PETROLOGY

Structure of the Earth

Classification of rocks
Origin of the Earth and Theory of Plate Tectonics
 PETROLOGY

Petrology is the study of rocks and conditions that

influence the formation of rocks.
Petrology is a branch of geology that focuses on the
chemical analysis in various fields such as petrography
and mineralogy.
Petrology plays an important role in ascertaining the
physical and chemical composition of rocks and the
different conditions that influence their formation.
Structure of the Earth

 The Earth is made up of 4 different layers

Crust
The crust is the thinnest layer of the Earth and is the layer
we live on.
It is made up of a variety of rocks and can reach up to
70 km thick in places.
Is divided into large chunks called tectonic plates.
Structure of the Earth

Mantle
Thickest layer of earth at 2,900km thick.
It makes up nearly 80% of the volume of the earth.
Made up of rock containing silicon, iron,
magnesium, aluminum oxygen and etc.
The mantle itself is divided into 2 layers, upper and
lower mantle and the heat within these layers drives
convection currents
 Structure of the Earth

 Outer core
 Is made up of liquid iron and nickel and is between 3,500-4,000ºC.
 As the liquid metal swirls around, it induces a current that generates the earth’s magnetic
field.
 Heat from the core powers the convection currents in the mantle.

 Inner Core
 The hottest part of the earth reaching temperatures between 4,000-4,7000ºC, which are
as hot as the surface of the sun
 It is made up of solid iron and nickel that are under so much pressure they cannot melt.
Classifications of Rocks

 Igneous rocks
 Intrusive igneous rocks
 Extrusive igneous rocks
 Metamorphic rocks
 Foliated metamorphic rocks
 Non-foliated metamorphic rocks
 Sedimentary Rocks
 Clastic sedimentary rocks
 Chemical sedimentary rocks
 Organic sedimentary rocks
Igneous Rocks

 Igneous rocks are formed from the solidification of molten rock material when molten
magma cool down.
 The upper 10 miles of the Earth’s crust compromises entirely of igneous rocks
 Igneous rock is formed through the cooling and solidification of magma or lava. Igneous
rock may form with or without crystallization, either below the surface as intrusive
(plutonic) rocks or on the surface as extrusive (volcanic) rocks.”
Two basic types of Igneous Rocks

 Intrusive igneous rocks crystallize below Earth's surface, and the slow cooling that occurs there
allows large crystals to form.

Gabbro Granite Pegmatite Peridotite

Two basic types of Igneous Rocks

 Extrusive igneous rocks erupt onto the surface, where they cool quickly to form small
crystals. Some cool so quickly that they form an amorphous glass.

Andesite Basalt Dacite Obsidian

 Metamorphic Rocks

Metamorphic rocks have been modified by heat, pressure,

and chemical processes, usually while buried deep below
Earth's surface. Exposure to these extreme conditions has
altered the mineralogy, texture, and chemical composition
of the rocks.
Metamorphic rocks are created by the physical or chemical
alteration by heat and pressure of an existing igneous or
sedimentary material into a denser form.
Two types of Metamorphic Rocks

 Foliated metamorphic rocks have a layered or banded appearance that is produced by

exposure to heat and directed pressure

Gneiss Phyllite Slate

Two types of Metamorphic Rocks

 Non-foliated metamorphic rocks do not have a layered or banded appearance.

Hornfels Marble Quartzite

 Sedimentary Rocks

 Sedimentary rocks are formed by the accumulation of sediments.

 Sedimentary rock, rock formed at or near the Earth’s surface by the
accumulation and lithification of sediment (detrital rock) or by the
precipitation from solution at normal surface temperatures (chemical rock).
Sedimentary rocks are the most common rocks exposed on the Earth’s
surface but are only a minor constituent of the entire crust, which is
dominated by igneous and metamorphic rocks.
 Sedimentary rocks are produced by the weathering of preexisting rocks and
the subsequent transportation and deposition of the weathering products.
Types of Sedimentary Rocks

 Clastic sedimentary rocks are formed from mechanical weathering debris.

Breccia Conglomerate Sandstone Siltstone

Types of Sedimentary Rocks

 Chemical sedimentary rocks, form when dissolved materials precipitate from solution.

Rock Salt Iron Ore Chert Flint

Types of Sedimentary Rocks

 Organic sedimentary rocks form from the accumulation of plant or animal debris.

Coal Dolomite Limestone

 ORIGIN OF THE EARTH

 Earth, along with the other planets, is believed to have been born 4.5 billion years
ago as a solidified cloud of dust and gases left over from the creation of the Sun.
 For perhaps 500 million years, the interior of Earth stayed solid and relatively cool,
perhaps 2,000°F.
 The main ingredients, according to the best available evidence, were iron and
silicates, with small amounts of other elements, some of them radioactive.

 The Big Bang

 The Big Bang Theory is the leading explanation about how the universe began. At its
simplest, it says the universe as we know it started with a small singularity, then inflated
over the next 13.8 billion years to the cosmos that we know today
 Theory of Plate Tectonics

Plate tectonics is the theory that Earth's outer shell is divided into
several plates that glide over the mantle, the rocky inner layer
above the core. The plates act like a hard and rigid shell
compared to Earth’s Mantle. This strong outer layer is called the
lithosphere, which is 100 km (60 miles) thick, according
to Encyclopedia Britannia. The lithosphere includes the crust and
outer part of the mantle. Below the lithosphere is the
asthenosphere, which is malleable or partially malleable, allowing
the lithosphere to move around. How it moves around is an
evolving idea.
Importance of Rocks in Nature

 The study of rocks helps us to understand the composition of the earth’s crust. The various
minerals and chemical properties of the mantle are important to petrologist. Various professions
such as civil engineering rely heavily on the findings of petrologists.
 By studying rocks, historical formation of the earth’s surface can be established. Methods such
as radiometric dating can be used to determine the time periods in which certain rock types
were formed. This helps in creating a comprehensive series of geological events.
 Scientists can now understand the tectonic processes that led to the formation of the earth’s
surface. This is because specific tectonic environments have distinct characteristics from others.
Scientists can, therefore, reconstitute these processes.
 Rocks are natural sources for important minerals and ores which are used as raw materials by
industries. Petrologists help in the discovery of new minerals hidden below the earth’s surface.
The supply of such minerals is also vital to ensuring sustenance and commercial viability.
 The study of the earth’s rocks helps in technological advancement.
The basic instrument of petrology

petrographic polarizing

microscope
 QUESTIONS TO PONDER

What Does a Petrologist Do?

Where Does a Petrologist Work?
What Is the Average Petrologist Salary?
 What Does a Petrologist Do?

Petrologists find certain types of rocks and

analyze them in a lab, determining their exact
composition and how to best extract valuable
minerals and natural resources from them. Using
geological data, these scientists advise their
employers on how to best approach resource
extraction from certain sites or how to approach
particular kinds of rock.
 Where Does a Petrologist Work?

Petrologists spend most of their time out in the

field collecting samples or in a laboratory. These
scientists may travel to particular sites or locations
to identify particular rock formations, study rock
strata, examine the geological structure of an
area, or take samples from rocks of interest.
 What Is the Average Petrologist Salary?

Petrologists make an average of $90,890

a year, with the highest 10% earning
around $187,200 and the lowest 10%
earning around $48,270.
Prepared By:
David Buesa Jr.
Christal Vien Parangue
John Leonard Villanueva