Chapter- 7.
1
Rocks- Earth’s materials
MARINA ABEDIN TUSHI
M
Rocks
Rocks are usually solid masses
made up of one or more types of
mineral. They are the materials
that form the Earth’s crust.
For example, the domes in
Yosemite National Park, USA are
made up of granite.
The rock arches in Utah, USA are
formed from another rock called
sandstone.
Types of
Rocks
There is a great variety of rocks. For
example,
rocks are varied in their mineral
composition.
It also different in many other ways, Sedimentary rock ( sandstone )
such as in their color, hardness as well
as their grain size.
Their are three main types of rocks---
• Igneous
• Sedimentary
• Metamorphic
Metamorphic rock ( marble )
Igneous rock
Igneous rocks are
defined as types
of rocks that are
formed when
molten rock cools
to a solid-state.
Examples of igneous
rock is granite, gabbro,
basalt, rhyolite.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PrN7jygu4cQ
Types of igneous
rock
• Intrusive igneous rocks- This
rocks cool from magma slowly
because they are buried beneath
the surface, so they have large Intrusive igneous rock
crystals. They are also knowns as
coarse grained igneous rocks.
Example: granite, gabbro
• Extrusive igneous rock- This
rocks cool from lava rapidly
because they from at the surface,
so they have small crystals. They
are also known as fine grained
igneous rock. Example: basalt and Extrusive igneous
rhyolite rock
Formation process of igneous
rock
Igneous rocks are formed out of
very hot lava or magma. Molten
rock remains inside the Earth and
some is ejected as lava onto the
Earth’s surface during volcanic
eruptions. When molten rock cools
and solidifies, it becomes mineral
crystals. Mineral crystals join
together or interlock into masses
of igneous rocks.
The magma on solidification
below the earth's surface give rise
to intrusive rocks.
The extrusive rocks occur as
simple lava flow.
Picture of Igneous Rocks
Finding igneous rocks in Singapore
The deep seafloor (the oceanic crust) is made almost entirely of basaltic rocks, with peridotite
underneath in the mantle.
In the central part of Singapore, there is a large area of granite called the Bukit Timah Granite.
At the western edge of the Bukit Timah Granite, there is a smaller area consisting of gabbro. This area
is clled Gombak Norite.
Gombak Norite
Bukit Timah
Characteristics of igneous
rocks:
• Normally contains no fossils.
• Rarely reacts with acid.
• Usually has no layering.
• Usually made of two or more minerals.
• May be light or dark colored.
• Usually made of mineral crystals of different sizes.
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
Sediments:
Sediments are rock particles such as mud, sand or pebbles which
are deposited in the sea by rivers and waves.
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS:
Sedimentary rocks are types of rock that are formed by the accumulation or
deposition of small particles. They are made when sand, mud and pebbles
get laid down in layers. Over time, these layers are squashed under more
and more layers. Eventually, the layers are accumulated – turned Sedimentary rock
to rock. Sedimentary rocks can be formed in deserts , lakes, rivers and (Sandstone)
seas.
Formation Process of
Sedimentary Rocks:
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS ARE FORMED IN TWO WAYS
• BY COMPACTING SEDIMENTS
• BY CRYSTALLIZATION FROM DISSOLVED MINERALS
• [THE MAIN MINERAL IN LIMESTONE IS CALCIUM
CARBONATE]
Sedimentary rock (Limestone)
Formation Process of Sedimentary Rocks
By Compacting Sediments:
Sediments may be rock particles such as
mud, sand or pebbles which are usually
deposited in the sea by rivers and waves.
They can also be the remains the living
things like plants and animals. Gradually
over thousands or even millions of years,
these sediments accumulate layer by layer,
forming thick deposits on land or on the sea
floor. The weight of the overlying sediments
will compact those found below. Over time,
the compacted sediments become
sedimentary rock.
Himalayas is formed from sedimentary rocks
that were originally on the sea floor. Compaction of Sediments
Formation Process of
Sedimentary Rocks
By crystallization from dissolved
minerals
The process of forming crystals from
dissolved minerals usually occurs in the
shallow parts of the sea or in lakes in desert
areas where evaporation is much higher than
precipitation. The sea or lake contains
dissolved minerals such as calcium
bicarbonate and calcium sulphate. When
evaporation takes place, water is lost and the
dissolved minerals form crystals which settle
on the bottom of the sea or lake. As
evaporation continues, more crystals form
and accumulate on the sea or lake floor
forming sedimentary rocks.
Types of Sedimentary Rocks
Types of sedimentary rock
Formed by compaction of Formed by crystallization of
sediments dissolved minerals
Characteristics : Characteristics :
• Presence of rock particles • Crystalline appearance
• Presence of fossils
• Presence of layering
Characteristics of sedimentary
rocks
Presence of rock particles
In these sedimentary rocks, we can find rock particles compacted
together. For example conglomerate, sandstone.
Presence of fossils
Fossils are the remains of plants and animals. In limestone which are
formed from the remains of living things we can usually find fossils.
Presence of layering
Sediments are deposited layer by layer on land or in seas or lakes. As
a result, sedimentary rocks that are formed by the compaction of
sediments show layering. Example: Sandstone
crystalline appearance
These sedimentary rocks have a crystalline appearance. Crystalline
sedimentary rock is gypsum which consist mainly of the mineral,
Calcium sulphate.
Picture of Sedimentary Rocks
Finding Sedimentary Rocks in
Singapore
We can find different types of sedimentary rock on the western
part of Singapore. Examples of these rocks include Conglomerate
and Sandstone.
This area of sedimentary rock is called the Jurong Formation.
Jurong Formation
Metamorphic Rocks
Rocks are formed from other that are
changed because of heat or pressure. They
are not made from molten rock. Earth
movements can cause rocks to be deeply
buried or squeezed. As a result, the rocks are
heated and put under great pressure .
For example: phyllite, gneiss, quartzite and
marble.
Metamorphic rock (Marble)
Formation of metamorphic
rock
The temperature and pressure
inside the Earth are much higher
than those on the Earth’s surface.
When rocks are subjected to grater
heat and pressure inside the earth,
they are changed into rocks which
are different from original. This
change occurs while the original
rocks are still in a solid state. The
new rocks that are formed by
changing existing rocks under heat Formation of metamorphic rock
and pressure are called
metamorphic rocks.
Recognizing metamorphic
rocks
We can recognize metamorphic rocks by two characteristics---
• Crystalline appearance
• Banded appearance
Recognizing Metamorphic
Crystalline appearance:
Rocks:
Under heat and pressure, the minerals in
the original rock recrystallize, usually to
form crystal that are larger than those in
the original rock.
For example under heat and pressure,
limestone changes to the metamorphic Quartzite rock
rock, marble. Marble is a coarse grained
and also harder than limestone.
Another example is quartzite which is an
extremely hard rock formed by the
recrystallization of the quartz crystal in
sandstone .
Marble rock
Recognizing Metamorphic
Rocks:
Banded appearance
Banded appearance occurs in rock which are
made up of different minerals. When they are
subjected to high pressure, the minerals are
rearranged into bands of different colors.
For example Gneiss is a metamorphic rock
with a banded appearance. It was originally
granite but under high pressure inside the
earth, the minerals in the granite rearranged
themselves to form alternating bands of light
and dark colored minerals. The light minerals
are quartz and feldspar while the dark
Gneiss rock
mineral is mica.
Picture of Metamorphic Rocks
Finding metamorphic rocks in
Singapore
There is an area of metamorphic
rock called the Sajahat Formation on
Pulau Tekong where quartzite can
be found.
Sajahat formation on palau
tekong, Singapore
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