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Primary Structures

The document outlines the primary structures of igneous and sedimentary rocks, detailing factors influencing igneous rock structures such as magma composition and cooling rate. It categorizes igneous structures into mega and micro structures, including flow, vesicular, and pillow structures, as well as jointing and foliation. For sedimentary rocks, it describes major structures like stratification and graded bedding, along with minor structures such as mud cracks and ripple marks.

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13 views46 pages

Primary Structures

The document outlines the primary structures of igneous and sedimentary rocks, detailing factors influencing igneous rock structures such as magma composition and cooling rate. It categorizes igneous structures into mega and micro structures, including flow, vesicular, and pillow structures, as well as jointing and foliation. For sedimentary rocks, it describes major structures like stratification and graded bedding, along with minor structures such as mud cracks and ripple marks.

Uploaded by

ametaprince00
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Primary Structures of

Igneous & sedimentary


Rock
Structures of Igneous Rocks
The development of various structures in rock depend
upon several factors:

1. Composition of magma

2. Viscosity of magma

3. Rate of cooling of magma

4. Presence of gases and other volatile material in

magma etc.
Igneous Structures are broadly divided into

two groups:

Mega – Structures

Micro – Structures
Flow Structure
 These structures are generally present in volcanic rocks

and formed due to the mobility (movement) of lava.

 In the flow structures, development of parallel or

nearly parallel bands or layers are seen which are formed

by the arrangement of early crystalline particles in the

direction of flow of lava.


Vesicular & Amygdaloidal Structures
When lava charged by gases and other volatile
materials, are erupted on the earth surface, the gases
contents released out from the magma (lava).

As such at the top surface of flow, empty cavities of


variable size and shape are formed.

The individual opening is known as “Vesicles” and the


structure as a whole is called as “Vesicular Structure”.
Vesicular
Structure
Cellular or Scoriaceous structures
When lava is heavily charged with volatile material or

gases, numerous cavities are formed,

giving rise to the spongy

character.
The vesicles sometimes filled in with some secondary
minerals such as Calcite, Zeolite etc. These infillings are
called as “Amygdales” and lava containing
“Amygdaloidal Structures”.
Block Lava
The lava of acidic composition is highly viscous. Due to

their high viscosity it do not flow to greater distance and

after solidification it has

very rough surface and

show broken and

fragmental appearance.
Ropy Lava
Lavas of basic composition are quite mobile because
of their low viscosity and they can flow to greater
distance and after solidification offers very smooth
surface.
Pillow Structure
• Basaltic lava flow that exhibit “Pillow like

appearance” . They are rounded lumps of lava.


Pillow basalt is a volcanic igneous rock

that forms when lava of basaltic compositionis

erupted underwater. The rapid cooling of the lava by

cold water on all sides forms the pillow-shaped

bodies, which can then break open and extrude more

of the hot lava from inside.


Jointing Structures
Cracks or joints are produced in the body of cooling

magma or lava. These some times follow a definite

pattern, giving rise different types of jointing structures.

1. Sheet Structure

2. Platy Structure

3. Columnar Jointing
Sheet Structure:

The development of one set of well defined horizontal

joints give rise sheet structures.

Platy Structures:

The development of different sets of joints, give rise

plate type appearance of rock.


Columnar Jointing:

During the cooling, sometimes few sets of vertical

joints developed. Such joints bring about the

formation of columns which are square, rectangular,

hexagonal etc.
Micro – Structures
Primary Foliation:

Some times in igneous rocks parallel arrangement of

platy mineral grains are seen, giving rise foliation

structure.

Graphic Structure:

It is an intergrowth of quartz and orthoclase feldspar.


Myrmekite Structure

It is produced by an intergrowth of quartz and feldspar

(plagioclase) where quartz occurs as drops in

plagioclase.

Xenolithic Structure

Occurrence of foreign rock fragment within in an

igneous rock give rise Xenolithic structure.


Graphic intergrowth Myrmekitic structure
Reaction Rim
When already crystallized crystal reacts with magma,

the corroded crystal is formed surrounded by product of

reaction.
Spherulitic Structure
Structure present generally in volcanic rocks when in

radiating arrangement of micro – crystal about a

common centre.
Structures of Sedimentary
Rocks
The important major structures of sedimentary

rocks are

1. Stratification

2. Lamination

3. Graded bedding

4. Current Bedding and Ripple Marks


Besides these, there are some minor structures

such as

1. Mud cracks

2. Rain prints and

3. Tracks etc.
Stratification
Deposition of sediments into layers or beds is called the

“Stratification”. The planes dividing different beds are

called the “Bedding Plane”. The thickness of a bed may

vary from a few centimeter to many meters. Each bed is

different to other by Different in mineralogical

composition, Variation in grain size and texture,

Different in color and Variation in thickness.


Lamination
The bedding, less than 1 centimeter in thickness, are

called “Lamination”. Each bed which has 1 centimeter

thickness is called “Lamina”. Lamination is usually

found in very fined grained rocks.

In Lamination, parallel arrangements of minerals within

a bed whereas Stratification refers to a succession of beds

separated by bedding planes.


Graded Bedding
In graded bedding each bed represent a gradation in

grain size from coarse to fine. The Graded Bedding

result from rapid sedimentation in water. The largest

particles are dropped first and then progressively finer

particles are deposited.


Used in determination of top and bottom of beds.
Fine grains are show top and coarse grains are
show bottom of beds.
Current Bedding
Current Bedding is also known as the “Cross Bedding”.

In this structure minor beds or lamination lie at an

angle. These minor beds commonly terminate abruptly

at the top where they are overlain by the next current

bedded deposit. Current bedding is commonly found in

shallow water and wind formed deposits.


Used in determination of top and bottom of beds.
The truncated side is top and tangential side is
bottom.
Ripple Marks
“Ripple Marks” are the wavy undulations seen on the

surface of bedding planes. They are produced by the

action of waves and current in shallow water. Ripple

Marks are of two types:

Asymmetrical or Current Ripple Marks, and

Symmetrical or oscillation Ripple Marks


Used in determination of current direction where
as the crests are dipping that the flow direction.
Mud - Cracks
“Mud - Cracks” are often found in the fine grained
sedimentary rocks that have been exposed to drying
under sub – aerial conditions. They are polygonal in
plane. Used in determination of top and bottom of
beds. Mud cracks are characteristic of the flood plains
of large rivers. Mud Crack is also called is “Sun -
Cracks”.
Rain Print
A “Rain Print” is a slight shallow depression

rimmed by a low ridge which is raised by the impact

of the rain drop. It is formed when a brief rain

shower falls on a smooth surface of fine grained

sediment.
Tracks and Trails
“Tracks and Trails” are the markings indicating the

passage of some animal over soft sediments.


Thank
You

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