2. Definition
It is a aggregate of mineral. They form major part of the earth
crust.
Rocks are divided in to three major groups
1)Igneous Rocks
2)Sedimentary Rocks
3)MetamorphicRocks
Igneous Rocks:
Igneous rocks are formed by cooling and
solidification of magma. Magma is hot, viscous, siliceous
melts, containing water vapor and gases. It comes from
great depth below the earth surface it is mainly composed
of O, Si, Al, Fe, Na, Mg, Ca and K.
when magma comes upon the surface it is
called as ‘Lava’
R o c ks
3. Chemical Composition of Igneous Rocks
• Acid Magma : is rich in Si, Na, & K and Poor in Ca, Mg, Fe
•Basic Magma: is rich in Ca, Fe & Mg and Poor in Si, Na, & K
Basic Magma is divided in to three groups
1)Ultra Basic rock: these contains less than 45% of Si. Example Periodite
2)Basic Rock : These contain Si between 45 to 55 %. Example Gabbro &
Basalt
3)Intermediate Rock : These contains Si between 55 to 65%. Example
Diorite
4)Acid Rock : In this Si contains more than 65%. Example Granite
Peridotite Gabbro Basalt Diorite
4. Igneous rocks can also be classifiedas
1)Over saturated: contains high amount of Si & abundant Qtz. & alkali
Feldspars
2)Saturated: contains sufficient amount of Si & do not contains Qtz.
3)Under saturated: contains less Si & High inAlkali & aluminum Oxides.
Types of Igneous Rocks
1)Extrusive Rocks
2)Intrusive Rocks : These are divided in to two types
Plutonic Rocks
Hypabyssal Rocks
5. Texture of Igneous Rocks
Lava
Texture means Size, Shape and arrangement of mineral grains in a rock
In general the slower cooling or solidification of magma shows coarser grain rocks.
To study texture following four parts are important.
1)Degree of crystallization
2)Size of grains
3)Shape of crystal
4)Mutual relation between mineral grains
1) Degree of Crystallization :It divides in twoparts
a) Holocrystalline texture: Rocks shows entirely crystallinetexture
b) Holohyalline texture: Rocks shows entirely glassytexture
2) Sizeof grains:
a) Phaneric :constituent minerals grains can be see by neckedeyes.
i) Coarse grained ii) Medium grained iii) Finegrained
ii) Aphanitic :whose mineral grains are too small but can be see by necked eyes
Phaneric Texture Aphanitic Texture
6. Shape of crystals:
Well developed crystals faces of grains called Euhedral
Partly developed crystal faces called Subhedral
The crystal faces are absent such grains of rock called
Unhedral
Mutual relation ofgrains.
i) Equigranulartexture
ii) Inequigranular texture
a) Porphyritic texture b) Poikilitic texture c) Ophitic texture
Porphyritic texture Poikilitic texture
Phenocryst
Ground
mass
8. •
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Flow Structure
Reaction Rim
Xenolith structure
Vesicularstructure
Amygdaloidal Structure
PegmatiteStructure
Structures of IgneousRocks
Vesicles
Vesicular Structure
Vesicular Structure
Lavacontains large amount of
gas& volatiles, these gases
escapesin atmosphere and a
way from which these gasesare
escapedkeepsthe cavities in the
form of vesicles.
9. Amygdaloidal Structure: The vesicles of volcanic rocks may
subsequently be filled by secondary minerals such as calcite and
zeolites,suchfilled vesiclesarecalledAmygdaloidal Structure.
Structures of Igneous Rocks
AmygdaloidalStructure
10. Xenolith structure: Inner rock fragments are included in to
magma. When it rises up towards the surface, if they are not
digested they remain entrapped within the magma and
produces Heterogeneity
Structures of Igneous Rocks
XenolithStructure
11. Pegmatite Structure: The constituent minerals grains exceeds
several centimeters in the size, the rock is known as
Pegmatite Structure.
Structures of Igneous Rocks
Pegmatite Structure
12. Forms of Igneous Bodies
1) Extrusive Igneous Bodies
2) Intrusive Igneous Bodies.
Extrusive Igneous Bodies : These are forms when magma
reaches to earth surface and get solidification. Example Lava
flow
Intrusive Igneous Bodies : These are
formed by the consolidation of magma at
some depth below the earth surface. Such
bodies shows variations in their shape and
size.
These aredividedin to two parts.
1) Discordant bodies 2) Concordant bodies.
15. Volcanic necks
- Shallow intrusion formed when
magma solidifies in throat of
volcano
Dikes
- Tabular intrusive structure that
cuts across any layering in
country rock
Sills
- Tabular intrusive structure that
parallels layering in country
rock
Plutons
- Large, blob-shaped intrusive body
formed of coarse-grained
igneous rock, commonly granitic
- Small plutons are called stocks,
large plutons (>100 km2) are
called batholiths
Laccoliths mushroom-shaped
body of igneous rocks with a
flat bottom and domed top. It is
parallel to the layers
20. Sills are also small igneous intrusions. They are sheets of rock that, unlike
dikes, are parallel to pre-existing rocks. Think of magma invading
sedimentary rocks by spreading out between rock layers. That magma
would cool to form a sill.
