Earth Science

Rocks: It’s Three Main Categories

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 Lesson
Rocks: It’s Three Main
1 Categories

Rocks are not all the same!

The three main types, or classes, of rock are sedimentary, metamorphic,

and igneous and the differences among them have to do with how they are formed.
(https://www.learner.org/wp-content/interactive/rockcycle/types.html)

Figure 1. Rock Cycle

Source: https://www.learner.org/wp-content/interactive/rockcycle/index.html

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 Air temperature Surface
ranges from temperature ranges
Why are the temperatures of
Surface -88oC (winter in from 193oC (night
Earth and the Moon so
temperature polar regions) to in polar regions) to
different?
58oC (summer in 111oC (day in
tropical regions). Moon ABCs
equatorial Fact Sheet
regions).

Property 25 % Earth
land 84 % heavily-
Moo Brain Busters
(seven cratered
n
continents) with highlands.
How long would it take to drive
Equatorial varied terrain of 16 % basalt-covered Compare maps of Earth and
12,756 km 3,476 km around the Moon's equator at
Surface
diameter mountains, maria. the Moon. Is there any
80 km per hour?
features plains, river Impact craters-- evidence that plate
The Moon's surface area is
valleys. Ocean
510 some with bright
37.8 million tectonics operated on the
Surface area floor
million rays,
square crater
km chains,
similar to that of one of Earth's
Moon?
continents. Which one?
characterized
square km by and
mountains, rilles. What percentage of Earth's mass
Mass 5.98 x 1024 kg
plains. 7.35 x 1022 kg
is the Moon's mass?
Sediment or --- Can you calculate the volumes of
Volume Iron, nickel metal
Same,
--- but core What portion of each body is
Earth and the Moon?
Regolith is much smaller core?
Check this by calculating the
5.52 grams per 3.34 grams per
Density cubic cm cubic cm
density from the mass and
volume.
Surface What fraction of Earth's gravity
9.8 m/sec/sec 1.63 m/sec/sec
gravity is the Moon's gravity?
Silicate rocks. Silicate
Continents rocks.
dominated by Highlands What portion of each body is
Crust granites. Ocean dominated crust?
crust dominated by feldspar-
by basalt. rich
rocks and maria by
basalt.
Silicate rocks
Collect some silicate rocks and
dominated by
determine the density. Is the
Mantle minerals Similar to Earth.
density greater or lesser than the
containing iron
Earth/Moon's density? Why?
and magnesium.
Same, but core is What portion of each body is
Core Iron, nickel metal
much smaller core?
Silicon and oxygen
bound in minerals,
Silicon and glass produced by
oxygen bound meteorite impacts,
Do you think life ever
Sediment or in minerals that small amounts of
existed on the Moon?
Regolith contain water, gases (e.g.,
Why or why not?
plus organic hydrogen)
materials. implanted by the
solar wind.
No water or organic
materials.
Basically none.
Some carbon gases
(CO2, CO, and
Atmosphere methane), but very
78 % nitrogen, Could you breathe the lunar
main 21 % oxygen
little of them.
atmosphere?
constituents) Pressure is about
one trillionth of
Earth’s atmospheric
pressure.
Length of
day
How long does daylight last
(sidereal 23.93 hours 27.3 Earth days
on the Moon? 3
rotation
period)
Exploring the Moon -- A Teacher's Guide with Activities, NASA EG-1997-10-116-HQ
Source: https://www.nasa.gov/pdf/180556main_ETM.Moon.ABCs.Fact.Sheet.pdf

Rocks are any solid mass of mineral or mineral-like matter occurring

naturally as part of our planet. Rocks are naturally occurring consolidated
substances, which may be made up of minerals, other rock pieces, and fossil
materials, such as shells or plants. Rocks are the result of various geological
processes that occur both at and beneath the Earth’s surface or, in the case of
meteorites, in other parts of the Universe. Rocks can be studied and differentiated
between by grouping together those types that share a similar appearance, similar
composition, and the same process of formation.

How are rocks classified?

Rocks are classified according to how they are formed. From the diagram above,
we can see that:
1. Igneous rocks are formed by the cooling or solidification of magma or lava.
2. Metamorphic rocks are formed by preexisting rocks that are exposed to
extreme heat and pressure in the Earth’s interior, a process
called metamorphism.
3. Sedimentary rocks are formed by the compaction and cementation of
sediments, a process called lithification.

Also, we can see that one type of rock can be transformed into another type
depending on the process that it goes through.

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 Figure 1. Rock Cycle
Source: https://civiltoday.com/geotechnical-engineering/geology/258-rock-cycle-process-steps- with-
diagram

Igneous Rocks rocks that are formed from the solidification of molten rock
material (magma or lava). Molten rock material can solidify below the surface of the
earth (plutonic igneous rocks) or at the surface of the Earth (volcanic igneous rocks).
Minerals are formed during the crystallization of the magma. Note that the rate of
cooling is one of the most important factors that control crystal size and the texture
of the rock in general.

What is the difference between lava and magma?

Igneous rocks are further classified as intrusive or extrusive igneous based

on grain size.
 Intrusive rocks, or plutonic
rocks, are igneous rocks
formed from solidified
magma underneath the
earth. They are coarse-
grained due to the slow
cooling of magma allowing
crystal growth due to the
gradual lowering of the
temperature gradient at
depth towards the surface
would cause slow
cooling/crystallization. Most
of the intrusive rocks have
phaneritic texture.
Examples: granite, diorite,
gabbro. Figure 2. Extrusive rock (1) and Intrusive rock (2)
Source: https://slideplayer.com/slide/5682229/

 Extrusive rocks, or volcanic rocks, are igneous rocks formed on the surface
of the earth. They are cooled lava, which are molten rocks ejected on the
surface through volcanic eruptions. They are fine-grained due to abrupt
cooling on the surface. The fast rate of cooling/crystallization is due to huge
variance in the temperature between Earth’s surface and underneath. The
common textures of extrusive rocks are aphanitic, porphyritic and vesicular.
Examples: rhyolite, andesite, basalt
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 Igneous rocks are also classified according to silica content: felsic,
intermediate, mafic and ultramafic.
• felsic: also called granitic; >65% silica, generally light-colored
• intermediate: also called andesitic; 55-65% silica; generally medium
colored (medium gray)
• mafic: also called basaltic; 45-55% silica; generally dark colored
• ultramafic: <45% silica; generally very dark colored; composed mainly of
olivine and pyroxene which are the major constituents of the upper mantle

Sedimentary Rocks

These are rocks that formed through the accumulation, compaction, and
cementation of sediments. They generally form at surface or near surface
conditions.

Sedimentary processes at or near the surface of the Earth include:

weathering of rocks, sediment transport and deposition, compaction and
cementation.

Factors in sedimentary processes: weathering and transport agents (water,

wind ice)

• Common sedimentary features: strata and fossils

a) Strata: >1cm is called bedding and anything less is called lamination;

layering is the result of a change in grain size and composition; each layer
represents a distinct period of deposition.
b) Fossils: remains and traces of plants and animals that are preserved in

rocks Sedimentary rocks are classified into clastic or non-clastic.

 Clastic sedimentary rocks are made up of sediments from preexisting rocks.

When preexisting rocks are physically weathered and eroded, they form
sediments. When these sediments are transported, deposited, and lithified, they
form the clastic sedimentary rocks. These rocks can be identified based on their
grain sizes that can range from 0.002 mm (e.g. clay size) to > 2 mm (coarse
gravel).

 Non-clastic sedimentary rocks can be biological, chemical, or a combination

of both. Biological sedimentary rocks are lithified accumulation of dead
organisms. Examples include coal (formed from carbon-rich plants) and
limestone (formed from the remains of calcareous organisms). On the other
hand, chemical sedimentary rocks are from chemical precipitation. An
example is rock salt formed when dissolved salts precipitate from a solution.
Below is a table of chemical sedimentary rocks based on composition and
texture size.

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 Non-clastic sedimentary rocks can be biological, chemical, or a combination
of both. Biological sedimentary rocks are lithified accumulation of dead
organisms. Examples include coal (formed from carbon-rich plants) and
limestone (formed from the remains of calcareous organisms). On the other
hand, chemical sedimentary rocks are from chemical precipitation. An
example is rock salt formed when dissolved salts precipitate from a solution.
Below is a table of chemical sedimentary rocks based on composition and
texture and size.

Figure 3. Clastic Sedimentary Rocks Figure 4. Chemical Sedimentary Rocks

Source: https://slideplayer.com/slide/8534980/

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 Figure 5. Scheme for Sedimentary Rock Identification
Source: https://castlelearning.com/review/reference/earth10.htm

Metamorphic Rocks

These are rocks that form from the transformation of pre-existing rocks
(igneous, sedimentary, or metamorphic rocks) through the process of
metamorphism. Metamorphism can involve changes in the physical and chemical
properties of rocks in response to heat, pressure, and chemically active fluids. They
are commonly formed underneath the earth through metamorphism.

Metamorphic rocks can be classified as foliated or non-foliated based on texture.

 Foliated metamorphic rocks have layered or banded appearance

produced by Regional metamorphism, exposure to high temperatures and
pressures. As the rock is drawn deeper into Earth, chemical changes in the
minerals, crystal growth, and compaction cause the original parent rock to
be metamorphosed.
o Examples include slate, phyllite, schist, and gneiss.

 In contrast, non-foliated metamorphic rocks do not have layered

appearance and was formed that have undergone contact metamorphism
where rocks are not exposed to the intense pressure that is found deeper
within Earth.
o Examples include marble, quartzite, and anthracite.

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 Foliated and non-foliated metamorphic rocks can be further classified based
on their parent rocks. However, such classification can be difficult because of the
rock alteration during metamorphism. The table below shows the parent rocks of
different foliated and non-foliated rocks.

Figure 6. Scheme for Metamorphic Rock Identification

Source: https://www.kean.edu/~csmart/Structural/Lectures/01/Rock%20Review.htm

There is a popular saying, “Nothing is unchanging except change itself.” What

do you think it means? How could you relate it with rocks? This saying emphasizes
that whether we are aware of it, everything around us is changing. Many geological
changes occur so slowly that they are difficult to observe just like the rock cycle in
figure 7.

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 Figure 7. The Rock Cycle
Source: https://www.learner.org/wp-content/interactive/rockcycle/rockdiagram/

But nearly everywhere, rocks are slowly changing as they adjust to the
conditions and environment in which they are found. These changes are shown in
a model of Earth environments and materials called the rock cycle. The rock cycle
illustrates how geologic processes occurring both at the surface and underneath the
Earth’s surface can change a rock from one type to another as well as an example
of how Earth recycles itself. The sample diagram illustrates the series of natural
processes that can change rocks from one kind to another.

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