Chapter 2 - Rocks

Question 1

Give two examples of Igneous rock.

Answer 1

Granite and basalt

Question 2

How was a Sedimentary rock formed?

Answer 2

They were formed from the compressed remains of animals, plants and other rocks.

Question 3

Give examples

Of Sedimentary rocks.

Answer 3

Limestone, coal, sandstone and shale

Question 4

How were Metamorphic rocks formed?

Answer 4

They were once igneous or sedimentary rocks which were changed by great heat or pressure

Question 5

Give examples of Metamorphic rocks.

Answer 5

Marble and quartzite

Question 6

Describe Granite.

Appearance, formation, location in Ireland,what can it be used for

Answer 6

Granite is a hard,coarse, multi-coloured rock. It contains pink or grey feldspar and crystals of mica or Quartz.
It is formed when magma cooled deep in the earths crust. The magma cooled slowly so that the large crystals had time to form.
Granite is found in the Wicklow and Mourne Mountains.
It is used for building materials like Windows and work tops.

Question 7

Describe Basalt.

Answer 7

• heavy black rock
• formed when lava cooled on earths surface, but cooled too quickly to form any crystals
• found in the Antrim Plateau and at the Giants Causeway.
• used in building industry like road surfaces

Question 8

Describe sandstone.

Answer 8

• coarse and brown/red in colour
• formed when large amounts of sand are worn from the earths crust then carried away by Rivers or wind and deposited on the beds of seas or lakes.
• the sand grains are then very gradually compressed and cemented together to form rock
• found in Magillicuddys Reeks and other mountains in Munster.

Question 9

Describe Limestone.

Answer 9

Limestone is made from the remains of fish and other sea creatures.

• as these creatures died their skeletons were piled up on the beds of shallow seas
• the skeletons were crushed by the weight of later deposits and cemented together by seawater until they formed slowly into solid rock.
• found in the Burren County Clare.
• it can be used by farmers,builders and Manufacturers. Manufacturers use it to make cement for the building industry.

Question 10

What are the Characteristics of Limestone?

Answer 10

-Limestone is laid down in horizontal layers (strata) the divisions between the layers are called bedding planes
-vertical cracks or joints
-Permeable, water can pass through the bedding planes and joints easily
-Easily weathered, the rainwater that passes through is a weak carbonic acid which disables the calcium carbonate that makes up
Limestone
-‘May contain fossils

Question 11

Describe Marble.

Answer 11

• Limestone changes to Marble
• hard crystalline rock, may white (Rathlin Island), green (Connemara), red (cork) and Black (Kilkenny)
• Used to make Fireplaces and used as an ornamental stone

Question 12

Describe Quartzite.

Answer 12

• Sandstone changes to Quartzite
• light coloured hard rock
• found at the tops of many hills and mountains eg. Errigal (Donegal) and Hill of Howth (Dublin)
• sometimes used to surface roads

Question 13

Name a method of rock extraction.

Answer 13

Quarrying

Question 14

How are Liquid rocks extracted? (Oil and gas)

Answer 14

Drilled and pumped to the surface

Question 15

How is coal extracted?

Answer 15

Shaft mines with vertical entry tunnels are used to remove coal from deep beneath the earths surface

Question 16

How was an Igneous Rock formed?

Answer 16

They were formed when hot, molten volcanic material cooled down and became solid.