NOTE: The information in these handouts are

not my own but are from several references.

These handouts are made for reference to
points and not as a means to an end. Reading
from books and others references is still more
beneficial to learning.
ROCKS
What is a rock?
a naturally-occurring aggregate of one
or more minerals; may or may not
contain mineraloids, natural glass and
organic matter.
Types of rocks vary based on
composition, color, texture, structures,
etc.
The Rock Cycle
What are igneous rocks?
Ignis = fire
Formed from solidification of magma
(intrusive) or lava which flows out from
depths (extrusive)
What is magma?
Molten material which may contain
suspended crystals and dissolved
volatiles (gases e.g. water vapor, CO 2 ,
SO2)
Composed of mobile ions of the 8 most
abundant elements in the Earths crust:
O, Si, Al, K, Ca, Na, Fe, Mg
Magma generation
role of heat
role of pressure
role of volatiles
Sources of heat for melting in the crust
Original heat
Radioactive decay
Conduction

Mantle plumes
Frictional heat

ORIGIN AND FORMATION OF MAGMA

Magma forms at:
Mid-Oceanic Ridges (MOR)
Basaltic magma
Subduction Zones
Andesitic magma
Hotspots
Basaltic magma

Classification of Magma
Silica Content

Viscosity

Gas Content

Mafic/Basaltic

Low

Low

Low

Intermediate/
Andesitic

`Intermediate

Felsic/Silisic/
Rhyolitic

High

Intermediate Intermediate
High

High

Basaltic magma

Granitic/rhyolitic magma

Higher density

Lower density

Crystallizes at ~1000 1200C

Crystallizes at ~600C
19

VARIATION IN COMPOSITION OF MAGMA

Magmatic differentiation
- Any process that causes magma
composition to change
Processes:
- Assimilation of country rock
- Magma mixing
- Partial melting
- Fractional crystallization

FORMING IGNEOUS ROCKS

Igneous Rocks
Extrusive (volcanic) molten rock formed at
the surface.
Ex. Basalt, Andesite, Rhyolite

Intrusive (plutonic) igneous rocks formed at

depth.
Ex. Gabbro, Diorite, Granite
BOWEN'S REACTION SERIES

Lutgens, et al., Essentials of Geology 11th Edition. Pearson

Education Inc., 2012. Print.

Intrusive: slow cooling, large crystals

Extrusive: quick cooling, tiny crystals, glassy +/lava and ash
Intrusive bodies
Stock
small discordant pluton
Batholith
more than 100 sq. km. in outcrop area
Dike
tabular body cutting across bedding
Sill
concordant tabular body
Laccolith
blister-shaped sill
Classification of Igneous Rocks
Texture or crystal size
Mineral Compositon / color index
Size of ejecta (for pyroclastics)
Based on texture or crystal size
Aphanitic very fine-grained (<2mm in
diameter)
- minerals too small to be seen by the
naked eye.

Phaneritic (>5 mm) coarse-grained

Porphyritic large crystals (phenocrysts)
embedded in smaller crystals (groundmass).
It pertains to two or more rates of cooling
experienced by one rock.
Other textures:
Vesicular
Glassy
Pegmatitic
Pyroclastic
Shape of Crystal Faces
Euhedral well-defined crystal faces
Subhedral intermediate faces
Anhedral no well-formed crystal faces
Slow cooling = well-formed crystal faces
Based on mineral composition/color index:
Take note that Acidic/Felsic or Basic/Mafic are
essentially the same thing. Acidity was once
used to indicate the felsic rocks because they
thought the components were acidic in nature.

Figure from: "Classification of igneous rocks."

Minerals and Energy. Australia: Earth Science,
1995-2013. Web. 2013.
<http://earthsci.org/mineral/mineral.html#Rock
sandMinerals>
COMMON IGNEOUS ROCKS
Gabbro/Basalt
Diorite/Andesite
Granodiorite/Dacite

Granite/Rhyolite
PYROCLASTIC ROCKS
Volcanic ejecta or pyroclasts or tephra:
Ash <2 mm in diameter
Lapilli 2-64 mm in diameter
Block or bomb >64 mm; block is extruded in a
solid state while bomb is partially or wholly
molten
ex. Pumice (felsic to intermediate in
composition)
Scoria (mafic/basaltic)
Classification of Pyroclastic Rocks

Figure From: "Classification of Pyroclastic Rocks." CEDD. Hong

Kong. 2008. Web. 2013.
<http://www.cedd.gov.hk/eng/about/organisation/chapter_5/fig
ure5_03.htm>

RESOURCES FROM IGNEOUS ROCKS

Aggregates
Lahar and Tuff = Pozzolan
Basalt and Andesite
Aggregates + Cement = Concrete
Dimension Stones
Basalt
Granite
Gabbro
Diorite
SULFIDES

Important source of metals

Igneous in origin
Resources from Igneous Rocks
VMS Deposits (Volcanic Massive Sulfide)
precipitated within a fumarole
field or a black smoker
Cu, Zn, Pb, Au, Ag
Co, Sn, Ba, S, Se, Mn, Cd, In, Bi,
Te, Ga; Ge as mining byproducts
ore materials are