Rock Type &

Formation

Related Note For Prof .Rohan Frenando

Aravinda Ravibhanu Sumanarathna

Paleobiodiversity Diploma :PGIAR-University of Kelaniya
What are Rocks?
Rocks are any solid mass of mineral or
mineral-like matter occurring naturally
as part of our planet.
Rocks are formed by several processes
like Volcanism, Metamorphism,
Sedimentation, Evaporation..etc
Rocks are made up of one or group of
minerals
1. Monomineralic rocks
2. Polymineralic rocks
 Petrology
Rock forming minerals

Identified more than 3000 mineral that

exists in nature

Common rock forming minerals contain

silica (Quartz)

In addition , there are five main silicate

groups form rocks
Silicate

NON Silicate
Main rock types
Genesis of Magma and Igneous
Rocks
 MAGMA

There are two main kinds of magma

which differ in chemical composition
FELSIC: high silica content (little Ca,
Fe, Mg), thick and slow-flowing, and
forms light coloured rocks (eg. Granite)
MAFIC: lower silica content (high Ca,
Fe, Mg), hotter, thinner and more fluid,
and forms darker coloured rocks (eg.
Basalt)
Sedimentary Rocks

Fluvial
Marine deposits deposi
ts
 Types of sedimentary rocks
Clastic rocks Chemical & Organic rocks
Sandstones
Conglomerates
Breccia
Shale/mudsto
nes
Carbonate rocks Organic rocks

Form basically from Form due to

Evaporitic rocks decomposition of
CaCO3 both by
chemical leaching and organic remains
These rocks are formed
by organic source under temperature
due to evaporation of saline
(biochemical) eg. and pressure eg.
water (sea water)
Limestone; dolomite Coal/Lignite etc.
eg. Gypsum, Halit
(rock salt)
Metamorphic Rocks
Metamorphic rock is formed by the
alteration of pre-existing rock deep
within Earth (but still in the solid
state) by heat, pressure, and/or
chemically active fluids.
Metamorphism means to change
form.
Conditions for formation are found
a few kilometers below the Earths
surface and extend into the upper
mantle.
 Contact metamorphism occurs when
magma moves into rock.

Regional metamorphism results in

large-scale deformation and high-grade
metamorphism.
 Sedimentary
0 km rock

Metamorphic
rock

Sediment Igneous
rock

10 km
~200C Sedimentary Metamor
rock -phism
and temperature
Increasing depth

occurs
Metamorphism between
about 10
and 50
km of
depth
50 km The rocks dont melt
Melting
~800C
Rock Cycle

The Rock cycle is

A fundamental concept in geology that describes the dynamic transitions
through geologic time among the three main rock types: sedimentary,
metamorphic, and igneous.
Each of the types of rocks are altered or destroyed when it is forced out of its
equilibrium conditions.

An igneous rock such as basalt may break down and dissolve when exposed to
the atmosphere, or melt as it is subducted under a continent.

Due to the driving forces of the rock cycle, plate tectonics and the water cycle,
rocks do not remain in equilibrium and are forced to change as they encounter
new environments.

The rock cycle is an illustration that explains how the three rock types are
related to each other, and how processes change from one type to another over
time.
Rock Cycle
Rock Cycle
Main Rock Types

Igneous Rocks
Sedimentary Rocks
Metamorphic Rocks
 Identification of Rock types

Each family of Rocks has sub groups

Sub groups are determined by

1. Size
2. Shape
3 Arrangements of mineral grains

These three factors are known as Texture.

Different rocks have different textures

Igneous rocks
Igneous rocks are formed by the cooling and
hardening of hot molten magma from inside
the earth

Two types of Igneous Rocks

Volcanic (extrusive) rocks are formed when lava

cools on the surface, or out of volcanic dust or ash

Plutonic (intrusive) rocks are formed underground

and intrude into other rock masses
Mineralization
of Magma
 Textures of igneous rocks
Texture according to the Grain Size
Fine grained less than 1mm
Medium grained - 1-2 mm
Coarse grained - larger than 2mm
Pegmatitic - very coarse larger than 5mm

Porphyry Igneous rocks with larger crystals

with fine grained matrix
 Textures of Igneous rocks
Aphanitic Texture - Fine grained rapid cooling
Phaneritic Texture - Coarse grained, slow cooling
Porphyritic Texture Phenocryst and ground mass,
two stages of cooling
Glassy Texture - No crystal structure
Vesicular Texture - Gas cavities
Pyrocloastic Texture - Fragments generated from
explosive Volcanism
Volcanic (extrusive) rocks
SMALL CRYSTALS
FAST COOLING

Rock types

Scoria
Obsidian
Basalt
Pumice
Plutonic (intrusive) rocks
LARGE CRYSTALS
SLOW COOLING

Rock types
Granite
Gabbro
Diorite
 A skull of a rhino calf protruding from an eroding ravine. The skull turned out to be part of a
complete skeleton embedded in volcanic ash.

About 12 million years ago, a volcano in modern-day Idaho spread a blanket of ash over large parts
of what is now the midwestern United States.

A layer of this powdered glass one or two feet (one- to two-thirds of a meter) thick covered the
grasslands of northeastern Nebraska
 Fossil vertebrates. Several hundred well-preserved fossils representing 17 species of
vertebrates have been uncovered at the Ashfall Fossil Beds in Nebraska. The animals
died due to volcanic ash from a volcano that erupted in what is now Idaho about 12
million years ago.
Metamorphic rocks
Formed under high pressure/temperature
Called metamorphism
Two types
Regional
Contact.
 Metamorphism of Sedimentary Rocks

Protolith (Precursor)
Sandstone: Quartzite, Metaquartzite
Shale: Phyllite
Slate
Schist
Gneiss
Limestone: Marble

A foliation is any planar fabric in a metamorphic rock. In this

case, the
foliation is defined by aligned sheets of muscovite
sandwiched between quartz grains.
 Metamorphism of Igneous Rocks

For most of our purposes, just put meta in front

of the protolith name.

Examples: metabasalt
metarhyolite

If a mafic or intermediate metamorphic rock is

dominated by amphibole and feldspars:

-Amphibolite.
 Progression of metamorphism

Start with a shale and then hit

it with pressure and heat.

Slate

Phyllite Schist
You end up with something that is really Gneiss!
 Structures of metamorphic rocks

Foliation and dip slope

Joints
Folds, anticline and syncline, antiforms
and synforms
Faults
lineation