Professional Documents
Culture Documents
The Three Principal Rock Groups
The Three Principal Rock Groups
The Three Principal Rock Groups
18)
Igneous rocks originate within the earth's crust and solidify from magma bodies as, for example, some
granites (e.g. Fig. 17). Those which solidify before reaching the surface, form intrusive rocks such as dolerite,
and when lava erupts or flows at the surface it forms extrusive volcanic rock types such as basalt (e.g. Figs
17 and 19). It may be ejected as showers of ash or lumps (volcanic bombs). Slow cooling of igneous rocks
produces large crystals within the rock; quicker cooling produces small. Variations of mineral composition
lead to wide variation of rock type and many different names are given to them which, to a geologist, indicate
composition as well as its mode of formation. The processes involved in this, for the geologist, can all be
conveniently explained by the processes in plate tectonics.
Material form or fabric of rocks may be altered during earth movements by high confining pressures
and/or high temperatures to produce metamorphic rocks (e.g. Fig. 20). Sedimentary rocks modified in this
way are called metasediments.
Sedimentary rocks are those formed at or close to the earth's surface from material derived from
pre-existing rocks, together with material of organic origin. Particles derived from the mechanical breakdown
of other rocks generally followed by transport and deposition by rivers, seas, winds or glaciers form clastic
(i.e. particulate) sediments (e.g. alluvium) which lithify with time to form sedimentary rocks. Deposition of
sediments can also result from chemical reactions and precipitation: for example, some limestones are of this
origin. Sedimentary rocks resulting from accumulation of salts in conditions of evaporation are called
evaporites; rocksalt (sodium chloride) or gypsum (calcium sulphate) are examples. Deposits of organic origin
are skeletons of corals, shells and calcareous matter, e.g. some limestones, peat and coal. A distinctive feature
of sedimentary rocks is their stratification or bedding.