Rock classification for fieldwork Flashcards
What 3 broad categories of rock are there?
igneous
sedimentary
metamorphic
What di crystalline rocks grow together to form?
aggregates of crystals
What type of rock are crystalline rocks generally?
igneous or metamorphic
Will crystalline rocks typically be more compacted or fragmented?
compacted
What are fragmental rocks like?
minerals and rock particles that have been transported and deposited together by water, wind or ice
What the the general characteristics of fragmental rocks?
Often rounded
Friable
Mostly sedimentary
What does it mean when saying a rock if friable?
tends to break up
How are igneous rocks formed?
cooling of magma
How will the crystals typically be orientated in igneous deposits?
randomly unless from lava flow then will have flow orientatation
What are sedimentary rocks formed from?
rock formed from sediment (solid material) moved to current position by water (less so but ice and wind)
What might the solid material that makes up sedimentary rocks be?
other rock fragments,
mineral fragments
organic material
Precipitate minerals
What are the general characteristics of sedimentary rocks?
Friable
fossil
rounded fragment pre-existing rock
What is sedimentary bedding?
planar structure reflecting the sediment being ‘laid down’ in ‘beds’
What conditions are regional metamorphic rocks formed under?
High pressure ad high temperature
How will platy minerals grow with their orientation? (regional metamorphism)
Mica and clay etc. have preferred direction orientation right angle to principle pressure
What does it mean saying regional metamorphism creates foliation banding?
when pressure produces alignment and may produce strong cleavage
What will other metamorphic rocks be like?
Not regional metamorphic rocks
Either don’t contain platey minerals hence no foliation
Metamorphosed just by heat with minimal pressure (no foliation)
What 2 broad catagories can igneous rocks be classified by?
Extrusive
Intrusive
What are extrusive minerals like?
Fast cooling - limited crystal growth
Found cose to surface
What will mineral formation be like for extrusive igneous rocks?
Medium to slow cooling
Medium to large crystal growth
How can a more accurate nme be given to igneous rocks in the field?
Crystal size
Colour (proportion light to dark)
What will the different coarse (>5mm) crystal igenous rocks be at dark, intermediate and light?
Dark- gabbro
Intermediate (50/50)- diorite or granodiorite
Light- granodiorite or granite
What will the different medium (1-5mm) crystal igenous rocks be at dark, intermediate and light?
Dark- dolerite
Intermediate- microdiorite
Light- microgranite
What will the different fine (1mm) crystal igenous rocks be at dark, intermediate and light?
Dark- basalt
Intermediate- andesite
Light- rhyolite
What parameters can be used to define igneous rocks to a greater detail?
Mode of formation-Intrusive/extrusive
Percentage composition
Grain/crystal size
Texture
Colour
Density
What other name can be given to other metamorphic rocks?
contact metamorphism (as will tend to form around igneous intrusion)
What will the lithology and pressure/temp be for a rock with this property: Fine grained, but hard, very fissile along strong cleavage?
Slate
Low temp & pressure