temperatures and other minerals remain
solid
Think of stew

Fractional Crystallization
Opposite

of Partial Melting
Last to melt are first to solidify
(crystallize)

Bowens Reaction Series

N.L.

Bowen

Canadian
1900s
Stated

that as magma cools,

minerals form in predictable patterns
Known as Bowens Reaction Series

Bowens Reaction Series

Two

Branches

Feldspars
Continuous,

gradual change of mineral

compositions

Iron-Rich
An

Minerals

abrupt change of mineral type

Bowens Reaction Series

Feldspars
Continuous
Change
First Feldspars are
rich in Calcium (Ca)
Sodium (Na)
increases as
cooling continues
Last Feldspars to
form are Sodium
rich (Na)

Iron Rich Minerals

Discontinuous Change

Magnesium (Mg) cools

around 18000C, when
olivine crystallizes, this
continous up to 15570C.
Now Pyroxene begins to
form. All olivine that
was formed is now
turned to pyroxene
Quartz is the last to
form, because silica and
oxygen are the last to
crystallize

Why do we find Olivine?

Four main groups of igneous rocks based

on magma type/mineral composition

Felsic: high silica content, light colored, from thick & slow moving
magma, contains low amounts of Ca, Fe, and Mg dominant minerals
quartz, potassium rich feldspar

Intermediate: moderate amount of silica, mixture of colors dominant

minerals: sodium and calcium rich feldspar

Ex: andesite, diorite

Magma Type:

Mafic: low silica content, dark colored, high levels of Fe & Mg formed from
thinner, more fluid, & hotter magma than Felsic rocks dominant minerals
hornblende, calcium rich feldspar

Ex: granite, pumice, rhyolite

Magma Type:

Ex: basalt, gabbro

Magma Type:

Ultramafic: very low silica content, dark colors, high levels of Fe & Mg dominant
minerals: olivine, pyroxene

Ex: peridotite, dunite

Magma Type:

Classifying Igneous Rocks

Igneous
Crystal

rock textures:

size is dictated by the rate of cooling

of the magma body. A slower cooling rate
results in larger mineral crystals being
formed in the rocks as they cool.
Porphyritic texture - Large crystals
surrounded by fine grained rock. The rock
initially cools slowly to form some large
crystals and then cools quickly to form the
fine grained rock surrounding them.

The Scheme for

Igneous Rock
Identification

A Brief Tour

Grain Size

Crystal
size

Description

Igneous rocks have

Intergrown Crystals

Intergrown

Intergrown

Intergrown

Not Intergrown

Outside
theEarth:
volcano:
Extrusive
Inside the
Intrusive

Where it was formed

Bubbles
?

Yes= Vesicular

Bubbles
?

No=Non-vesicular

Neither Light nor Dark

Very Light
Color
NotVery Light
Light

Not Very Dark Very Dark

Dark

Darkest

Lightest

Very Light Medium Density

Density

Light

Dense Very Dense

Finding The Minerals

Identify the rock.

Unless you have other information,

work in the middle of the rocks box.

This is the amount of Potassium Feldspar in the rock.

This is the amount of Quartz in the rock.

This is the amount of Plagioclase Feldspar in the rock.

Use tick marks on a scrap paper to measure the percentage.

Potassium Feldspar 25%
Quartz 40%

Practice

Name a light-colored, fine-grained

rock with no bubbles.

Name a coarse-grained, dense rock.

Igneous Rock Resources

Ore

Deposits
Building Materials
Other Uses

Ore Deposits

Veins: streaks of valuable metal within a mineral.

Created when a metal-rich fluid, such as goldquartz, goes through fractional crystallization, the
mineral (quartz) has a lower crystallization temp
and thus solidifies before the gold. The gold
remains liquid and settles between the quartz
crystals forming gold veins.
Pegmatites: veins with extremely large grain
crystals. Creates some of the worlds most
precious gems.
Kimberlites: intrusions of magma cooled deep
within earths crust. Usually find diamonds with
kimberlites. Named after location of first
discovery, Kimberly, South Africa.

Building Materials
Many

IRs are used in building

materials because of their
interlocking crystals strength
IRs

are fairly weather resistant

Ex: Granite building
Ex: Basalt crushed up to make
gravel

Other Uses
Pumice

cleaning and polishes

Obsidian
heated

to make perlite, a soil additive

that keeps soil loose.
scalpels more precise and smoother
than steel, but 10x the cost