IGNEOUS ROCKS, THEIR CLASSIFICATION, COMPOSITION, FORMATION, TEXTURE & USES

IGNEOUS ROCKS

The word igneous derived from "ignis" means made from heat or fire. Igneous
rocks are formed by the cooling and solidification of magma.

These rocks do not have any layers they are simply a heap of burnt matter. They
are usually glazed and shining.

CLASSIFICATION OF IGNEOUS ROCKS

On the basis of their mode of occurrences igneous rock can be classified into:

A) Plutonic Rocks
Plutonic rocks are formed when magma cools and solidified below the surface at
great depth e.g. Granite.

B) Volcanic Rocks
Volcanic rocks are formed when magma erupts on the surface and solidified e.g.
Basalt

C) Hypo basal Rock

These rocks are formed when consolidation of magma takes place very closed to
the surface.

COMPOSITION OF IGNEOUS ROCKS

The composition of igneous rocks depends upon the composition of the magma,
from which they formed.
Magma is of two types,
a) Acidic Magma and b) Basic Magma

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 IGNEOUS ROCKS, THEIR CLASSIFICATION, COMPOSITION, FORMATION, TEXTURE & USES

a) Acidic Magma
It is rich in Si, Na ,K and poor in Ca, Mg and Fe. Rocks is formed from such
magma are known as acidic igneous rocks. These are light in color low specific
gravity and contain minerals like, Quartz, Feldspar and Mica etc.

b) Basic Magma
This magma is rich in Ca, Mg and Fe while poor is Si, Na and K. The rocks formed
from such magma are called basic igneous rocks. They are dark in color, high in
specific gravity and contain minerals like, Augite, Hornblenede, and iron ores.
e.g. .Basalt.

FORMATION OF IGNEOUS ROCK

The process by which magma is solidified is called "Crystallization” once the heat
that keeps the magma liquid, decreases, the melt starts to solidified and
converted into crystalline structure called "crystals" As the temperature
continuous to fall the mixture solidifies completely to form an igneous rocks.

TEXTURE OF IGNEOUS ROCK

This term is used to refer the general appearance of rocks, means the size, shape
and arrangement of the minerals grains with in a rock.

The texture of igneous is governed by the rate of cooling of magma. Slower is the
rate of cooling, the coarser is the grains of rock, faster the rate of cooling, the
finer is grains.

Common textures found in igneous rock are:

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 IGNEOUS ROCKS, THEIR CLASSIFICATION, COMPOSITION, FORMATION, TEXTURE & USES

1) Coarse Grained or Phaneritic

If the average grains or crystals of the minerals are more than 5mm in diameter,
the rock is said to be "Coarser Grained" igneous rocks. These crystals can be
identified by unaided eye

2) Fine Grained or Phanitic Texture

When the magma cools rapidly small crystals are formed, which can not be seen
by naked eyes Rocks composed of such crystals is called fine grained rock. These
crystals are commonly less than 0.5mm in diameter.

3) Prophyritic Texture
Some times cools at different rates, slowly at first, than more rapidly, so, first
large crystals are formed than they are surrounded by small crystals such
structure is called Prophyritic texture.

4) Glassy Texture
Some time magma may cools so rapidly that there is no time for crystals to from,
so the results in a glass texture (without crystal) e.g. Obsidian.

MAIN IGNEOUS ROCKS

ranite, Gabbros, Basalt, Obsidian, Rhyolite, Pumice and Diorite

USES
Igneous are mainly used in building construction making statues, Tombs,
fountains .These rocks are also supply iron ores, diamonds, silver, Gold, Nickel,
Chromium and Platinum.

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