IGNEOUS ROCKS

Edited by:
Syamsidar Sutan
Geofisika FMipa
Mulawarman University
 Rocks
Rocks are aggregates of one or more
minerals

Rocks are classified on the basis of

how they form

There are 3 major classes of rocks:

Igneous rocks
Sedimentary rocks
Metamorphic rocks
 Igneous Rocks
Igneous Rocks form by crystallization of molten
rock material
Molten rock material below Earths surface is
called magma
Molten rock material erupted above Earths
surface is called lava
The name changes because the composition
of the molten material changes as it is erupted
due to escape of volatile gases
 Effect of Cooling Rate on Crystal Size
Crystals are formed by ions arranged in orderly patterns
Crystal size is determined by the rate of cooling
Extremely fast cooling
Forms glass, not crystals
Occurs above Earths surface under water or ice
Yields obsidian, volcanic glass

Fast cooling
Forms very small invisible crystals
Occurs above Earths surface
Typical of lavas and pyroclastic volcanic rocks

Slow cooling
Forms large, visible crystals
The slower the cooling rate, the larger the crystals formed
Occurs below Earths surface
Typical of plutonic rocks
Classification and Naming of Igneous Rocks

Igneous rocks are classified and named

on the basis of
Where they form
Their texture
Their composition
 Classification of Igneous Rocks
Based on Where They Form
Plutonic (intrusive) Igneous Rocks
Form by crystallization of molten rock material
below Earths surface

Coarse-grained plutonic rocks

Crystallized out very slowly in large magma
chambers 12-20 km beneath Earths surface

Fine-grained plutonic rocks

Crystallized out less slowly, more rapidly, in
small intrusions and conduits closer to Earths
surface
 Classification of Igneous Rocks
Based on Where They Form

Volcanic (Extrusive) Igneous Rocks

Form by crystallization of molten rock material
above Earths surface
Lavas flow out, are extruded
Pyroclastic volcanic rocks are blasted out
Ash is very fine-grained pryoclastic
material
Blocks are large solid blocks that are
blasted out
Bombs are large molten blobs that are
blasted out
 Plutonic Igneous Texture

A plutonic igneous texture is phaneritic

A phaneritic texture
Consists of visible grains
Is formed by very slow cooling below Earths
surface
Characteristic of gabbro, diabase, diorite, granite
 Volcanic Igneous Textures
Glassy texture
Is not crystalline, is formed by extremely rapid cooling
Characteristic of Obsidian

Aphanitic texture
Consists of invisible grains formed by fast rate of cooling
Characteristic of the lavas: basalt, andesite, rhyolite

Vesicular texture
Is bubbly, formed by trapped bubbles of gas
Characteristic of scoria (vesicular basalt) and pumice (vesicular
rhyolite)

Porphyritic texture
Consists of phaneritic (visible) grains in an aphanitic matrix
Phaneritic crystals form by very slow cooling below Earths surface
Aphanitic crystals form by very rapid cooling above Earths surface
Characteristic of the lavas: basalt, andesite, rhyolite
Formed when a lava is erupted as a crystal mush
 Rock Compositions
Ultramafic
Means rich in magnesium and iron
Is the average composition of Earths mantle
Composed of olivine and augite
Example: peridotite

Mafic
Means rich in magnesium, iron, and/or calcium
Is the average composition of oceanic crust
Composed of olivine, augite, and calcium plagioclase
feldspar
Examples: basalt, diabase, and gabbro
 Compositions of Igneous Rocks
Felsic
Means rich in feldspar and silica
Is the average composition of continental crust
Composed of potassium feldspar, sodium
plagioclase feldspar, quartz
Examples: rhyolite and granite

Intermediate
Means half mafic, half felsic
Is the composition of a mixture of oceanic and
continental crust
Composed of hornblende and calcium-sodium
plagioclase feldspar
Examples: andesite and diorite
Diagram persentase untuk perkiraan
komposisi berdasarkan volume.
Klasifikasi batuan beku (ODunn & Sill, 1986)
 Basalt, a mafic composition lava
A lava fountain
and rapidly
flowing basalt

Pahoehoe, a smooth-surfaced,
AA, a jagged-surfaced form ropy form of basalt that
of basalt that crystallizes out crystallizes out near the
at the end of a basalt flow beginning of a basalt flow
Andesite, an intermediate composition lava

Andesite flow, Andesite flow,

Mexico Cascade Range, Oregon
 Rhyolite, a felsic composition lava

Rhyolite dome, Rhyolite flow showing columnar

Mono Craters, California jointing, MacDougalls Island, New
Brunswick
 Pyroclastic Eruption
Eruption of Mount St. Helens, Washington, 1980
Other Notable Pryoclastic Volcanic Eruptions
 Identification of Volcanic Igneous Rocks
Volcanic Rocks
Vesicular texture Glassy texture
Scoria Obsidian
Mafic composition Aphanitic
Dark gray
matrix
Pumice The lavas
Felsic composition
Light gray

Andesite
Basalt Intermediate composition Rhyolite
Mafic composition Medium gray or Felsic composition
Dark gray greenish gray Light gray
Usually porphyritic or pink
Obsidian (volcanic glass)
Scoria (vesicular basalt)
Pumice (vesicular rhyolite)
Basalt
Porphyritic Andesite
Rhyolite
 Identification of Plutonic Igneous Rocks

Plutonic Rocks

Phaneritic texture

Mafic composition Intermediate composition Felsic composition

Dark gray Medium gray, Light gray
~ 50:50 black and white or pink
Diabase
(fine-grained) Diorite Granite

Gabbro
(coarse-grained)
Gabbro
Diorite
Granite
 How does magma form?

Magma forms in response to:

1. Decrease in pressure (decompression) as
hot rock rises closer to Earths surface

2. Coming in contact with magma rising from

the mantle

3. Addition of volatiles, e.g. H2O, CO2

 The
Geothermal
Gradient

The geothermal
gradient is the
rate of change in
temperature with
depth below
Earths surface
 Magma Formation due to Decompression
High pressure at great depth prevents melting
Pressure decreases with decreasing depth

Becomes fully melted at

depth C

Begins melting at depth B

Hot rock rising from depth A

Magma Formation due to Contact with
Rising Magma
Magma Formation due to contact with volatiles
 Where do magmas form?

Magmas form
Where crustal plates are rifting apart
Where oceanic crust is being subducted
Above mantle plume hot spots
 Where Magmas Form

Riftings Subduction zones Hot spots

Animation of Tectonic Settings and Volcanic Activity