Igneous Rocks

Igneous Rocks
Hot rocks/Fire Rocks
Igneous Rock
Igneous rocks
form when molten
rock cools and
solidifies. Molten
rock is called
magma when it is
below the Earths
surface and lava
when it is above.
Crystal size
when molten
rock cools
and
solidifies
Magma
(below)
Lava
(above)
Igneous Rock
classification
Igneous rocks are classified two
different ways:
Where they were formed
What they are made from (mineral
composition)
Part 1
Classifying igneous rocks by where
they are formed.
Intrusive Igneous Rocks

Igneous rocks that form
below the Earths surface
are called intrusive igneous
rocks (or plutonic).
The word plutonic comes
from Pluto, the name for the
Greek god of the underworld.
They form when magma
enters a pocket or chamber
underground that is
relatively cool and solidifies
into crystals as it cools very
slowly.
Crystal size
magma
Intrusive
slowly
large
when molten
rock cools
and
solidifies
Magma
(below)
Lava
(above)
Intrusive Igneous Rock
Diorite
Gabbro
Granite
Most intrusive rocks have

large, well formed
crystals. The mineral
crystals within them are
large enough to see
without a microscope.
The more slowly molten
rock cools within the
Earth, the larger the
igneous rocks crystals will
be.
Examples of intrusive
igneous rocks are granite,
gabbro and diorite
Crystal size
magma
Intrusive
slowly
large
Granite, gabbro,
diorite
when molten
rock cools
and
solidifies
Magma
(below)
Lava
(above)
Extrusive Igneous Rocks

Extrusive igneous rocks, or
volcanics, form when magma
makes its way to Earth's
surface. The molten rock
erupts or flows above the
surface as lava, and then
cools forming rock.
Most extrusive (volcanic)
rocks have small crystals.
Examples include basalt,
rhyolite, and andesite.
Lava
Quickly
Crystal size
Small or
not visible
Pumice,
obsidian,
basalt
magma
Extrusive
Intrusive
slowly
large
Granite, gabbro,
diorite
when molten
rock cools
and
solidifies
Magma
(below)
Lava
(above)
Volcanic Glass
Pumice, obsidian, and scoria are
examples of volcanic glass.
These rocks cooled so quickly that
few or no mineral grains formed.
Most of the atoms in these rocks are
not arranged in orderly patterns, and
few crystals are present.
Glassy Igneous Rocks

Glassy Igneous Rocks cool so rapidly, that atoms dont
have enough time to get together, bond and form
crystals. To cool this quickly the rocks MUST be
extrusive.
Pumice (left)
Scoria (bottom left)

Obsidian (bottom)
Note gasses in the lava can
cause fine holes called
vesicles as seen in the pumice
and scoria.
Part 2
Classifying by mineral composition
Magma types
A way to further classify these
rocks is by the magma from which
they form. An igneous rock can
form from, granitic, andesitic, or
basaltic magma.
Magma composition determines
the physical & chemical
properties of an igneous rock
Lava
Slowly
Crystal size
granitic
Small or
not visible
Pumice,
obsidian,
basalt
magma
Physical & chemical

properties
Extrusive
andesitic
Intrusive
slowly
large
Granite, gabbro,
diorite
when molten
rock cools
and
solidifies
Magma
(below)
basaltic
Lava
(above)
*SiO2 = Silicon Fe = Iron Mg = Magnesium
Basaltic Igneous
Rocks
Basaltic igneous rocks are dense, dark-colored
rocks.
They form from magma that is rich in iron and
magnesium and poor in silica, which is the compound
SiO2.
The presence of iron and magnesium in minerals in
basalt gives basalt its dark color.
Basaltic lava is fluid and flows freely from volcanoes
in Hawaii, such as Kilauea.
Basalt is the most common rock type in the Earth's
crust (the outer 10 to 50 km). In fact, most of the
ocean floor is made of basalt
Lava
Slowly
Crystal size
granitic
Small or
not visible
Pumice,
obsidian,
basalt
magma
Physical & chemical

properties
Extrusive
andesitic
Intrusive
Rich in Fe & Mg
slowly
large
Granite, gabbro,
diorite
poor in SiO2
when molten
rock cools
and
solidifies
Magma
(below)
basaltic
Lava
(above)
Dense & dark

colored
Ocean floor &
Hawaii
Granitic Rocks
Granitic igneous rocks are light-colored rocks of
lower density than basaltic rocks.
Granitic rocks are coarse-grained
Granitic magma is thick and stiff and contains lots
of silica but lesser amounts of iron and magnesium.
It is the most common rock type on the continental
land masses. Yosemite Valley in the Sierra Nevada
and Mt. Rushmore are two notable examples of
granitic rocks
Lava
High SiO2
Slowly
Crystal size
granitic
Small or
not visible
Pumice,
obsidian,
basalt
magma
Low Fe & Mg
Light colored,
less dense
On the
continents
Physical & chemical

properties
Extrusive
andesitic
Intrusive
Rich in Fe & Mg
slowly
large
Granite, gabbro,
diorite
poor in SiO2
when molten
rock cools
and
solidifies
Magma
(below)
basaltic
Lava
(above)
Dense & dark

colored
Ocean floor &
Hawaii
Andesitic Rocks
Andesitic igneous rocks have mineral
compositions between those of basaltic and
granitic rocks.
Many volcanoes around the rim of the
Pacific Ocean formed from andesitic
magmas.
Like volcanoes that erupt granitic magma,
these volcanoes also can erupt violently.
Rocks made from andesite tend to be finegrained.
Lava
High SiO2
Slowly
Crystal size
granitic
Small or
not visible
Pumice,
obsidian,
basalt
magma
Low Fe & Mg
Light colored,
less dense
On the
continents
Physical & chemical

properties
b/t basaltic &

granitic
Extrusive
andesitic
Grey, medium
Pacific Rim
Intrusive
Rich in Fe & Mg
slowly
large
Granite, gabbro,
diorite
poor in SiO2
when molten
rock cools
and
solidifies
Magma
(below)
basaltic
Lava
(above)
Dense & dark

colored
Ocean floor &
Hawaii

Igneous Rocks

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Igneous Rocks

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Igneous Rocks

Hot rocks/Fire Rocks

Intrusive Igneous Rocks

Intrusive Igneous Rock

Most intrusive rocks have

Extrusive Igneous Rocks

Glassy Igneous Rocks

Scoria (bottom left)

Physical & chemical

*SiO2 = Silicon Fe = Iron Mg = Magnesium

Physical & chemical

Dense & dark

Physical & chemical

Dense & dark

Physical & chemical

b/t basaltic &

Dense & dark

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