Rocks Flashcards
3 rock types
Igneous
Sedimentary
Metamorphic
Formation of igneous rock in general
Cooling and solidification of magma or lava.
Intrusive/plutonic are formed beneath crust eg granite
Extrusive/ volcanic are formed on the crust eg basalt
Hypabyssal form just below the surface eg dolerite
Example of a plutonic/intrusive igneous rock
Granite
Example of an extrusive/ volcanic igneous rock
Basalt
Example of a hypabyssal igneous rock
Dolerite
Minerals in granite
Feldspar
Mica
Quartz
Colour of granite
Dark grey
How does granite form
At convergent boundaries, where two plates collide
Fold mountains made
Magma rises up under folds
Magma slowly cools
Sedimentary above changes to metamorphic by heat
Metamorphic protects granite
Example of granite rock in Ireland
Leinster Batholith, Dublin Wicklow mountains
Uses of granite
Building stone eg GPO made of granite
When broken down it forms kaolin (clay for porcelain)
What’s the most common rock on earth
Basalt
Minerals in basalt
Pyroxene and olivine
Colour of basalt
Dark brown, black
Where is basalt being created
Mid ocean ridges
Mid Atlantic ridge
How does basalt form
When plates separate
Magma rises
Cools quickly on surface - small crystals
Example of basalt in Ireland
Antrim Derry plateau
Basalt cooled and split into a series of hexagonal shapes causing the giants causeway in Antrim
Use of basalt
Building industry
Road filler
Floor tiles
How are sedimentary rocks defined
Parent material
Two types of sedimentary rock
Inorganic (made of fragments of other rocks eg sandstone)
Organic (made of fossils from plants or animals eg limestone)
Formation of sedimentary rock in general
Sediments of rock or fossils are deposited in layers called strata,
Layers are crushed and compacted by their own weight or weight of water
Layers are cemented together by minerals
How is oil created in rock
When sea creatures are compacted
What is lithification.
The compacting and cementation of sedimentary rock
How common is sandstone in Ireland
2nd most common
Is sandstone organic or inorganic
Inorganic, made of grains of quartz (sand)
How is sandstone made
Layers of quartz build up beneath a shallow sea, this quartz has been deposited by flood or wind.
Strata were cemented together by the weight of the water and lithification occurred and iron and silica cemented the strata into rock.
The iron oxide gives Irish sandstone it’s reddish appearance
What is Irish sandstone known as due to addition of iron oxide
Old red sandstone