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Types of Rocks
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Chapter : Geology
File Reference: AGE10702
Engineering Encyclopedia
Geology
Types of Rocks
CONTENTS
PAGES
TYPES OF ROCK............................................................................................................. 16
Igneous Rock........................................................................................................................................... 16
Sedimentary Rock ................................................................................................................................... 20
Clastic rock.............................................................................................................................................. 20
Metamorphic Rock .................................................................................................................................. 27
WORK AID....................................................................................................................... 35
GLOSSARY ...................................................................................................................... 49
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Types of Rocks
A few rocks contain only one mineral. Limestone for example, contains only calcite. Most
rocks contain two or more minerals such as granite which contains three minerals: feldspar,
quartz and mica.
Minerals present in a rock can indicate whether the rock was formed in the crust or in the
mantle of the earth. The crust minerals differ from those in the mantle. Temperature and
pressure also differ. Figure 3 shows the differences at various depths in the earth.
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Types of Rocks
TEMPERATURE ( C )
0
500
1000
1500
2000
0
100
DEPTH ( km )
50
200
TEMPERATURE
RISE
PRESSURE, KILOBARS
100
300
400
TEMPERATURE AND PRESSURE RISE AT GREATER
DEPTHS OF THE EARTH.
FIGURE 3
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Types of Rocks
Since one of the main ways of identifying rocks is by the minerals in the rock, some ways of
identifying the mineral are necessary. You can identify minerals by such characteristics as
hardness, streak, color, luster, cleavage, fracture, tenacity, specific gravity and crystal system.
Hardness
Hardness ranges from (1) for talc, which is the softest, to (10) for diamond which is the
hardest. It is determined by observing what material will leave a mark on other material when
scratched. Diamond (the hardest) will scratch all other material. Talc (the softest) will
scratch no other material. Quartz (7) will scratch minerals 1-6, but will not scratch minerals
8-10. See Figure 4.
A very simple hardness test may be conducted with common objects such as those shown in
Figure 4B. Each item will scratch a mineral of the indicated hardness. Your fingernail will
scratch talc (1), gypsum (2) but will not scratch calcite (3).
Streak
When a mineral is rubbed across a piece of unglazed tile, it may leave a line similar to one
made by a crayon. This line is composed of the powdered mineral. The color of this
powdered material is known as the, "Streak of the mineral." The unglazed tile is known as
the, "Streak Plate." The test is shown in Figure 5. It may be used to determine color.
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Types of Rocks
NO.
NO.
NO.
NO.
NO.
NO.
NO.
NO.
NO.
NO.
A.
1 - TALC ( SOFTEST )
2 - GYPSUM
3 - CALCITE
4 - FLUORITE
5 - APATITE
6 - FELDSPAR
7 - QUARTZ
8 - TOPAZ
9 - CORUNDUM
10 - DIAMOND ( HARDEST )
HARDNESS
ITEM
FINGERNAIL
ABOUT
2 1/2
COPPER PENNY
ABOUT
GLASS
5 - 5 1/2
KNIFE BLADE
5 1/2 - 6
STEEL FILE
6 1/2 - 7
B.
FIGURE 4
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Color
Color is usually the first thing that attracts attention. However, the color of the same minerals
may vary greatly from one specimen to another. Color is a valuable indicator only in
minerals with one color. Azurite is always blue, malachite is green, and pyrite is yellow.
When examining for color it is important to take three factors into consideration: whether the
light is natural or artificial, whether the surface is fresh or weathers, and whether the mineral
is wet or dry. The streak test also may help.
Luster
The appearance of the surface of a mineral in reflected light is called "luster." Some minerals
such as silver and gold shine like metal. These have a "metallic" luster. Others have a nonmetallic luster. Some of the most important non-metallic lusters are:
adamantine
vitreous
resinous
a luster of resin;
greasy
pearly
silky
dull
shining
glistening
splendent
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Cleavage
If a mineral crystal breaks in an irregular pattern it is called a fracture. If it breaks smoothly
along the crystal plane it shows, "cleavage." The cleavage planes and the angles between
them are constant for any given mineral. Minerals may have from one to six directions of
cleavage.
Three types of cleavage are shown in Figure 6 and examples of each are given.
Fracture
Many minerals have distinctive fractures. Their broken surface are clues to their identity.
Some of the more common are:
conchoidol
splintery or fibrous
hackly
uneven
even
earthy
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Types of Rocks
A. CUBIC
B. RHOMBIC
C. PERFECT BASAL
CLEAVAGE OF MINERAL
FIGURE 6
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Tenacity
Tenacity of mineral refers to how the mineral resists tearing, crushing, bending or breaking.
Some common kinds of tenacity are:
brittle
- broken easily;
elastic
flexible
- will bend, but will not return to its original shape such as
talc;
sectile
malleable
ductile
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Density or Weight
The difference in weight can be determined by holding two objects, one in each hand. It is
easy to tell that feathers weigh more than an equal volume of rock. Gold is the heaviest or
most dense mineral. It feels very heavy compared to most silicate minerals. The weight can
be translated into a unit weight ratio. The system used is to compare the weight of a mineral
to the weight of the same mass of water. This is called, "Specific Gravity". Specific gravity
is an indication of weight.
Crystal Systems
Most minerals are solidified from fluids. During the process, their atoms are arranged in
geometric patterns producing crystals. Six types of crystal systems have been identified, as
shown in Figure 8. The identification is based on axes. Axes are imaginary lines that run
through the middle of the crystal. Figure 9 illustrates axes. Systems vary with the number,
length and angles of axes. Each system yields crystals with a distinct shape. Within each
system, each mineral crystal grows in a special shape or habit. This habit can be modified by
temperature, pressure and impurities. Three crystal habits are shown in Figure 10.
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a3
a2
a1
A. ISOMETRIC ( HALITE )
B. TETRAGONAL ( ZIRCON )
a 1 a3
a2
a1
c
b
a2
D. ORTHORHOMBIC ( STAUROLITE )
C. HEXAGONAL ( QUARTZ )
c
b
a
E. MONOCLINIC ( ORTHOCLASE )
F. MONOCLINIC ( ORTHOCLASE )
CRYSTAL SYSTEMS
FIGURE 8
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CRYSTAL AXES
FIGURE 9
12
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A.
CUBIC
C. TABULAR
A. COLUMNAR
CRYSTAL HABIT
FIGURE 10
13
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Mica
Mica is usually easy to identify. Mica typically occurs in paper-thin, shiny, elastic cleavage
plates. Mica, like feldspar, is an aluminum silicate. Only two types of mica are important as
rock-forming minerals: muscovite and biotite.
Calcite
Calcite is composed of calcium carbonate; it occurs in many sedimentary and metamorphic
rocks. Calcite is the principal ingredient of limestone. It occurs in crystalline, granular or
chalky masses. Calcite is also found as veins of minerals, in caves and springs and in shellfish. Calcite is the principal mineral in marble, and is used in making many products such as
cement, lime, plaster, ornamental stone, glass, paint and fertilizers.
Dolomite
Dolomite is common in sedimentary rock where it often occurs mixed with calcite. Dolomite
may be found in ore deposits. Dolomite is harder than calcite and is used for building stone.
Much marble consists of dolomite; it is used also to make cement.
Gypsum
Gypsum is a product of evaporation, is very common and occurs in deep beds. It is either
colorless or white and it is important to the manufacture of plasterboard, plaster of paris and
fertilizer. Gypsum is also used to make Portland cement and ornamental stone.
Halite
Halite is normally called rock salt. It is colorless to white. Halite is found in gulf regions
because it forms when seawater evaporates. Halite occurs in thick beds and salt domes which
have squeezed up through the earth's crust because of the density difference between the salt
and the surrounding parent rock.
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Types of Rock
There are three types of rock, each formed from a different geological process. Geological
processes were covered in AGE 107.01. The three types of rock are igneous, sedimentary,
and metamorphic. Igneous rock is formed from molten rock. Sedimentary rock is formed
from small rock fragments that have been deposited in layers. Metamorphic rock is rock that
is changed due to high temperature and pressure in the earth. Figure 12 shows the three types
of rock and the three processes.
Igneous Rock
Igneous rock is formed of molten rock. The word Igneous means, "fire". The hot
temperatures deep within the earth melt the rock and minerals. This melted material is called
magma.
Magma and volcanos were covered also in module AGE 107.01. Figure 13 reviews where
volcanos erupt. There are two types of igneous rock: extrusive and intrusive.
Extrusive rock is igneous rock that spills out on the surface of the rock.
Intrusive rock is igneous rock that does not reach the surface. Intrusive rock intrudes or
forces its way into other rock formations.
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texture results. The crystals can only be seen with a microscope. Crystals form when
minerals become solid. Minerals cool and become solid in sequence according to their
cooling rate. Different minerals cool faster than others. This process gives igneous rock an
interlocking crystalline texture. Figure 17 show how crystals form.
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1.
3.
18
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Obsidian - Some of these rocks cool so rapidly that no crystals occur. This produces volcanic
glass or obsidian. Figure 18 shows a picture of obsidian. The most common extrusive
igneous rock is basalt. Basalts are dark in color, heavy and fine-grained. Basalt rocks
commonly form shapes like columns, called columnar jointing. Columnar jointing is caused
when basalt rock splits, shrinks and pulls apart as it cools. Figure 19 illustrates columnar
jointing.
Pumice is another extrusive igneous rock that is found in many places. Pumice is lava that
becomes solid while steam and gases are still bubbling out. It is formed from a fast cooling,
frothy mass of lava and has many small holes like a sponge. Pumice is very light weight and
can float on water. Pumice is typically light colored. Pumice has the same chemicals as
obsidian and granite. Granite will be covered later under intrusive igneous rock.
Figure 20 shows pumice rock.
the minerals quartz and feldspar, and is usually light in color. Granite, a hard, long-lasting
rock, is used in building and for monuments. Figure 22 shows granite
Diorite is made of rock minerals and is even textured. These intrusive igneous rocks are
shown in Figure 22 B.
Gabbro is a heavy, dark-colored igneous rock with a coarse grain. Gabbro has no quartz in it.
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of rocks.
Sill is a sheet of igneous rock pushed into horizontal cracks between layers of other rock.
Laccolith is a lens-shaped intrusion that forms a dome and the dome's overlying rock.
Lopolith is a saucer-shaped intrusion between rock layers. Lopoliths can be hundreds of miles
in diameter.
Sedimentary Rock
The second type of rock is sedimentary rock. Erosion and deposition of sediment were
covered in AGE 107.01. The formation and types of sedimentary rocks are the subject of this
module. Figure 24 is a review of the lithification process and shows where sediments
accumulate. Rock fragments are picked up and transported by wind, water, and ice and
dropped at some point. These droppings are deposited in layers or strata called sediments
which become compacted and cemented together. This process, which forms sedimentary
rock, is known as lithification. Figure 25 shows where rock-forming fragments will settle or
deposit. Figure 26 shows the lithification process.
There are two types of sedimentary rock: clastic and chemical.
Clastic rock
Clastic rock is also known as detrital or fragmentary rock. Clastic sediments are rock
fragments which are made from other rocks by natural erosive processes. These fragments
are transported by mechanical means such as wind, water and ice. They are sometimes
known as mechanical sediments.
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Some of the more common types of sediment can range in size and material. The three types
of material are mud, sand and gravel as shown in Figure 27.
The sizes range from clay size particles to boulders. Although we use the term clay as type of
material it is a "size" of particle in this case. Specifically, it is very small mud particles. This
size scale is called Wentworth scale. This is a simplification of the entire sizing process to
show the various sizes and materials involved in sedimentary processes. Figure 28 shows a
different scale used by some scientists. Calcareous shale has large amounts of lime and is
used for making cement. Oil shale is a brown or black shale used to make petroleum
products.
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1. BEFORE COMPACTION
2. AFTER COMPACTION
3. BEFORE CEMENTATION
4. AFTER CEMENTATION
LEGEND :
CLAY PARTICLES
MINERAL PARTICLES
NATURAL CEMENT
FIGURE 26
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Millimeters
Cobble ( - 6 to - 8 )
Pebble ( - 2 to - 6 )
GRAVEL
Boulder ( - 8 to - 12 )
Granule
Coarse sand
Medium sand
SAND
4096
1024
256
64
16
4
3.36
2.83
2.38
2.00
1.68
1.41
1.19
1.00
0.84
0.71
0.59
0.50
0.42
0.35
0.30
0.25
0.210
0.177
0.149
0.125
0.105
0.088
0.074
0.0625
0.053
0.044
0.037
0.031
0.0156
0.0078
0.0039
0.0020
0.00098
0.00049
0.00024
0.00012
0.00006
Fine sand
Coarse silt
Medium silt
Fine silt
Very fine silt
MUD
(1 Kilometer )
Clay
SEDIMENT SIZE
FIGURE 27
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Some of the most common types of clastic sedimentary rock are shale, sandstone and rudites.
Shale is the most common sedimentary rock. Shale is formed in silt, clay and "clay size"
particles of other minerals which harden into rock. Figure 29 illustrates shale. Shale is finegrained, thin-bedded and splits easily along bedding planes. Bedding planes are the dividing
line between layers of sedimentary rock. Carbonaceous shale is black because of the carbon
content caused by organic matter. Calcareous shale has large amounts of lime and is used for
making cement. Oil shale is a brown or black shale used to make petroleum products.
Sandstone is formed of cemented grains of sand and has a granular texture. Sandstone is the
second most common sedimentary rock. It contains quartz minerals and may contain sandsize particles of calcite, gypsum and rod. Sandstone is used in sandpaper and as a building
stone. Figure 30 shows four types of sandstone. Figure 31 shows mountains of sandstone.
Rudites means coarse. Rudites are coarse rock fragments mixed with finer particles. Rudites
are cemented together with natural concrete. These concreted rock are named conglomerates,
breccia, and tillite. Three rudites are shown in Figure 32.
Conglomerate means lumped together. Conglomerates are naturally concreted rocks. They are
made of rounded pebbles of many sizes and are found in front of mountains and in coastal
waters. The pebbles are rounded because they have been abraded by mechanical
transportation over long distances. The rounded pebbles are shown in Figure 32 A. Rock
size may vary from silt-size to boulder. Figure 33 shows types of conglomerates where
fragments and composition are different.
Breccia is another rudite. Breccia contains sharp pebbles because it has not been transported
and is found close to the original source. It is shown as B in Figure 32. Breccia often may be
found at the base of mountains.
Tillite is sometimes called a rudite. Most scientist now separate it from conglomerates and
breccias. Tillite is a poorly sorted, ice-eroded, ice-transported debris that becomes solid rock.
Many tillite clasts have flat faces caused by abrasion during movement. Tillite is formed from
sediment from glaciers. Tillite may have rounded edges. Figure 33 B shows a tillite clast or
conglomerate. Tillite will be covered more in another module.
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Chemical Rock
Sediments from materials dissolved in water are called chemical sediments. Chemical
sediments form chemical sedimentary rock. There are two types of chemical sediments:
organic and inorganic. organic sediments are made from living things. Inorganic sediment is
made of non-living things.
Organic Rock
Organic sediment is formed with the help of plants and animals. Shell fish in the ocean ingest
calcium from the seawater. Calcium carbonate is used to make their shell. Dead shell fish
remain on the bottom of the ocean on beds of fine rock particles.
The combination of shell and rock particles make an organic sediment. Seaweed goes
through the same process. Figure 34 shows three types of organic rocks. Figure 34 A is coal
formed mainly from dead plants. Figure 34 B shows coquina, an example of rock formed
from dead seashells. Figure 34 C is chalk which also is formed from seashells. A microscope
must be used to see the seashells in chalk because they are so small.
Types of Organic Sedimentary Rock
Organic Limestone - Coquina and chalk shown in Figure 34 are types of organic limestone.
Organic limestone may form in shallow water offshore from reefs as shown in Figure 35.
Coal shown in Figure 36 A is an organic sedimentary formed from dead plants. The dead
plant material is compacted by the weight of the earth above. The increased pressure raises
the carbon content. Higher carbon content causes coal to burn hotter. Coal is different
because of the heat and pressure to which it was exposed during its formation. Even types of
coal differ because of the processes that formed them. Figure 36 shows processes that form
different types of coal.
Peat is a burnable substance but not considered coal. Peat is found near the surface and has
not gone through the process that forms coal. There are three basic types of coal, lignite,
bituminous and anthracite. The three are listed in the order of hardness and carbon content
and their burning ability. Anthracite burns the hottest because the carbon content is highest.
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These are called evaporite intrusions and they are similar to lava intrusions. They have many
shapes but most form a dome shape. Evaporite minerals are less dense than most common
minerals found in sediment. This small density difference causes evaporites to rise slowly in
mound shaped masses. The upward movement stops when balance is attained. Sometime
they reach the surface of the earth. Some are organic.
Travertine and tufa are two types of inorganic limestone.
salt. Figure 39 shows rock salt under huge salt domes. Many times oil is found around these
salt domes.
The process is call stratification. Each bed is separated by a, "bedding plane". The bedding
plane is the top of one bed and the bottom of another. These beds are formed as sediment is
deposited. Changes in the deposition agent will affect the texture and thickness of the bed.
Wind decrease may cause thinner beds. A change in wind direction may cause a change in
color. Water flow decreasing or changing course also may cause changes. Figure 41 shows
two types of bedding.
Texture of rock is determined by size, shape and arrangement of sedimentary material.
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Ripple Marks are formed by wind or water in sand dunes or on river bottoms and beaches.
They give information about how the rock was deposited and formed. Figure 42 is an
example of ripple marks in rock.
Mud Cracks form on dry lakes and stream beds. These mud cracks in sedimentary rock give
informations about how the rock was formed. Figure 43 is an example of mud cracks.
Concretions are found in shale, limestone and sandstone. Concretions are harder than the rock
in which they are contained. They are formed around fossils and other matter and may vary
in size. Rock may erode and leave the harder concretions behind. Figure 44 illustrates
concretions.
Geodes are concretions that are hollow and are sometime lined with crystals. They are most
They are the preserved hard parts of the living matter. Most fossils are found in sedimentary
rock. They are not preserved in hot molten lava. Metamorphic rock has changed so much
during formation that fossils have been destroyed. Figure 46 illustrates a fossil.
Sedimentary Facies The term facies describes how a particular rock will be different from the
other rock deposited at the same time. Figure 47 illustrates this concept. A facies change
occurs when there is a lateral or vertical change in the type of rock or fossil present in the
deposits of the same age. This change is caused by a change in the environment such as the
depth of the water or tidal action.
Metamorphic Rock
The third type of rock is metamorphic rock. Metamorphic signifies change. Metamorphic
rocks are igneous or sedimentary rock that have been changed by heat, pressure and fluids.
The change causes the rock to be more compact and more crystalline. Crystalline means a
more defined internal structure. These rock have been buried deep in the earth and the high
temperature and pressure have changed them. When subjected to these changes, limestone
becomes marble; and sandstone, quartzite.
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Agents of Metamorphism
There are three main agents of metamorphism: heat, pressure and chemically- active fluids.
Heat is probably the most important agent of metamorphism.
Figure 48 shows how heat and pressure help the rock forming process. High pressure reduces
space in the parent rock minerals. This process produces re-crystallization which forms new
minerals. Different pressures within the same rock mass can cause a change in texture.
Chemically-Active Fluid. Heated water solutions in magma may react with the rock around it to
change the chemicals. This process may produce new minerals from outside sources.
Chemically-active fluids are responsible for the formation of most heavy mineral deposits
such as copper, zinc, lead, gold and silver. The process is called metasomatism. Invading or
external fluids introduce new elements that change the rock's chemical composition. This
happens many times at shear boundaries.
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MILES
5
C
10
15
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
TEMPERATURE C
A. SEDIMENTARY ROCK
B. CONTACT METAMORPHISM
C. BURIAL METAMORPHISM
D. REGIONAL METAMORPHISM
E. IGNEOUS ROCK
FIGURE 48
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Types of Metamorphism
This module will cover only the three most important types of metamorphism: contact,
regional and burial.
Contact Metamorphism is the process whereby country rock (which surrounds igneous rock) is
intruded by igneous rock. Contact metamorphism causes great changes. Limestone intruded
by hot magma may be changed for a few inches in the contact area or may be changed for
many miles. Figure 49 shows this process. Many of the more simple metamorphic rocks are
found in the baked zone of the altered country rock. The baked zone is the immediate area
around the igneous intrusion.
Physical changes are produced when magmatic fluid intrudes country rock minerals. This
process often causes recrystallization. This process also produces new or larger minerals and
changes the texture of the rock. Magnetic fluids often bring in new elements and compounds
which will change the chemical composition of the original rock or form new minerals.
Regional Metamorphism occurs during strong structural deformation such as mountain forming
earth movements. Earth movements are covered in AGE 107.01. The great pressures
produced as rock layers are folded, fractured and crumbled to cause large areas of complex
metamorphic changes. Pressure may be so great that things like fossils, strata and mineral
grain are destroyed. The rock produced is usually much harder. Figure 50 A shows the zones
of metamorphism.
Burial Metamorphism.
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There are two types of metamorphic rock textures: foliated and nonfoliated.
Foliated Metamorphic Rock
Foliated metamorphic rock are metamorphic rocks that have been flattened, widened and
arranged in parallel layers. Figure 51 shows an example of the concept of foliation. Figure
52 is an example of foliated rock. There are four types of foliation: slaty, phyllitic, schistose
and gneissic. Some rocks are named from these textures.
Slate is made from shale. Slate has very fine crystals that cannot be seen with the unaided eye.
It does not show banding, and splits easily into thin, even slabs. Slate occurs in colors of
grey, black, green and red. Slate is used in roofing, chalk boards and sidewalks. Rock that
resemble slate are known as slaty. Figure 53 A shows the texture of slate
Phyllite are more fine-grained than schists and coarser than slate. It has a silky sheen when
broken which is caused by fine grains of mica. Most phyllite are formed in shale with
pressure higher than slate. The pressure is not as high as the pressure required to produce
schists. Figure 53 B shows the texture of phyllite.
Schist is a medium course grained rock. It is formed under great pressure in parallel layers
and will split easily along the layers. It is usually formed from slate. Fine grained igneous
rock may also form schist. If is named for its primary mineral, ie, mica or chlorite Schist.
Schist is shown in Figure 53 C
Gneiss is pronounced as "nice". Rock gneiss is a coarse-grained, highly metamorphosed and
foliated rock with alternating bands of minerals. The bands are alternately light and dark.
The bands are folded and irregular. Some gneiss resembles schist but does not split easily.
Bonding may be because of the original sediment rock bedding. Gneiss undergoes intense
regional metamorphism.
Figure 54 A shows the texture of gneiss. Figure 54 B shows the bonding design.
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FOLIATION
FIGURE 51
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Nonfoliated metamorphic rocks have a granular texture and do not have foliation or layers.
Some nonfoliated rocks resemble igneous rocks except in their mineral composition. Three
types of nonfoliated rocks are: quartzite, marble and anthracite.
Quartzite is formed from quartz sandstone. See Figure 55 A. It is composed of a crystalline
mass of tightly cemented sand grains and is one of the most resistant rocks. Quartzite is white
when formed from pure quartz sand; red, yellow or brown, when it contains impurities.
Marble is a course-grained crystalline that contains calcium carbonate.
It is formed from
limestone or dolomite. Since it is formed by recrystallization, all evidence of fossils or
stratification is destroyed. Marble is white when pure, but may have impurities. See Figure
55 B.
Anthracite is hard coal. Soft, bituminous coal when compacted, folded and heated, becomes
anthracite, or hard coal. Anthracite coal has a high, fixed amount of carbon, since most
volatile materials are eliminated during the carbonization process.
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START
MAGMA
Me
ltin
g
MET
IGN
EO
ROC US
KS
N
IO
AT
Z
I
LL
TA
S
Y
CR
AMO
RPH
ISM
Weathering
IC
RPH
AMO S
K
ROC
MET
n
sio on
Ero ortati
nsp
Tra
Y
AR
T
N
ME KS
DI OC
E
R
S
SE
DI
M
EN
TS
Lithification
ROCK CYCLE
FIGURE 57
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WORK AID
TABLE 1 IGNEOUS ROCK IDENTIFICATION CHART
COLUMN 1
COLUMN 2 COLUMN 3
COLUMN 4
COLUMN 5
COLUMN 6
_____________________________________________________________
Minerals
__________________________________
Texture
Quartz
Feldspar
Other
Rock
Name
Helpful
Distinguishing
Features
_____________________________________________________________
Coarse-grained
Grains uniform in
size
Abundant
Abundant.
Potassium
feldspar exceeds
plagioclase
Muscovite and/or
biotite common
Hornblende sometimes present
Granite
Coarse-grained
Grains uniform in
size
Abundant
Abundant.
Plagioclase
exceeds potassium feldspar
Muscovite and/or
biotite common.
Hornblende sometimes present
Grandiorite
Coarse-grained
Grains uniform in
size
Sparse or
Absent
Abundant.
Plagioclase
Potassiumfeldspar rare or
absent
Biotite and/or
hornblende common.
Pyroxene sometimes
present
Diorite
Coarse-grained
Grains uniform in
size
Sparse or
Absent
Abundant.
Potassiumfeldspar exceeds
plagioclase
Biotite, hornblende,
nepheline may be .
present
Syenite
Coarse-grained
Grains uniform in
size
Absent
Common.
plagioclase
only
Pyroxene abundant.
Olivine may be present
Gabbro
Coarse-grained
Grains uniform in
size
Absent
Plagioclase
is abundant
Anorthosite
Coarse-grained
Grains uniform in
size
Absent
Rare or absent
Pyroxene abundant.
Olivine may be present
Pyroxenite
Coarse-grained
Grains uniform in
size
Absent
Rare or absent
Olivine abundant.
Pyroxene common to
abundant
Peridotite
Medium-grained
Grains uniform in
size
Rare or
absent
Abundant.
Plagioclase
only
Pyroxene common.
Olivine may be present
Diabase
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Engineering Encyclopedia
Geology
Types of Rocks
COLUMN 2 COLUMN 3
COLUMN 4
COLUMN 5
COLUMN 6
_____________________________________________________________
Minerals
__________________________________
Texture
Quartz
Feldspar
Other
Helpful
Distinguishing
Features
Rock
Name
_____________________________________________________________
Fine-grained
Grains uniform in
size
Abundant
Hard to see
because of
grain size
Abundant.
Potassiumfeldspar exceeds
plagioclase
Hornblende,
biotite may be
present
Rhyolite
Fine-grained
Grains uniform in
size
Sparse or
Absent
Abundant.
Plagioclase
exceeds
potassiumfeldspar
Pyroxene,
hornblende, biotite
may be present
Andersite
Fine-grained
Grains uniform in
size
Absent
Abundant.
Plagioclase
only
Pyroxene, common.
Olivine often present
Basalt
Glassy
---
-----
-------
Obsidian
Glassy
---
-------
Pumice
A glassy froth
A few feldspar
crystals may
be present
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
This can be varified by picture recognition in Table 4, Rock Picture Identification Chart.
Compare the rock to the picture.
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Engineering Encyclopedia
Geology
Types of Rocks
COLUMN 1
COLUMN 2
COLUMN 3
_____________________________________________________________
Rock Name
Composition
Critical Tests
________________________________________________________________________
1. Clastic Sedimentary Rock:
Conglomerate
Breccia
Sandstone
Arkose
Graywacke
Siltstone
Shale
Dolostone
Look at the composition of the rock and compare it to the description in column 2.
2.
3.
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Engineering Encyclopedia
Geology
Types of Rocks
Cleaves into thin, plane plates that have considerable luster; commonly the sedimentary layers of parent rock
make lines on plates; thin slabs ring when they are tapped sharply
Phyllite
Surfaces of plates highly lustrous; plates commonly wrinkled or sharply bent; grains of ga
rnets and other
minerals on some plates
Schist
Well foliated, with visible flaky or elongate minerals (mia, chlorite,hornblende); quartz a prominent
ingredient; grains of garnet and other accessory minerals common; foliae may be wrinkled
Gneiss
Generally coarse-grained, with imperfect but conspicuous foliation; lenses and layers differ in mineral
composition; feldspar, quartz, and mica are common ingredients
Consists wholly of quartz sand cemented with quartz;outlines of sand grains show on broken surfaces; the
breaks passing through the grains; wide range in shades of color
Marble
Wholly crystallized limestone or dolostone; grain varies from coarse to fine responds to hydrochloric acid test,
as do calcite and dolomite; accessory minerals have developed from impurities in original rock
Granofels
Coarse-grained rock, commonly with the composition of a granite, but without mineral layering
Hornfels
Hard, massive, fine-grained rock, commonly with scattered grains or crystals of garnet, andalusite, staurolite, or
other minerals that are common in zones of contact metamorphism
2.
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Engineering Encyclopedia
Geology
Types of Rocks
Igneous rock
2.
Granite
3.
Diorite
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Engineering Encyclopedia
Geology
Types of Rocks
Gabbro
5.
Obsidian
6.
Pumice
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Engineering Encyclopedia
Geology
Types of Rocks
Sedimentary Rock
8.
Sandstone
9.
Conglomerate
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Engineering Encyclopedia
Geology
Types of Rocks
11. Limestone
a. Chalk (Powdery Limestone)
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Engineering Encyclopedia
Geology
Types of Rocks
14. Slate
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Engineering Encyclopedia
Geology
Types of Rocks
16. Schist
17. Gneiss
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Engineering Encyclopedia
Geology
Types of Rocks
19. Marble
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Engineering Encyclopedia
Geology
Types of Rocks
TABLE 5
A.
Hardness Scale
(One mineral scratches another)
No.1-Talc (Softest)
No.2-Gypsum
No.3-Calcite
No.4-Fluorite
No.5-Apatite
No.6-Feldspar
No.7-Quartz
No.8-Topaz
No.9-Corundum
No.10-Diamond (hardest)
B.
HARDNESS
Fingernail
About 2 1/2
Copper penny
About 3
Glass
5-5 1/2
Knife blade
5 1/2-6
Steel file
6 1/2-7
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Engineering Encyclopedia
Geology
Types of Rocks
Adamantine
Vitreous
Resinous
a luster of resin.
Greasy
Pearly
Silky
Dull
Shining
Glistening
Splendent
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Engineering Encyclopedia
Geology
Types of Rocks
Brittle
broken easily.
Elastic
Flexible
Sectile
Malleable
Ductile
Fracture
Many minerals fracture in a distinct way. Their broken surfaces are clues to their identity.
Some of the more common are:
Conchoidal
Splintery or fibrous
Hackly
Uneven
Even
smooth, - magnesite
Earthy
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Engineering Encyclopedia
Geology
Types of Rocks
GLOSSARY
agent
basalt
batholith
bedding
bedding plane
The bottom of one layer of sedimentary rock and the top of the
next layer. It separates each layer from the next layer.
biotite
breccia
calcareous
calcite
calcium carbonate
carbonaceous
carbonization
chalk
clastic rock
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Engineering Encyclopedia
Geology
Types of Rocks
coal
columnar jointing
compound
carbonization
contact metamorphism
coquina
crystal
crystalline
Composed of crystals.
dike
diorite
dolomite
1
A common rock forming mineral
2
A sedimentary rock made of 50% or more of the mineral
dolomite.
element
evaporite
extrusive rock
faceted
A rock that has been ground flat on one or more sides by natural
agents such as glaciers.
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Engineering Encyclopedia
Geology
Types of Rocks
facies
1
The appearance of rock units reflecting the conditions of
its origin.
2
Being able to distinguish between a specific rock and
other rock from nearby areas.
feldspar
foliated
gabbro
gneiss
granite
gypsum
halite
igneous
inorganic
intrusion
intrusive rock
Igneous rock that does not reach the surface of the earth but fills
the cracks under the earth's crust.
laccolith
limestone
lithification
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Engineering Encyclopedia
Geology
Types of Rocks
lithology
lopolith
magmatic fluid
magnesius
Containing magnesium.
metamorphic
metamsomatism
mica
micro crystalline
mineral
mus covite
obsidian
organic
ortho clase
parent rock
phyllite
phyllitic
plagioclase
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Engineering Encyclopedia
Geology
Types of Rocks
plane
platy
pumice
quartz
quartzite
recrystallization
regional metamorphism
rudite
sandstone
schist
schistose
Resembling schist.
sedimentary
shale
silicates
sill
The
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Engineering Encyclopedia
Geology
Types of Rocks
slate
slaty
stratification
textures
How rock appears in size and shape, and how particles are joined
together.
till
tillite
travertine
54