This document provides information about different types of rocks including their properties, how they are formed, and examples. It discusses three main rock types - igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks. For each rock type, it describes how they are formed from magma or other rocks undergoing heat and pressure. It also provides details about common minerals found in rocks and methods for identifying minerals based on attributes like color, crystal structure, hardness, and other properties. Finally, it lists some examples of mineral resources found in Australia.

1. Earth Science
Sarah Jones
www.wallibs.com

2. Earth’s Structure
www.edplace.com

3. Tectonic Plates
www.edplace.com

4. Igneous Rocks
science.nationalgeographic.com

5. Granite Pumice Obsidian

6. Igneous Rock Properties
• Contain interlocking crystals – held together
strongly which makes the rock hard.
• The crystals have a disorderly arrangement.
• Crystal size depends on how quickly the rock
solidified.
• They never contain
fossils.
news.nationalgeographic.com

7. Igneous Rock Formation
• When magma cools above the Earth’s surface
it forms extrusive igneous rocks – the magma
cools quickly and small crystals are formed.
• When magma cools below the Earth’s surface
it forms intrusive igneous rocks – the magma
cools slowly and large crystals grow as the
magma solidifies.
The Rock Cycle – Boardworks
http://0.tqn.com/d/geology/1/0/l/N/thundereggs.jpg

8. Basalt Columns
www.americansouthwest.net

9. Sedimentary Rocks
science.nationalgeographic.com

10. Limestone Sandstone Chalk

11. Sedimentary Rock Properties
• Often have layers showing deposition at
different times.
• Often have fossils trapped within them.
• They consist of lots
of small grains and
are often porous
and crumbly.
www.iupui.edu

12. Sedimentary Rock Formation
• Weathering creates small rock fragments
which are transported to the sea where they
are deposited – sediment.
• Dead creatures may then become trapped –
become fossils.
• The pressure of the layers above and the
effects of salt cement the sediments together
– happens over millions of years.
• Rocks formed – sandstone, mudstone and
limestone.

13. • Sedimentary rocks can also be formed by
precipitation.
• Certain minerals are dissolved in seas and lakes.
• These dry up over millions of years.
• The water evaporates and the
dissolved minerals precipitate.
• Rocks formed –
limestone and chalk
The Rock Cycle – Boardworks

14. Metamorphic Rocks
www.nps.gov

15. Marble Slate

16. Metamorphic Rock Properties
• Often have layer structures of crystals – effect
of heat and pressure.
• Usually denser and harder than sedimentary
rocks.
• Sometimes show distortions caused by the
movements that lead
to their formation.

17. Metamorphic Rock Formation
• Formed by the effect of extreme pressure and
temperatures deep within the Earth.
• This changes existing rocks so that new rocks
are formed.
The Rock Cycle – Boardworks
http://23n58e.blogspot.com.au

18. The Rock Cycle
http://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/ks3/science/environment_earth_universe/rock_cycle/revision/10/

19. http://www.geologycafe.com/images/rock_cycle_big.jpg

20. Types of Rocks and Minerals
• All rocks are made of two or more minerals.
• Minerals are not made of rocks – minerals are
the same all the way through.
http://www.rocksforkids.com/RFK/identification.html
http://0.tqn.com/d/chemistry/1/0/L/q/fluoritecrystals.jpg

21. Identifying Minerals
• Colour
• Luster
• Specific Gravity
• Crystal Form
• Cleavage
• Fracture
• Tenacity
• Hardness
• Transparency
• Special properties - magnetism, chatoyancy,
fluorescence, odor, streak, burn test, conductivity.
http://australianmuseum.net.au/image/Pyrite-specimen

22. Some of Australia’s Mineral Resources
Iron Ore Bauxite Black Coal

23. Zinc Gold Nickel