Why Are Rocks Important To Us

Rocks are important because we use them for making jewellery,

generating energy and even for making tools. They are also the
foundation from which soil is formed. They are also used as build
blocks and decorative stones for modern architecture
Buildings, Roads, Bridges, Concrete, Extract minerals like iron
(Fe) to make steel, Toothpaste, Salt,Sandpaper, Decorations,
Jewelry
ROCKS come in cool colors, shapes, textures, and sizes and are
found all around you, but how much do you REALLY know about
them?
A rock is a naturally occurring solid mixture of one or more
minerals, or organic matt e . ALso is a substance that is or was a
natural part of the solid Earth, or lithosphere.
Appearance of a Rock
The appearance of a rock is determined by two major factors
Mineralogy refers to the relative proportions of the
constituent minerals
Texture is determined by the size, shape and arrangement of
the mineral cry stals
Mineralogy and texture are related to how and where a rock was
formed and what has happened to the rock since it was created
TYPES OF ROCK
Rocks change over time through the rock cycle which is the
interaction of plate tetonic and climate systems which make
three types of Rocks
Sedimentary
Igneous;
Metamorphic,

ROCK CYCLE
A continuous process that causes rock to change from one form to
another




Most rocks on earth began as igneous rocks.The Igneous rocks are
formed from magma. The Magma cools and solidifies into rock.
When the igneous rocks are exposed on the surface, the time and
weather break the rock down, into smaller and smaller pieces.(
called weathering and erosion)
Wind and water carry the smaller pieces of igneous rocks into
piles called sediment beds. Over time the sediment beds get
buried and its become cemented together to form a new type of
rock (called a sedimentary rock)
If the sedimentary rock is exposed at the surface, it can be eroded
away and eventually changed into new sedimentary rock.
However, if the sedimentary rock gets buried deep in the Earth.
The heat and pressure essentially bake the rock, changing it into a
new rock (This process is called metamorphosis), and the new
rock is called a metamorphic rock. Metamorphosis can happen to
igneous rocks as well.
Metamorphic rocks can also be weathered and eroded and
eventually changed into sedimentary rocks. Or, if metamorphic
rock is forced deeper into the Earth, the rock can melt and
become magma. If the magma cools and hardens it will form into
igneous rock

IGNEOUS ROCkS
Igneous rock forms when magma cools and makes crystals.
Magma is a hot liquid made of melted minerals. When
magma pours onto the earths surface it is called lava. The
minerals can form crystals when they cool.
Igneous rock can form underground, where the magma cools
slowly. Or, igneous rock can form above ground, where the
magma cools quickly.
The crystals grow together and form one igneous rocks.
What is the difference between magma and lava?
Magma = molten rock below the earths surface
Lava = molten rock flowing on the earths surface
What are the 8 elements that make up magma?
Silicon, oxygen, aluminum, iron, calcium, sodium, potassium,
magnesium

As i mentioned earler the Igneous Rocks are formed by the
solidification of magma (molten rock) Their origin is associated
with the movement of tectonic plates, and they play an important
role in the spreading of seafloor, the origin of mountains, and the
evolution of continents. The best-known examples of igneous
activity are volcanic eruptions, in which liquid rock
When Do Rocks Melt?
Melting starts at ~700o C
When the temperature exceeds the melting point of the rock or
some minerals within the rock
Minerals melt at different temperaturas
Three Factors Affecting Melting of Rocks Pressure: Increased
pressures raises melting points Water Content: Increased water
content lowers melting points Composition: Felsic minerals melt
at lower temperatures than mafic minerals
We Classify Igneous Rocks by Genetics (Origin)
There are two classes of igneous rocks
Intrusive
Extrusive
Extrusive igneous rocks form when magma erupts at the surface
(i.e., above ground) and rapidly cools
Intrusive igneous rocks form when magma intrudes into bedrock
and slowly cools (i.e., below ground)



We Can Also Classify Igneous Rocks by Composition Mineralogy
There are four major divisions of igneous rocks based upon the
content of elements in the minerals:
Felsic: light colored rocks that are rich in elements such as
aluminum, potassium, silicon, and sodium
Mafic: dark colored rocks that are rich in calcium, iron, and
magnesium, poor in silicon
Coarse-grained: takes longer to cool, giving mineral crystals
more time to grow
Fine-grained: cools quickly with little to no crystals
Obsidian is a dark-colored volcanic glass that forms from the very
rapid cooling of molten rock material. It cools so rapidly that
crystals do not form.