What Are Rocks?

Rocks are mineral aggregates with a combination of properties of all the mineral traces. Any unique
combination of chemical composition, mineralogy, grain size, texture, or other distinguishing
characteristics can describe rock types. Additionally, different classification systems exist for each
major type of rock. There are different types of rocks existing in nature.

Rocks which are found in nature rarely show such simple characteristics and usually exhibit some
variation in the set of properties as the measurement scale changes.

Types of Rocks
There are three types of rocks:

 Igneous Rocks
 Sedimentary Rocks
 Metamorphic Rocks

Igneous Rock
Igneous rock is one of the three main rock types. Igneous rock is formed through the cooling and
solidification of magma or lava. Igneous rock may form with or without crystallisation, either below the
surface as intrusive (plutonic) rocks or on the surface as extrusive (volcanic) rocks.

This magma can be derived from partial melts of existing rocks in either a planet’s mantle or crust.
Typically, the melting is caused by one or more of three processes: an increase in temperature, a
decrease in pressure, or a change in composition.

Types of Igneous Rock

Following are the two types of igneous rock:

1. Intrusive igneous rock: These rocks crystallise below the earth’s surface resulting in large crystals as the
cooling takes place slowly. Diorite, granite, and pegmatite are examples of intrusive igneous rocks.
2. Extrusive igneous rock: These rocks erupt onto the surface resulting in small crystals as the cooling takes
place quickly. The cooling rate for a few rocks is so quick that they form an amorphous glass. Basalt, tuff,
and pumice are examples of extrusive igneous rock.

Igneous Rock Examples

Basalt Diorite

Granite Mica and quartz

Sedimentary Rock
The sedimentary rocks are formed by the deposition and subsequent cementation of that material
within bodies of water and at the surface of the earth. The process that causes various organic
materials and minerals to settle in a place is termed sedimentation.
The particles that form a sedimentary rock by accumulating are called sediment. Before being
deposited, the sediment was formed by weathering and erosion from the source area and then
transported to the place of deposition by water, wind, ice, mass movement or glaciers, which are
called agents of denudation. Sedimentation may also occur as minerals precipitate from water
solution or shells of aquatic creatures settle out of suspension.

Read More: Sedimentary Rocks

Types of Sedimentary Rock

Following are the three types of sedimentary rock:

1. Clastic sedimentary rocks: These rocks are formed from the mechanical weathering debris. Sandstone,
and siltstone are examples of clastic sedimentary rocks.
2. Chemical sedimentary rocks: These rocks are formed from the dissolved materials that precipitate from
the solution. Iron ore and limestones are examples of chemical sedimentary rocks.
3. Organic sedimentary rocks: These rocks are formed from the accumulation of plant and animal debris.
Coal, and some dolomites are examples of organic sedimentary rocks.

Sedimentary Rock Examples

Halite Limestone

Sandstone Siltstone

Metamorphic Rocks
The metamorphic rocks make up a large part of the Earth’s crust and are classified by texture and by
chemical and mineral assemblage. They may be formed simply by being deep beneath the Earth’s
surface, subjected to high temperatures and the great pressure of the rock layers above it.

Metamorphic rocks arise from the transformation of existing rock types, in a process called
metamorphism, which means “change in form”. The original rock is subjected to heat with
temperatures greater than 150 to 200°C and pressure around 1500 bars, causing profound physical
and/or chemical change.

Types of Metamorphic Rock

Following are the two types of metamorphic rock:

1. Foliated metamorphic rocks: These rocks are produced by exposure to heat and pressure which makes
them appear layered. Phyllite and gneiss are examples of foliated metamorphic rocks.
2. Non-foliated metamorphic rocks: These rocks don’t have layers. Marble and quartzite are examples of
non-foliated metamorphic rocks.

Metamorphic Rock Examples

Marble Quartzite

Slate Phyllite
 Metamorphism:
The process of metamorphism does not melt the rocks, but instead transforms them into denser,
more compact rocks. New minerals are created either by rearrangement of mineral components or by
reactions with fluids that enter the rocks. Pressure or temperature can even change previously
metamorphosed rocks into new types. Metamorphic rocks are often squished, smeared out, and
folded. Despite these uncomfortable conditions, metamorphic rocks do not get hot enough to melt, or
they would become igneous rocks!

Common Metamorphic Rocks:

Common metamorphic rocks include phyllite, schist, gneiss, quartzite and marble.

Foliated Metamorphic Rocks:

Some kinds of metamorphic rocks -- granite gneiss and biotite schist are two examples -- are strongly
banded or foliated. (Foliated means the parallel arrangement of certain mineral grains that gives the
rock a striped appearance.) Foliation forms when pressure squeezes the flat or elongate minerals
within a rock so they become aligned. These rocks develop a platy or sheet-like structure that reflects
the direction that pressure was applied.

Non-Foliated Metamorphic Rocks:

Non-foliated metamorphic rocks do not have a platy or sheet-like structure. There are several ways
that non-foliated rocks can be produced. Some rocks, such as limestone are made of minerals that are
not flat or elongate. No matter how much pressure you apply, the grains will not align! Another type
of metamorphism, contact metamorphism, occurs when hot igneous rock intrudes into some pre-
existing rock. The pre-existing rock is essentially baked by the heat, changing the mineral structure of
the rock without addition of pressure.

Magmatism is the emplacement of magma within and at the surface

of the outer layers of the terrestrial planet, which solidifies as igneous
rocks. It does so through magmatic activity or igneous activity, the
production, intrusion and extrusion of magma or vice versa. Volcanism is
the surface expression of magmatism.
Types:

1. Basaltic Magma - SiO2 45-55 wt%, high in Fe, Mg, Ca, and low in K, Na.
2. Amdesitic Magma - SiO2 55-65 wt%, intermediate. in Fe, Mg, Ca, Na, K.
3. Rhyolitic Magma - SiO2 65-75%, low in Fe, Mg, Ca, and high in K, Na.

What is volcanism?
Volcanism is the eruption of molten rock (magma) onto the surface of a planet. A
volcano is the vent through which magma and gases are discharged. Magma
that reaches the surface is called “lava.” Volcanos are named for Vulcan — the
Roman god of fire!

Why and where do volcanos form?

Volcanism is the result of a planet losing its internal heat. Volcanos can form
where rock near the surface becomes hot enough to melt. On Earth, this often
happens in association with plate boundaries (check out the section
on tectonism). Where two plates move apart, such as at mid-ocean volcanic
ridges, material from Earth's interior slowly rises up, melts when it reaches lower
pressures, and fills in the gap. Where one plate is being subducted under
another, chambers of magma may form. These magma bodies feed the volcanic
islands that mark subduction zones.

Although most volcanic activity takes place at plate boundaries, volcanism also
can occur within the plate interiors at hotspots. Hotspots are thought to be from
large “plumes” of extremely hot material rising from deep in Earth's interior. The
hot material rises slowly, eventually melting as it reaches lower pressures near
Earth's surface. When the material erupts it forms massive lava flows of fine-
grained dark volcanic rock — basalt. The broad, gentle shield volcanos of Hawai'i
come from a hotspot.

What do Earth's volcanos tell us?

The fact that Earth has volcanos tells us that Earth's interior is circulating and is
hot — hot enough to melt. Earth is cooling; volcanos are one way to lose heat.
The pattern of distribution of volcanos on Earth gives us a clue that Earth's outer
surface is divided into plates; the chains of volcanos associated with mid-ocean
ridges and subduction zones mark the plate edges. Other planets have volcanic
features — some recently active — telling geologists that they, too, are losing
heat from their interiors and that there is circulation. However, these planets do
not display the pattern that Earth's volcanos do.