Types of Igneous Rocks

Petrology
INTRUSIVE IGNEOUS ROCK
- A branch of geology that deals with the composition, texture, and
structure of rocks. This study involves experimental methods to - Rocks form from magma beneath the Earth’s surface
understand the physical and chemical conditions of the rock.
EXTRUSIVE IGNEOUS ROCK
- which refers to the study of rocks in thin sections using a petrographic
microscope. - Rocks form from lava onto Earth’s surface
- From the Latin word “Fire”

Igneous Rock Examples of Igneous Rocks

- Types of rocks that are formed when molten rock cool to a solid state.
GRANITE
- Can be classified as Intrusive or Extrusive. - A type of igneous rock that forms deep inside the Earth under a
mountain or a volcano when melting rock cools down or crystallizes
into solid rocks. The granite atop the mountain or volcano erodes
CLASSIFICATION OF IGNEOUS ROCKS with time due to wind, ice, and water, exposing the granite.

Felsic - Mafic - Intermediate Color: It can have a wide range of colors, ranging from white and gray to
- Granite - Basalt - Andesite pink, red, green, blue, and black.
- Rhyolite - Dolerite - Syenite
- Gabbro - Diorite Texture: phaneritic (medium to coarse grained). , holocrystalline, pan-
- Pegmatite hypidiomorphically grained, porphyric in places. Hardness: 6-7 Chemical

Composition: 70-77% silica, 11-13% alumina, 3-5% potassium oxide, 3-5%

CLASSIFICATION OF IGNEOUS ROCKS BASED ON ITS soda, 1% lime, 2-3% total iron, and less than 1% magnesia and titania.
TEXTURE
Phaneritic - Typically associated with areas of high tectonic activity, such as
mountain ranges and volcanic regions.
- This texture forms when magma cools slowly deep underground, allowing - commonly found in the roots of mountain ranges.
large mineral crystals to develop. - forms large plutons or batholiths that extend deep beneath the
Aphanitic Earth’s surface.
- commonly found in large plutonic bodies, such as batholiths and
- This texture occurs when magma cools relatively quickly, allowing small dikes.
mineral crystals to form. - Granite is a light-colored plutonic rock that is mostly found in
Glassy mountainous regions but can be found throughout the continental
crust.
- This texture forms when magma cools so rapidly that mineral crystals don't
have time to form.
SYENITE
- A coarse-grained intrusive igneous rock with a general composition
similar to that of granite, but deficient in quartz.
Color: mostly in pale coloured, grey and pink colour.
Texture: phaneritic (medium to coarse grained). Hardness: 5.5 - 6
Chemical Composition: alkali feldspar with less than 5% quartz and/or
feldspathoid
- Often found as part of large igneous plutons or batholiths
- Frequently located at the core or central parts of mountain ranges
- Commonly associated with alkaline rock complexes
DIORITE
- Diorite is an intrusive igneous rock formed by the slow cooling
underground of magma that has a moderate content of silica and a
relatively low content of alkali metals. It is intermediate in
composition between low silica (mafic) gabbro and high-silica
(felsic) granite.
Color: Black and white grains, can be light or dark gray
Texture: Extemely fine grain. Hardness: 7
Chemical Composition: plagioclase feldspar, amphibole, and pyroxine
minerals with small amounts of biotite mica.
- often found in various intrusive igneous rock formations like
baloliths.
- occurs at the convergent plate boundaries, subdaction volcanic arcs.
GABBRO
- A type of intrusive igneous rock that is coarse-grained and dark
colored typically composed of plagioclase feldspar, pyroxene, and
sometimes olivine. It is similar in composition to basalt.
Color: Typically dark gray to black, sometimes lighter gray or greenish
Texture: Coarse-grained (phaneritic); individual mineral crystals visible
Hardness: 6-7
Chemical Composition: Has low silica content (45-55%) and is rich in iron,
magnesium, and calcium
Mineral Composition: Primarily composed of pyroxene.
- Not as widespread as some other rock
- forms the lower part of the oceanic crust
- found in mid-ocean ridges & mountain belts
- commonly found in large plutonic bodies, such as batholiths and
dikes
PEGMATITE
- Pegmatite is a type of igneous rock that emerges towards the final
stages of magma cooling. Typically, they are known for their
exceptionally large crystals, often exceeding 2.5 cm in dimension.
Composed mainly of quartz, feldspar, and mica. It shares a similar
composition to granite but differs in its texture.
-
Color: A diverse color palette due to their varied mineral composition
Light-colored: quartz and feldspar
Greenish: mica (muscovite)
Reddish: spodumene (in lithium-rich pegmatites)
Multicolored: gemstone-bearing pegmatites
Texture: Coarse-grained (phaneritic); individual mineral crystals visible
Hardness: Varies depending on their mineral composition. Quartz and feldspar (6-
7), mica (2-3), and spodumene (4-5).
Mineral Composition: Can contain a diverse range of minerals Granitic pegmatites:
Dominated by quartz, feldspar, and mica.
Lithium-rich pegmatites: Contain abundant spodumene.
Rare-element pegmatites: Contain minerals like tantalum, niobium, and rare
earth elements.
Gemstone deposits: May contain emeralds, aquamarines, tourmalines, and
other precious stones.
Granitic Pegmatite– the most common type made up mostly of mica
(muscovite and biotite), quartz, and feldspar (plagioclase and potassium feldspar)
 - Pegmatites are frequently found in large-scale intrusive igneous
rocks, especially granitic batholiths. Like diamonds inside a crown,
they typically form inside or adjacent to these enormous rock
structures. Certain pegmatites can also be seen as veins or dikes that
breach the nearby rock strata.
DOLERITE
- Basalt is a fine-grained, extrusive igneous rock from basaltic lava
exposed at the surface. It is the most abundant rock type, about 70%
of the crust.
Color: Dark gray to black
Texture: Medium to coarse-grained (phaneritic), individual mineral crystals
visible Hardness: 6-7
Mineral Composition: Mainly composed of plagioclase feldspar, pyroxene,
and sometimes olivine, magnetite, and apatite.
- Dolerites are usually found in relatively shallow intrusive bodies
such as dikes, sills, sheet, laccolith and plugs
BASALT
- Basalt is a fine-grained, extrusive igneous rock from basaltic lava
exposed at the surface. It is the most abundant rock type, about 70%
of the crust.
Color: Typically described as black. Shades of grey, green, and even
reddish-brown are possible.
Texture: Fine-grained (aphanitic), sometimes porphyritic (containing larger
crystals) or vesicular (containing cavities).
Hardness: 5-6
Mineral Composition: Usually contains plagioclase feldspar, pyroxene, and
sometimes olivine.
- Basalt is found all over the world and makes up approximately 70%
of the planet's crust. Its connected to volcanic activities including
flood basalt, mid oceanic ridges, and volcanic islands.
Sedimentary Rock
- Sedimentary rocks make up approximately 8% of the total mass
of the crust and are sediments that are deposited by layers.
- Aids in the study of fossil records as it precisely documents
important events pertaining to the evolution of organisms and
ancient historical events.
- Forms by precipitation or weathering brought on by
temperature fluctuations and other natural occurrences that
cause sediments to undergo the process of lithification.
- Sedimentary rocks are the most common rocks exposed on
Earth’s surface but are only a minor constituent of the entire
crust, which is dominated by igneous and metamorphic rocks.
How are Sedimentary Rocks formed?
Weathering of Sedimentary Rocks
Erosion & Transportation
- Eroded sediments end up in the water and begin to settle down.
Deposition
- With time, more sediments are added to newly formed sedimentary layers.
Compaction
- The release of moisture from the sedimentary layers makes the layers
compact.
Cementation
- Salt crystals glue the layers to form more compact sedimentary rocks.
 CLASSIFICATION OF SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
Clastic
- Composed of fragments of other rocks and minerals, and are
classified based on the size of the particles that make up the
rock. For example, sandstone is a clastic sedimentary rock that
is composed of sand-sized particles, while shale is a clastic
sedimentary rock that is composed of very fine particles.
Chemical
- Formed from the precipitation of minerals from solution. These
rocks are classified based on the minerals that make up the
rock. For example, limestone is a chemical sedimentary rock
that is composed primarily of the mineral calcite, while
gypsum is a chemical sedimentary rock that is composed of the
mineral gypsum.
Organic
- Formed from the accumulation of plant or animal remains.
These rocks are classified based on the type of remains that
make up the rock. example, coal is an organic that is formed
from the stacks of plant remains, while limestone can also be
formed from the stacks of shell and other marine animal
remains.
WEATHERING OF SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
Physical Weathering
- TERRIGENOUS CLASTIC SEDIMENTARY
-> Terrigenous clastic sedimentary rocks are made up of
rocks and minerals in different sizes. They are located on the deep
sea, and they came from outside the basin of deposition.
Chemical Weathering
- ALLOCHEMICAL ROCKS
-> Allochemical rocks (“allo” means different from normal) are
composed of particles that are transported in a short period of time in the
form of solid precipitated nondetrital fragments.
- ORTHOCHEMICAL ROCKS
-> Orthochemical rocks (“ortho” means proper or true) rocks are
formed within the basin through chemical precipitation made up of
dissolved materials that directly form solid sedimentary rock without
being transported.
CLASSIFICATION OF SEDIMENTARY ROCKS BASED ON
ITS TEXTURE
Clastic
- Clastic texture refers to rocks with visible particles.
Crystalline
- Crystalline texture refers to rocks with visible crystals.
Organic
- Organic texture refers to rocks with visible plant or animal remains.
Terms:
SEDIMENTARY PETROLOGY
- The use of a petrographic microscope to examine their occurrence,
content, texture, and other general features.
SEDIMENTOLOGY
- Emphasizes the processes by which sediments are transported and
deposited.
STRATIGRAPHY
- involves every aspect of sedimentary rocks, especially as they
relate to their age, geographic relationships, and the connection
between sedimentary rock sequences in various locations.
 TYPES of Sedimentary Rocks
Sandstone
- Composed of sand-sized mineral particles
- Found in Terrestrial, marine, and transitional environments.
- Forms in areas with abundant sand deposits like beaches, riverbeds,
and deserts.
Sandstone is a clastic sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized
(0.0625 2mm) silicate grains. Sandstone comprise about 20-25% of all
sedimentary rocks.
Limestone
- Composed of calcium carbonate from marine organisms.
- Found in Widespread, found in various regions globally.
- Forms in marine environments where calcium carbonate-rich
organisms accumulate.
Limestone is a type of carbonate sedimentary rock which is the main source
of the material lime. Limestone often contains fossils which provide scientist
with information on ancient environment.
Shale
- Fine-grained rock composed mainly of clay minerals.
- Abundant globally, found in marine, lacustrine, and terrestrial
settings.
- Forms from compaction and cementation of mud and clay-rich
sediments.
It is a clastic sedimentary rock composed of very fine clay particles, quartz,
and calcite. Clay forms from the decomposition of the mineral feldspar and
silica. Shale is a fine-grained rock compressed in mud and clay. It can split
easily into fragile slabs due to its finely stratified or laminated structure
(fissility).
Conglomerate
- Composed of rounded clasts embedded in a finer-grained matrix.
- Found worldwide in riverbeds, alluvial fans, beaches, etc.
- Forms through lithification of gravel-sized sediment transported by
water or gravity.
Conglomerate is a clastic sedimentary rock made up of rounded clasts that
are greater than two millimeters in diameter. Much like sedimentary rocks,
Conglomerate can have a variety of compositions. It can contain clasts of any
rock material or weathering product that is washed downstream or down
current.
Breccia
- Composed of angular clasts cemented together.
- Found in fault zones, impact craters, volcanic regions, etc.
- Forms from accumulation and cementation of angular rock
fragments produced by faulting or mass movements.
It is a clastic sedimentary rock composed of large sharp-angled fragments
embedded in the fine-grained matrix of smaller particles or mineral cement.
Like conglomerate, it is made up of clustered rock fragments caused by
weathering and binding into a rock. However, the sharp-angled particles
explains that it did not travel far from the source. It did not go on longer
periods of geological processes.
Metamorphic Rocks
- Started as another type of rock changing the original or parent rock into a
completely new rock.
- Metamorphic rocks are almost always harder than sedimentary rocks. They
are generally as hard and sometimes harder than igneous rocks.
- Formed by recrystallization from sedimentary that occurs in a solid state
rather than melting the rock to form new minerals, textures, and crystal
structures.
 2 CATEGORIES OF METAMORPHIC ROCK
QUARTZITE
FOLIATED
- It is formed when quartz-rich sandstone or chert has been exposed to high
- Foliate is a Latin word that means “sheets.” temperatures and pressures. This process fuses the quartz grains forming a
dense, hard, equigranularity rock.
- These rocks have a layered or banded appearance due to the
alignment of minerals along planes of weakness in the rock. MARBLE
Examples of foliated metamorphic rocks include gneiss, schist, and
slate. - It is formed when limestone is exposed to high temperatures and pressures.
It forms under such conditions because the calcite forming the limestone
NON-FOLIATED recrystallizes forming a denser rock consisting of roughly equigranular
calcite crystals.
- Non-foliates are metamorphic rocks that have no cleavage
(layering) at all.

- These rocks do not have a layered or banded appearance and do not

have a preferred orientation of minerals. Examples of non-foliated
metamorphic rocks include marble, quartzite, and hornfels.

TYPES OF METAMORPHISM
CONTACT METAMORPHISM

- It occurs when magma comes in contact with an already-

existing body of rock. SLATE
- These existing rocks experience a rise in temperature and - Slate is a foliated metamorphic rock that is fine grained and shows no
infiltration from the magma fluid. obvious compositional layering. It can easily be split into thin slabs and
plates. The slate is formed by a metamorphosis of clay, shale, and volcanic
REGIONAL METAMORPHISM ash, which are commonly in the form of sedimentary rock.

- A result of large geologic processes such as mountain- building. It is the - The term “slate” is used in scientific writings only as recommended by the
most widespread type of metamorphism. British Geological Survey, as it is known about the rock that would allow a
more definite classification.
DYNAMIC METAMORPHISM
GNEISS
- Dynamic metamorphic rocks are restricted to narrow zones adjacent to
faults or thrusts. - It is formed as a result of regional metamorphism. Gneiss is a high-grade
metamorphic rock that has distinct banding and is usually distinguished
from schist by its foliation and shistosity. These types of rocks are subjected
to higher temperatures and pressures.
TYPES OF Metamorphic Rock
SCHIST
- Schist is a type of coarse-grained metamorphic rock that consists of layers
of different minerals and is formed by low-grade regional metamorphism.
These types of rocks are generally hard, often shiny, and have alternating
light and darker bands.

Some of the common types of Schist are:

- Chlorite Schist
- composed mainly of chlorite minerals, giving it a green color.

- Talc Schist
- dominated by talc minerals, known for its softness and soapy
feel.

- Graphite Schist
- contains significant amounts of graphite, resulting in a dark color
and sometimes a metallic luster.

CLASSIFICATION OF METAMORPHIC ROCKS

Regional
- These rocks have been subjected to regional metamorphism, which
occurs over a large area due to the action of heat and pressure caused by
the movement of tectonic plates. Examples of regional metamorphic
rocks include gneiss and schist.

Contact
- These rocks have been subjected to contact metamorphism, which
occurs when a rock is in contact with a body of molten magma. The
heat from the magma can cause the rock to undergo changes in its
mineralogy and texture. Examples of contact metamorphic rocks
include marble.

Hydrothermal

- These rocks have been subjected to hydrothermal metamorphism, which

occurs when hot, chemically active fluids flow through the rock and
alter its minerals. Examples of hydrothermal metamorphic rocks include
quartzite and slate.