CHAPTER 3

Igneous Rocks

Igneous textures

Types of igneous textures

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Phaneritic
Aphanetic
Glassy
Porphyritic
Vesicular
Fragmental

1.PHANERITIC

2. Aphanetic

Coarse grain size; visible grains

(1-10 mm); result of slow
cooling
Examples: Granite, Diorite,
Gabbro

Fine grain size (< 1 mm); result of

quick cooling because there was no
sufficient time for the growth of large
crystals
Examples: Basalt, Rhyolite,Andesite

3.Glassy

4. Porphyritic

instantaneous cooling
Example:Obsidian=volcanic glass

Minerals
form
at
different
temperatures
Mixture of grain sizes caused by
mixed cooling history; slow cooling
first,followed by a period of
somewhat faster cooling.
Examples:porphyry

5. Vesicular

6.FRAGMENTAL

Contains tiny holes called vesicles

which formed due to gas bubbles in
the lava or magma.
Very porous and may resemble a
sponge.
Commonly low density; may float on
water.
Examples: Vesicular basalt, Pumice,
Scoria

Pieces of rock and ash come out of a

volcano and get welded together by
heat.
Fragmental material is composed of
pumice glass and broken crystals
Often appear more similar to
sedimentary rocks
Examples:Tuff , Volcanic breccia

COMPOSITION OF IGNEOUS
ROCKS

Igneous rocks can be placed into four groups based on

their chemical compositions:

Felsic (sialic or granitic)

Intermediate (andesitic)
Mafic (Basic or basaltic)
Ultramafic (Ultrabasic)

1 Felsic

2.INTERMEDIATE

Rich in feldspar and

silicon.
Usually light in color.
Major constituent of
continental crust
Rock types include:
1. Granite
2. Rhyolite

Contain 25% to 50% mafic

Rock types include:
1.Andesite (aphanitic)
2.Diorite (phaneritic)
Minerals commonly present include:
1. plagioclase feldspar
2. amphibole
3. pyroxene
4. Quartz
5.Biotite

3. MAFIC
4.ultramafic

Contains abundant ferromagnesian

minerals (magnesium and iron
silicates)
Usually dark in color (dark gray to
black)
Rock types include:
1.Basalt (aphanitic)
2.Gabbro (phaneritic)
Minerals commonly present include:
1.Ca-plagioclase feldspar
2.pyroxene
3.olivine
4.amphibole

Almost entirely magnesium

and iron silicates
(ferromagnesian minerals)
Rock types:
1.Peridotite (phaneritic)
2.Serpenite
Mineral present:
1.Olivine is dominant.
2.May have minor amounts
of pyroxene and Caplagioclase

Use of Igneous Rock in Civil

Engineering

-GABBRO:Use as crushed stone for concrete aggregate, road metal, railroad

ballast, etc. Smaller quantities are cut and polished for dimension stone and called
black granite
-BASALT:Can be used in aggregate and roadbeds. It is widely used for railroad
track beds.
-DIORITE: Since it has good strength and durability, can take a high polish, it can
be used as an architectural or ornamental stone but normally has the same uses as
basalt
.
-GRANITE: It makes a high grade aggregate for construction and is a favorite
dimension stone for statues, buildings and counter tops and is widely used in many
building products like asphalt shingles

Use of Igneous Rock in Civil

Engineering

-PUMICE:To make lightweight concrete or insulative

low-density cinder block
-SCORIA-Often used in landscaping and drainage work
-RHYOLITE-Used in construction and road industries