The Three Types of Rocks

How are
they
formed?
What are
they made
of?

Sedimentary

Igneous

Metamorphic

Formed by deposits of
sediments on the
Earths surface or in
water.
Bits of sand, rock, and
clay. Sometimes even
remains of plants and
animals.

Formed from magma

or lava that has
cooled and
crystallized.
Molten lava from a
volcano.

Formed by the
processes of heat,
pressure or chemical
change.
Other sedimentary
and igneous rocks.

Sandstone (sand)
Shale (mud and clay)
Limestone
(where fossils are found)

Examples

Magma that cools and

hardens into a rock.
Obsidian (glass)
Pumice (made from the

(made from limestone)

foam of lava and has a

lot of air bubbles/holes)

(made from sandstone)

Quartzite

Basalt

Conglomerate
(pebbles cemented
together)
Gypsum (salt)

Marble

Slate

(most common rock)

Granite
Scoria (also has a lot of

(made from shale)

Schist (most common

metamorphic rock)

Gneiss

air bubbles/holes, but its

heavier and darker than
pumice)

Fun Facts

Fossils of dead
plants and animals
are often found in
sedimentary rocks.
Sedimentary rocks
cover 75% of the
earths surface.

Because pumice is
full of air bubbles
and made of
volcanic glass, it is
very light and is
the only rock that
can float!
Igneous rocks are
the oldest type of
rock.

(made from granite)

Metamorphic rocks
are the least
common of the 3
types of rocks.
The Taj Mahal in
India is made
entirely out of
marble.