Rocks and Minerals
Rocks
Any material that makes up a large, natural, continuous part of
Earth’s crust is called a rock. Rock is a solid combination of one or
more minerals found in the earth’s crust.
• Some kinds of rock such as limestone (calcium carbonate, or
CaCO3) and quartzite contain only one mineral.
• Most rocks consist of two or more minerals. For example, granite
is a mixture of mica, feldspar, and quartz crystals.
Rocks are mixtures of their component minerals
There are 3 types of rocks:
• Igneous rock
• Sedimentary rock
• Metamorphic rock
Igneous rock
Rocks formed by solidification of
molten magma either beneath
(intrusive igneous rock) or at
(extrusive igneous rocks) the Earth's
surface.
Sedimentary rock
Rock that forms from the accumulated
products of erosion and in some cases
from the compacted shells, skeletons,
and other remains of dead organisms.
e.g., sandstone, limestone, lignite etc.
Metamorphic rock
Rock that forms from igneous,
sedimentary and/or other metamorphic
rocks due to high pressure, high
• Examples of Igneous Rock: Basalt,
Gabbro
• Examples of Sedimentary Rocks:
sandstone, limestone, lignite
• Examples of Metamorphic
Rocks :Quartzite
Rock Cycle
The interaction of
processes that
changes rocks of
Earth from one
type to another is
called the rock
cycle.
The rock cycle
depends on the
tectonic cycle for
energy and on
hydrological cycle
for water.
Steps of rock cycle
The ultimate source of all rocks on the Earth’s surface is
magma, hence the igneous rocks are described as primary
rocks.
Some igneous rocks are weathered and eventually buried and
converted into sedimentary (secondary) rocks.
Other igneous rocks are transformed into metamorphic
(tertiary) rocks by heat, pressure and chemical change.
Sedimentary and metamorphic rocks at the edges of the
tectonic plates are sub ducted back into the mantle, where
they are melted and can eventually be released as magma and
form new igneous rocks.
Sedimentary rocks can be transformed into metamorphic
rocks by heat, pressure and chemical change.
Metamorphic rocks can be weathered, buried and converted
into sedimentary rocks.
Magma
Cooling & Crystallization
Igneous
Rock
Erosion & Deposition Melting
Temperature &
Pressure
Melting
Erosion & Deposition
Sedimentary Metamorphic
Rocks Rocks
Temperature & Pressure
Rock cycle
Rock Cycle
The geologic
cycle is a
collective term
used to
describe the
complex
interactions
between the
component of
tectonic,
hydrologic,
rock, and the
biological
cycling of
elements known
as the
biogeochemical
Minerals
Any material that makes up a large, natural, continuous part of Earth’s crust
is called a rock.
Rocks are mixtures of their component minerals.
The origin and distribution of mineral resources is intimately related to the
history of the biosphere and to the geological cycle.
The availability of mineral resources is one of the measures of the wealth of
the society. Modern technological civilization would not be possible without
the exploitation of mineral resources.
Minerals are the basic building blocks from which the Earth’s crust is made
& the main ingredients of all rocks, deposits & soils.
A mineral is a naturally occurring, inorganic, homogeneous substance.
There are many different rock-forming minerals & each has
- a definite chemical composition & crystal structure
- characteristic physical properties (e.g. color, hardness, density etc)
•Few consists of single element (gold, silver, and diamonds (carbon) )
•Mostly consists of various combinations of elements (NaCl,
quartzite/SiO2)
Phosphate Amethyst- Scolecite -
Gypsum - CaSO4.2H2O the purple
mineral - Apatite CaAl2Si3O10.3H
variety of
2O
Quartz
(SiO2)
Types of minerals
Metallic Minerals:
- These are generally associated with igneous rocks.
- They are usually hard and have shines or luster of
their own.
- They are flexible.
- When hit, they do not get broken.
- example
Ferrous: iron
Non ferrous: copper, tin, lead, bauxite
Precious metals: gold, silver
Non metallic minerals:
- These are generally associated with
sedimentary rocks.
- They are not so hard and have no
shine or luster of their own.
- They are not flexible.
- When hit, they may got broken into
pieces.
- Examples - clay, marble
Coal, Dinajpur Limestone, Sylhet
Hard Rock, White Clay,
Dinajpur Netrokona
Use of various minerals
- Electric wire, cables, batteries: Copper, Lead
- Chemical industries and Fertilizers for agriculture:
sulphur, potash, nitrates, phosphates
- Jewellery: gold, silver, diamond
- Industrial use of cutting: diamond
Mineral Exploration
• Mineral exploration is the process of finding ore
(commercially viable concentrations of minerals) to collect
by mining.
Impacts of Mineral Exploration
The availability of mineral resources is one of the measures of
the wealth of the society. Modern technological civilization
would not be possible without the exploitation of mineral
resources.
Environmental impacts
Occur different types of pollution like water, soil, air and
noise pollution
Effect hydrological conditions
Climate change
Change topography and rock type
Social impacts
Rapid population growth at mining area create housing,
water supply, sewage and solid waste disposal problems.
Rio Tinto river, Spain
