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UNIT 3
INTRUSIVE IGNEOUS ROCKS
GUIDE QUESTIONS
Discuss briefly the following
1. The Rock Cycle
It is a fundamental concept showing the transition of rocks from type into another. In addition, it is also a chain of process that produces and transform the rock types in earth crust. It is driven by two forces. o Earth’s internal heat engine, which moves material around in the core and the mantle and leads to slow but significant changes within the crust. o the hydrological cycle, which is the movement of water, ice, and air at the surface, and is powered by the sun.
2. Three types of rocks
Igneous Rock o A igneous rock is from through the cooling and crystallization of magma. Sedimentary Rock o This rock was form through the buried, compressed and cemented weathered fragments of other rocks. Metamorphic Rock o It is formed due to heat, pressure or any chemical action or known as alteration of pre existing igneous. 3. Classification of Igneous rocks Felsic o It is a igneous rock that are rich in felspar and silicon. They are made of lighter elements. The most common type of felsic rock is the granite. Intermediate o Felsic and mafic these are the composition that a intermediate rock composed of. It contains roughly-equal amounts of light and also dark minerals. It includes andesite and dacite. Mafic o It is a silicate mineral that is rich in magnesium and iron. It is commonly and mostly in dark in colors. It includes basalt and its coarse grained intrusive equivalent, gabbro. Ultramafic o It is extremely low silica composition, made of almost all olivine and pyroxene. It includes peridotite, kimberlite, lamprophyre and komatiite.
4. Name some important igneous rocks and their uses
Basalt o It is used for many variety of purposes. Mostly basalt are crushed for uses. Basalt that are crushed is commonly used for road base, filter stone in drain fields and other purposes. Obsidian o This rock is a popular gemstone. Mostly obsidian is cut into beads or mostly used for manufactured tumbled stone. In history, obsidian is used to make weapons, implements, ornaments, tools and mirrors. Pumice o It is use as an abrasive in cleaning , souring compounds and polishing . Tuff o It is used as an building materials. It is common in Italy and Romans used it for many buildings and bridges. Rhyolite o It is used or most suitable as aggregate, building material, road industries, cutting tool ,decorative rock and jewelry. Scoria o It is used in landscaping and drainage works. It is commonly used in gas barbeque grill, can be used for high-temperature insulation and lastly can be used on oil well sites to limit mud issues. Andesite o Used for construction sector, mostly in infrastructures such as houses, bridges, roads and many more that related in infrastructures. It can also be used as a basic material in making sculptures. Pegmatites o Used as architectural stones, used also for mineral mining and industrial minerals and lastly, used in gemstone mining. Dolerites o Used in monumental masonry, building material, concrete aggregate, paving stone, road stone, road stones and ornamental stones 5. Engineering importance of igneous rocks Many igneous rocks are used as a materials specially for constructions. They are typically impervious, hard, strong and form a very strong foundations like dams and reservoirs. The granites, and dolerites are consider as can be easily trusted in constructions works. Basalts and other rocks that has a dark colored igneous rocks can be use as a foundation and road stones. Some igneous rocks are valuable also for they may contain many important minerals of much economic worth.
