Rocks and The Rock Cycle

In order to begin a discussion to understand what

a rock is, we need to recall what a mineral is.
What are the 5 properties that determine if
something is a mineral?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Rocks and The Rock Cycle

In order to begin a discussion to understand what a

rock is, we need to recall what a mineral is.
What are the 5 properties that determine if
something is a mineral?
1. Must occur naturally.
2. Must be inorganic ( not from living organisms)
3. Must be solid.
4. Must have a crystal structure
5. Must have a definite chemical composition
( chemical formula)

Rocks and The Rock Cycle

A rock is a solid mixture of one or more
minerals.
The picture below shows a piece of granite,
which is a go-to example of a rock

Difference between a mineral and

a rock?
Minerals tend to have a characteristic
crystal structure based on chemical
composition,
Rocks have many minerals in them, so they
do not have a definite structure.
Granite (rock) is made of feldspar, quartz, amphibole,
mica, pyroxene, etc (all minerals).

Rocks and the Rock Cycle

The Three Rock Types Include:

1) Igneous Rocks (i.e. Fire Rocks from molten material)

2) Sedimentary Rocks (i.e. Layered Rocks from deposition)
3) Metamorphic Rocks (i.e. Changed Rocks)

All three rock types are interrelated through the rock

cycle. The three rock types are classified by their nature
of origin (i.e. formation).
Reference:
Tarbuck and Lutgens
Pages 15 - 17

Igneous Rocks
Rocks that have solidified from a molten state.
If the molten material is located below Earths
surface, then it is called magma. Magma is higher
in gases than lava.
If the molten material is located on Earths surface,
then it is called lava. Lava is lower in gases than
magma.

Igneous Rocks
There are two classifications of igneous rock,
which include:
1) Plutonic (intrusive) forms from magma.
Forms inside the earths crust
2) Volcanic (extrusive) forms from lava. On
Forms on earths surface

Igneous Rocks

Examples include:
Granite (Intrusive) and Rhyolite (Extrusive)
Diorite (Intrusive) and Andesite (Extrusive)
Gabbro (Intrusive) and Basalt (Extrusive)
Peridotite (Intrusive) and Komatiite (Extrusive)

Note that both rocks in each pair exampled above

has the same composition; however, one formed
from a lava and one formed from a magma.

What can you tell about these rocks that have the same
composition but are either intrusive or extrusive?
Extrusive

Extrusive

Intrusive

Intrusive

Extrusive

Extrusive

Intrusive

Intrusive

Extrusive Vs. Intrusive Igneous

Rocks
Extrusive are on the surface - cool quickly,
no time to form, so have small grains
Intrusive are in the earth - cool slowly, have
time to form so have larger grains

Sedimentary Rocks
Rocks formed when the weathered products (i.e. sediment) of
pre-existing rocks have been transported, deposited,
compacted, and cemented into solid rock.
These rocks usually show layering/strata/beds.
Usually formed in water environments. For example, sediment
being deposited by streams and rivers.
Most of Earths crust (95%) is igneous rocks; however, the
surface of the crust is largely covered by sedimentary rocks.
The Three classifications of Sedimentary Rocks include:
Clastic (i.e. Detrital)
Chemical
Organic (Biogenic)

Sedimentary Rocks
Examples include:
Shale, Siltstone, Sandstone, Breccia,
Conglomerate, Limestone, Dolomite, Chalk,
Coquina, Coal.
Note that clastic (i.e. detrital) sedimentary
rocks are classified by grain size.

Clastic (i.e. Detrital) sedimentary Rocks

Formed by deposition of rock and mineral
fragments

Chemical sedimentary Rocks

formed from minerals that were carried in
solution (dissolved in water) and are
deposited as precipitates.

Organic (Biogenic) Sedimentary Rocks

formed from the remains of dead animals.

Limestone

Chaulk

Metamorphic Rocks
Rocks formed below Earths surface when pre-existing
rocks (i.e. igneous, sedimentary, and even
metamorphic) are altered
3 Agents of Metamorphisism:
1. heat,
2. pressure, and
3. chemically active fluids (e.g. water).
NOTE: MELTING IS NOT INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS
OF METAMORPHISM.

Metamorphic Rocks
Metamorphism changes rocks in size, shape, texture, and
mineral composition.
Metamorphism varies in degree from:
1) High Grade. E.g. Granite changes to Gneiss
2) Low Grade.

E.g. Shale changes to Slate

Metamorphic Rocks
Examples of metamorphic rocks include:
Quartzite, Marble, Slate, Slate, Phyllite,
Schist, and Gneiss.
Note that there are two types of
metamorphism, which include:
Contact and Regional.

Pre-notes on the Rock Cycle

A) All three types of rocks could be weathered and eroded
compacted into sedimentary layers.
B) All three types of rocks could be metamorphosed if subjected to
appropriate conditions of metamorphism (for example: heat,
pressure, chemically-active fluids).
C) All three types of rocks could be melted if the temperatures
become high enough.
D) Once melting to a molten has occurred, igneous activity has
begun.
E) The process of melting is not involved in metamorphism. If it
melts, it becomes liquid rock, which will then cool to form Igneous
Rock.

 http://www.learner.org/interactives/rockcyc
le/diagram.html
http://www.geolsoc.org.uk/ks3/gsl/educatio
n/resources/rockcycle/page3892.html

Rock Cycle
Cooling and
Crystallization
(i.e.
solidification)

Igneous
(Volcanic)
(Plutonic)

Melting

Magma/
Lava

Melting

Metamorphic

Heat, Pressure, and Hot

Chemical Fluids
Heat,
Pressure,
and Hot
Chemical
Fluids

Sedimentary
(Clastic)
(Chemical)
(Organic)

Weathering
And
Erosion

Weathering
And
Erosion

Weathering
And
Erosion
Compaction
And
Cementing

Sediment
Examples include:
sand, silt, and clay
(mud)

Sample Problem
In the diagram below, rock types/materials are indicated by numbers and
processes are indicated by letters. Indicate the rock types/materials and
processes for the rock cycle diagram by completing the table below.
A

Answer:

1. Magma

2.

5.

Weathering
& Erosion

B
3.

D
C

4.

Rock Type / Materials

Processes

1.

Magma

Cool & Crystallize

2.

Igneous

Weathering and Erosion

3.

Sediments

Compacting & Cementing

4.

Sedimentary

Heat & Pressure

5.

Metamorphic

Melting