ROCKS

A rock is a naturally occurring, multi-granular aggregate

of minerals, and consists of fragments or pieces of one or
more kinds of mineral.
 TYPES OF ROCKS

Three types of rocks based on the way in which they form

 Igneous
 Sedimentary
 Metamorphic
THREE TYPES OF ROCKS
Rock cycle
 IGNEOUS ROCKS

Igneous rocks are rocks formed by the cooling,

solidification and crystallization of magma.

They consist of interlocking crystals of various minerals

– usually the common rock-forming minerals
ROCK FORMING MINERALS
 Simple classification of rock-forming
minerals
Mineral class S.G. Colour Typical mineral Abundant in
families
Felsic (salic) Low Light Quartz, feldspars, Acidic igneous
feldspathoids rocks

Mafic (femic) High Dark Pyroxenes, Basic igneous

amphiboles, micas, rocks
Ca- feldspars,
olivines
Granite – a typical igneous rock
MAGMA
 Magma and Lava is
rock in the molten
state. The solution
contains dissolved
elements, volatiles
(water), gasses and
mineral grains
(crystals)
Extrusive and Intrusive igneous rocks
 The three main magmas

Basaltic Andesitic Rhyolitic

Bowen’s Reaction Series
Crystal settling and segregation
 Chromite

Plagioclase
Forms of Igneous rocks
Lava flow – streets of Goma in DRC
A Dyke – a hypabyssal intrusive
Classifying igneous rocks by
composition and texture
 Simple classification of Igneous Rocks

Density
EXTRUSIVE INTRUSIVE
Essential minerals
SiO2 Hypabyssal Abyssal
%

ACID RHYOLITE Granophyre GRANITE Quartz, 2.6

alkali feldspars
INTERMEDIATE 63 ANDESITE Syenite- SYENITE Alkali feldspars
porphyry DIORITE
52
BASIC BASALT DOLERITE GABBRO/ Hornblende/ Pyroxene
NORITE plagioclase

ULTRABASIC 45 KIMBERLITE Kimberlite Peridotite Olivine 3.3

Acid Igneous Rocks

Granite Rhyolite
Intermediate Igneous Rocks

Diorite Andesite
Basic Igneous Rocks

Gabbro Basalt
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
 SEDIMENTARY ROCKS

Sedimentary rocks are rocks formed by the

lithification (change to rock) of the weathering
products of pre-existing igneous, metamorphic,
or sedimentary rocks.
Rock cycle
Characteristics of sedimentary rocks
Well-rounded, well-sorted, Interlocking crystals of an
cemented grains (sandstone) igneous rock (granite)
 CLASSES OF SEDIMENTARY ROCKS

 Mechanically formed (from original and new insoluble minerals)

 Organically formed (from organic matter, e.g. plants)

 Chemically formed (from soluble new minerals)

 Residual deposits (not transported from site of weathering)

 Classification of clastic sedimentary
rocks
Name of Particle size Sedimentary rock Size classification
fragment group name
Boulder > 256 mm Conglomerate/Breccia Rudaceous rocks
Cobble 64 - 256 mm Conglomerate/Breccia Rudaceous rocks
Pebble 8 - 64 mm Conglomerate/Breccia Rudaceous rocks
Granule 2 - 8 mm Conglomerate/Breccia Rudaceous rocks
Sand 0,05 - 2 mm Sandstone Arenaceous rocks
Silt 0,005 - 0,05 mm Siltstone Argillaceous rocks
Clay < 0,005 mm Mudstone, shale Argillaceous rocks
 Clastic Sediments
and Clastic Sedimentary Rocks
Coarse-grained Fine-grained
A. Sediments

Gravel Sand Silt Clay

Conglomerate B. Sedimentary
Sandstone Rocks
Siltstone Shale
Breccia
Cross-bedded sandstone
Chemical sedimentary rocks
(carbonate oolites)
Stromatolites
Stalagmites (shown) and
stalactites consist of
limestone
 Banded Iron Formation
Red-brown: iron oxides; Grey: chert

Brian J. Skinner
 METAMORPHIC ROCKS

Metamorphic rocks are rocks formed by the

solid state (without melting) change of pre-
existing rocks due to heat and pressure.
The rock cycle
 Agents of metamorphism
 HEAT: increased temperature close to
intrusive rocks, or from deep burial

 PRESSURE: lithostatic load from weight

of overlying rocks

 FLUIDS: hot fluids causing reaction with

existing minerals
 TYPES OF METAMORPHISM
 Thermal – CONTACT metamorphism:
caused mainly by increased heat

 Dynamic metamorphism:
caused by increased pressure with no/little heat

 Dynamothermal – REGIONAL metamorphism:

caused by increased temperature and pressure
over large areas – usually due to deep burial
Contact Metamorphism adjacent
to a Granite Intrusion
Dynamic metamorphism - Mylonite
Temperature and Pressure Conditions of
Metamorphism
Both temperature and pressure increase with depth
Granite Gneiss
GNEISS
 Well-developed
foliation texture

 Separation of Femic
and Salic minerals
into bands
Slaty metamorphic cleavage

Regional stresses
METAMORPHISM OF CLASTIC SEDIMENTARY ROCKS

 Conglomerate (Meta)-conglomerate
 Sandstone Quartzite
 Shale Slate Schist

METAMORPHISM OF CHEMICAL SEDIMENTARY ROCKS

 Limestone Marble
 Banded ironstone Banded ironstone
 Chert Quartzite
Garnet schist
Gneiss
Metamorphic grade