Chapter 5 - Rocks

Question 1

Igneous rocks

Answer 1

Formed when lava cools down on the surface of the earth and when magma cools down under the earth

Question 2

Sedimentary rocks

Answer 2

Formed when rocks, plant and animal life were worn down and compressed to form a new rock

Question 3

Metamorphic rocks

Answer 3

Formed when rock was changed by great heat or pressure

Question 4

Most common rock type in Ireland

Answer 4

Limestone

Question 5

Types of igneous rocks

Answer 5

Granite :
Can be white, grey or black
Magma cooled under the surface of the earth and the crystals cooled slowly to create a coarse grained rock
Used in buildings and kitchen worktops
Found in the Wicklow mountains and Mourne mountains

Basalt :
Black or dark grey
Lava cooled down on the surface of the earth and quickly so it is fine grained
Used in buildings and roads
Found in the giants causeway

Question 6

Types of sedimentary rock

Answer 6

Sandstone :
Can be grey, red or brown
Formed when sand was pressed down in layers in a desert or the sea
Used in buildings and roads
Found in the Macgillycuddy Reeks

Limestone :
Shells and bones of fish were pressed down under the sea. 
Remains are still preserved as fossils
Underlies 40% of Ireland 
Used in buildings, road and cement
Found in The Burren

Question 7

How are sedimentary rocks laid down

Answer 7

In layers called strata with vertical joints and horizontal bedding planes

Question 8

Metamorphic rocks

Answer 8

Marble :
Can be red from nearby red sandstone in cork or black from nearby coal in Kilkenny
Limestone was changed by great heat and pressure
Used in sculptures, kitchen countertops and headstones
Found in Connemara

Slate : 
Fine grained metamorphic rock
Made from shale 
Used in roofing houses
Valentia, co Kerry

Question 9

Open cast mining/quarrying

Answer 9

Used when rocks and minerals are close to the surface.

Used for sand and gravel and limestone

Question 10

Shaft mining

Answer 10

Used to extract rocks and minerals deeper underground eg. Coal

Question 11

Drilling

Answer 11

Used for finding and bringing oil and gas to the surface

Question 12

Advantages of quarrying

Answer 12

Jobs for transporting the materials
Local council gets income for quarrying companies
Local roads get improved for traffic

Question 13

Disadvantages of quarrying

Answer 13

Noise pollution from blasting in the quarries
Sometimes they flood and this is dangerous
Parts of the countryside are lost