Chap3 Igneous Rocks

IGNEOUS ROCKS
-From the Latin word ignis which means “fire”.
-Approximately 90% of the earth's crust is composed of igneous rocks but their great abundance is
hidden on the earth's surface by a relatively thin layer of sedimentary and metamorphic rocks.
-are formed by cooling and solidification of Magma. 'Magma' is a hot viscous, siliceous melt containing
water vapor and gases. Magma comes from great depth below the earth's surface, such magma is called
LAVA.
OCCURRENCE OF IGNEOUS ROCKS
TWO MAJOR TYPES OF IGNEOUS ROCKS
 Extrusive Or Volcanic Rocks(On The Surface)

-The rocks formed due to cooling and solidification of magma at the crust surface are called
"extrusive rocks". The extrusive rocks are also called the "volcanic rocks".
-Volcanic rocks often contain gas cavities, called the "vesicles". These rocks sometimes show
"flow structure" which is the result of movement in a viscous lava.
 Intrusive Or Plutonic Rocks (Below The Surface)

-Intrusive rocks are formed when magma crystallizes beneath the earth's surface. Depending on
the depth of formation, intrusive rocks are divided into two groups:
1. Plutonic Rocks- Rocks crystallized at great depths are called "plutonic rocks".
2. Hypabyssal Rocks- Hypabyssal rocks are formed when magma solidifies close to the
earth's surface. It exhibits mixed characteristics of volcanic and plutonic.
GENERAL PROPERTIES OF IGNEOUS ROCKS
1. They all contain minerals.

2. The majority are made up of silicate materials.
3. The process of igneous rock formation cannot be directly observed.
4. They can be fine-grained or coarse-grained.
5. Lava that cools quickly often has a glassy texture.
Igneous Rock Textures
Aphanitic- Describes the texture of fine-grained igneous rock in which different components are not
distinguishable by the unaided eye.
Glassy-Describes the texture of certain extrusive (volcanic) igneous rocks that is similar to broken glass
and developed as a result of rapid cooling of the lava without distinctive crystallization. Synonymous
with "vitreous.“
Phaneritic-Describes an igneous rock texture in which mineral grains are large enough to be seen with
the unaided eye and are of approximately equal size.
Porphyritic- Describes an igneous rock of any composition that contains conspicuous phenocrysts (larger
crystals) in a fine-grained groundmass.
Other Classifications of Igneous Rocks
Felsic Igneous Rock- Formed by magma that is dominated by silicon and aluminum.
Intermediate Igneous Rock - Intermediate igneous rock is formed by magma that has a composition
between felsic and mafic.
Mafic Igneous Rock - Mafic igneous rock is formed by magma that is dominated by ferromagnesian
minerals (iron and magnesium).
Ultramafic Igneous Rock- Ultramafic igneous rock is almost entirely ferromagnesian in nature, with the
addition of olivine.
DISTRIBUTION OF IGNEOUS ROCKS
IGNEOUS ROCKS FORM AT FOUR MAIN PLACES ON EARTH:
 At divergent boundaries, like mid-ocean ridges, plates drift apart and form gaps that are filled by
magma.
 Subduction zones occur whenever a dense oceanic plate is subducted underneath another
oceanic or continental plate
 At continental-continental convergent boundaries, large land masses collide, thickening and
heating the crust to melting.
 Hot spots, like Hawaii, form as the crust moves over a thermal plume rising from deep in the
Earth. Hot spots form extrusive igneous rocks.
EXAMPLES OF IGNEOUS ROCKS AND THEIR USES IN CONSTRUCTION
Granite-Granite is a light-colored igneous rock with grains large.
Syenite- Syenite is an igneous rock which is strong and durable like granite.
Diorite- Diorite is the name used for a group of coarse-grained igneous rocks with a Composition
between that of granite and basalt.
Gabbro- Gabbro is a coarse-grained, dark-colored, intrusive igneous rock.
Pegmatite- Pegmatites are extreme igneous rocks that form during the final stage of a magma’s
crystallization.
Dolerite- Dolerite is the medium-grained equivalent of gabbro.
Basalt- Basalt is a dark-colored, fine-grained, igneous rock composed mainly of plagioclase and pyroxene
minerals

Chap3 Igneous Rocks

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IGNEOUS ROCKS

-From the Latin word ignis which means “fire”.

OCCURRENCE OF IGNEOUS ROCKS

TWO MAJOR TYPES OF IGNEOUS ROCKS

 Extrusive Or Volcanic Rocks(On The Surface)

 Intrusive Or Plutonic Rocks (Below The Surface)

GENERAL PROPERTIES OF IGNEOUS ROCKS

1. They all contain minerals.

Igneous Rock Textures

Other Classifications of Igneous Rocks

DISTRIBUTION OF IGNEOUS ROCKS

IGNEOUS ROCKS FORM AT FOUR MAIN PLACES ON EARTH:

EXAMPLES OF IGNEOUS ROCKS AND THEIR USES IN CONSTRUCTION

Granite-Granite is a light-colored igneous rock with grains large.

Gabbro- Gabbro is a coarse-grained, dark-colored, intrusive igneous rock.

Dolerite- Dolerite is the medium-grained equivalent of gabbro.

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