Different type of rock

The three main types, or classes, of rock are sedimentary, metamorphic, and igneous and the
differences among them have to do with how they are formed. Sedimentary rocks are formed
from particles of sand, shells, pebbles, and other fragments of material. Together, all these
particles are called sediment.

Properties of rock
The color of a rock describes the hue or tone of the rock. Black, red, green or blue may be
used to describe the color. Color is commonly one of the first things noticed about a rock.
Luster is how a rock shines. If it doesn't shine, it is considered dull. Some rocks look silky,
greasy or waxy. To describe this property, it is helpful to have a rock properties chart handy to
get the exact texture needed to identify the rock.
The shape of the rock may be round, square or rectangular. Some rocks form in distinctive
shapes, while others do not. In some types of rocks, such as sedimentary, shape may be used
to describe the shape of the sediments within the rock.
Texture explains how a rock feels. Smooth, rough, hard or soft are common descriptions. The
texture of some rocks can be determined by looking at the rock as well as feeling it. It may
look smooth or rough and feel the same way.
Pattern is how the layers of rock look together. A striped pattern, for example, may be used to
describe a sedimentary rock. If there is no pattern, this property may not be mentioned in the
rock's description.
Example:

 Properties of igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rock

Minerals make up rocks. Rocks are formed in many environments upon and within the Earth's
crust. There are three types of rock, each formed in a different way. Igneous rock , formed by
the cooling of magma (molten rock) inside the Earth or on the surface. Sedimentary rocks,
formed from the products of weathering by cementation or precipitation on the Earths
surface. Metamorphic rocks, formed by temperature and pressure changes inside the Earth. All
three types of rock make up the Earths lithosphere, the outermost layer. The lithosphere
averages about 100 kilometers in thickness.
All igneous rocks began as magma (molten rock) which cooled and crystallized into minerals.
Geologists classify igneous rocks based on both their crystal size and composition. Igneous
rocks may look different because they may have cooled at different rates and the "mother"
magma (original melted rock) was of a different composition. Variations in these two factors
have created many different types of igneous rocks. When the magma cools at different rates,
it creates different sized minerals. Quick cooling magmas have small minerals (with the
exception of obsidian, which is actually composed of silica, but has no crystalline structure).
Basalt, for example, has small minerals, most of which can only be seen under a microscope.
Quick cooling lavas are called volcanic rocks. Magma that cools slowly creates rocks like
granite, which have large minerals that can be seen with the naked eye. These igneous rocks
cool inside the lithosphere, and are called plutonic rocks.
Sedimentary rocks form at the Earths surface in two main ways. Clastic material (pieces of
other rocks or fragments of skeletons) may become cemented together and chemical
precipitation and evaporation can form sedimentary rocks. Sedimentary rocks are usually
associated with liquid water (which facilitates erosion, transportation, deposition, and
cementation). However, sedimentary rocks may also form in dry, desert environments or in
association with glaciers.
Metamorphic rocks are igneous, sedimentary, or preexisting metamorphic rocks that have
been changed by great pressures and temperatures within the crust and upper mantle of the
Earth. The temperatures were not enough to melt the rock, otherwise, an igneous rock would
have formed. The pressures were much greater than those required to simply break the rocks
into pieces. They were high enough to change the chemical make up of the rock by forcing the
elements in it to "exchange partners." Different grades of temperature and pressure will cause
the same original rock to form very different metamorphic rocks. Slate, which forms from the
sedimentary rock shale, is very dense, smooth and does not contain visible minerals. However,
if more pressure and temperature are applied to a slate, it could turn into schist, which has
visible layers of minerals. If yet higher temperature and pressure are applied, the schist could
turn into gneiss, which shows visible bands of minerals.

Example of igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rock :

1.

2.

How these rocks are formed related with their properties

As a terrestrial planet, Earth is divided into layers based on their chemical and rheological
properties. And whereas its interior region the inner and outer core are mostly made up of
iron and nickel, the mantle and crust are largely composed of silicate rock. The crust and
upper mantle are collectively known as the lithosphere, from which the tectonic plates are
composed.
It in the lithosphere that rocks are formed and reformed. And depending on the type of rock,
the process through which they are created varies. In all, there are three types of rocks:
igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic. Each type of rock has a different origin. Therefore,
the question, How are rocks formed? begs three distinct answers.

How Are Igneous Rocks Formed?

Igneous rocks are formed when melted rock cools and solidifies. Melted rock may come in the
form of magma, when it is found underneath the Earths surface. It can also come in the form
of lava, when it is released unto the Earths surface during a volcanic eruption. Some
examples of igneous rocks are granite, scoria, pumice, and obsidian.
Igneous rock (aka. "fire rock") is formed from cooled and solidified magma. Credit:
geologyclass.org
Pumice, for instance, is formed when lava made up of melted rock, water, and trapped gas is
ejected from a volcano during a violent eruption. As the ejected material undergoes very rapid
cooling and depressurization, some of the trapped gas escape, leaving holes and gas bubbles
on the solidified material.

How Are Sedimentary Rocks Formed?

Sedimentary rocks start forming when soil and other materials on the Earths surface are
eroded and finally settle down, forming one layer of sediments. As time passes, more and
more materials get eroded and settle on the older layers. Thus, layer upon layer is formed. The
lower layers undergo intense pressure due to the weight of the upper layers, eventually
evolving into rocks.
Some examples of sedimentary rocks are sandstone, limestone, shale, conglomerate, and
gypsum. Sandstone, for instance, is a result of depositions of sand from beaches and rivers.
You can find them mostly in deltas, since this is where the rivers flow into the ocean.

How Are Metamorphic Rocks Formed?

To metamorphose or simply to morph means to change in form. Metamorphic rocks are
actually products of rocks that have undergone changes. Thus, a metamorphic rock may have
originally been an igneous, sedimentary, or even another metamorphic rock. The changes

occur when the original rocks are subjected to extreme heat and pressure beneath the Earths
surface.
They may also occur when the the original rocks are caught in the middle of two colliding
tectonic boundaries. Some examples of metamorphic rocks are marble, slate, schist and
gneiss. Marble, for instance is the result of the metamorphism of limestone and dolostone.
When limestone metamorphoses, its calcite grains grow and interlock with one another. As
such, marble is denser and harder compared to limestone.

Different type of soil

The Ideal Soil Type: Loam. The type of soil that gardens and gardeners love is
loamy soil. It contains a balance of all three soil materialssilt, sand and clayplus

humus. It has a higher pH and calcium levels because of its previous organic matter
content.

How to identify the types of soil

Soils can be identified in to their general types by the way they feel and respond to handling...
Pick up a handful and squeeze it together. Sand feels gritty and the grains do not stick
together when squeezed. Loam feels velvety or flour-like when dry and forms a weak ball
shape when wet which crumbles apart when dry. Clay feels sticky, but goes smooth when
rubbed. Chalk will have large lumps in it and be hard to mould.
HOW TO WORK WITH YOUR SOIL
The most important thing is to identify your soil type and work with it, remember the golden
rule 'right plant, right place' and your plants will thrive. All soil types have their good points
and can be improved. Even the best loam soils will benefit from additional organic matter .

Heavy, Clay soil

This holds water, but also bakes dry in the summer. However, clay is very good at holding
nutrients and moisture and very fertile as long as you can break it down with the addition of
organic matter and grit. This will enable the roots of plants to get through to the nutrients
more easily and of course make planting less back breaking for you. Try and avoid walking on
the soil too much as this will compact it to a hard pan.
Plants that grow in these these conditions are - hydrangeas, roses, viburnum, vinca, alchemilla
mollis, Primula japonica, astrantia, geraniums, hellebore.
Ones to avoid are plants that require free-draining soil - lavender, salvia, dianthus, erysimum,
Achillea.

Sandy soil
This is usually low in nutrients, and of course dry as it loses water very quickly being
particularly free-draining. However, you can improve both of these factors with the addition
of organic matter and soil improver and of course, many plants thrive in a free-draining soil. It
also warms up quickly in the spring.
Plants that grow well in these conditions are - Iris Germanica, Cynara Cardoon, Verbascum,
Euphorbia, Eryngium, Papaver orientale, Hardy Geraniums, and most bulbs will like the freedraining sandy soil too, but do not allow it to dry out.

Chalky
This is alkaline so will not suit plants that require ericaceous soil. Some soils contain large
clumps of chalk, others are a mixture of chalk and clay. It is normally free draining, but may
be low in nutrients so as with the other soils the addition of organic matter will help with both
the structure and nutritional content of the soil.
Plants that grow well in these conditions are - lavender, philadelphus, Virbunums, Syringa.
Plants to avoid - anything that requires acid conditions.

Normal
Normal, loam soil is the most desirable soil texture for most plant cultivation. This type of soil
presents the best conditions for plant growth. It retains moisture without impeding drainage,
captures nutrients and allows oxygen to circulate. It normally contains equal quantities of
sand, clay, silt, and organic matter.

How to find out how much water and humus contain in the
soil.
Here are the steps needed to determine the air content of a soil.
1.Fill a can with soil
2.Weigh the can and its contents
3.Slowly add water until the water is level with the top of the soil

4.Re-weigh the can and its contents

The extra mass between steps 2 and 4 is due to the water that has filled the air spaces. The
volume of 1 g of water is 1 cm3.
Air content and permeability to water Higher tier
This table summarises more differences between clay soil, sandy soil and loam.

Internal structure of the earth

The interior structure of the Earth is layered in spherical shells, like an onion. These layers can
be defined by their chemical and their rheological properties. Earth has an outer silicate solid
crust, a highly viscous mantle, a liquid outer core that is much less viscous than the mantle,
and a solid inner core.

Fossils
Fossils are the preserved remains or traces of dead organisms. They are found in rocks.
Fossils can be formed from:

Hard body parts, such as bones and shells, which do not decay easily or are
replaced by other materials as they decay.
Parts of organisms which have not decayed. For example, dead animals and
plants can be preserved in amber (hardened tree resin), peat bogs, tar pits or in ice
Casts or impressions, such as foot prints or burrows. These become covered by
layers of sediment, which eventually become rock.

How fossils are formed

When an animal or plant dies its remains usually rot away to nothing. Sometimes though, when
the conditions are just right and its remains can be buried quickly, it may be fossilised. There are

several different ways fossils are formed. Here we go through the five steps of fossilisation to
make a typical 'mould and cast' fossil.

Why fossils are found in sedimentary rocks and not igneous

rock
Fossils are primarily found in sedimentary rocks because these rocks form at low
temperatures and pressures. Igneous rocks form at temperatures and pressures that are high
enough to destroy any organic remains. On rare occasions, fossils are found in metamorphic
rocks, but they are deformed by the heat and pressure.

How the fossil record can be used to estimate the age of the
earth
The fossil record does nothing to help determine the age of the Earth. The Earth is far
older than the fossil record. The oldest fossils are about 2 billion years old, and the Earth is about
5.5 billion years old. I suppose you could say that the fossil record rules out the Earth being
younger than 2 billion years, but that hardly helps.

The fossil record can help us date rocks. If we know a particular species lived a million
years ago, and we find a rock containing that specimen, we know that the rock was laid down
about a million years ago. We can also date new fossils by finding them in relation to old fossils.
We can also date cataclysms like floods by the rocks laid down in the sediment. We have
identified what creatures ate by the fossilized remains in their abdomens, where their stomachs
would have been. We have documented social structures when entire colonies of maiasaurs were
wiped out and the mothers died among their young and egg nests. We can tell how creatures
walked by the wear placed on the locations where muscles attached. We have identified evidence
of disease processes in fossils. Finally we can identify transitional forms by their relationship to
other fossils.

Limitation of this method to predict the age of the earth

Most people accept the current old-earth (OE) age estimate of around 4.6 billion years.
This age is obtained from radiometric dating and is assumed by evolutionists to provide a
sufficiently long time-frame for Darwinian evolution. And OE Christians (theistic evolutionists)
see no problem with this dating whilst still accepting biblical creation, see Radiometric Dating A Christian Perspective. This is the crucial point: it is claimed by some that an old earth supports

evolutionary theory and by implication removes the need for biblical creation. Some claim
Genesis in particular, and the Bible in general looks mythical from this standpoint.
A full discussion of the topic must therefore include the current scientific challenge to the
OE concept. This challenge is mainly headed by Creationism which teaches a young-earth (YE)
theory. A young earth is considered to be typically just 6,000 years old since this fits the creation
account and some dating deductions from Genesis. The crucial point here is: if YE theory can be
established scientifically, then macroevolutionary theory falls!