This document discusses the three main types of rocks: igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic. Igneous rocks form from volcanic activity and can be coarse-grained or fine-grained depending on cooling rate. Sedimentary rocks form from the compaction of sediments and include clastic rocks made of fragments and non-clastic rocks like limestone. Metamorphic rocks form from extreme heat and pressure altering existing rocks, and can be stratified with visible bands or non-stratified.

1. By: Ronnie Staton

2. Rock Classifications
 What are the three main types of rocks?
 Igneous
 Sedimentary
 Metamorphic

3. Igneous Rocks
 Can be a single mineral or an aggregate of many
minerals
 Created by volcanic activity
 Can form on earth’s surface or below it
 Oldest Rocks on earth

4. Minerals
 Composed of one substance
 Can be a single element
 Examples:
 Halite (salt)
 Sulfur
 Quartz
 Calcite

5. Igneous Rocks Cont.
Coarse Grain Rocks
 Intrusive – Formed inside the earths surface
 Cooled slowly
 Large crystals – Slow cooling allowed the crystal
forming minerals more time to collect
 Examples:
 Granite
 Gabbro

6. Igneous Rocks Cont.
Fine Grain Rocks
 Formed at earths surface – above ground or under
water
 Cooled very quickly
 Examples:
 Basalt
 Rhyolite
 Obsidian – volcanic glass
 no crystals due to instant cooling

7. Sedimentary Rocks
 Not formed from volcanic activity
 Made of other rocks and minerals
 Grain size can range from not present to huge boulders
 Pieces that make up a sedimentary rock are called
sediments.

8. Sedimentary Rocks
 The two types of sedimentary rocks
are:
 Clastic
 Non-Clastic

9. Clastic Sedimentary Rocks
 Made up of rock fragments, shells, or other sediments
cemented together
 Can often see or feel the different sediments in the
rock
 Examples
 Sandstone
 Conglomerate
 Breccia

10. Non-Clastic Sedimentary rocks
 Usually made of one chemical
 Can be composed of:
 Precipitated minerals in water
 Once living plants or organisms
 Examples:
 Coal
 Gypsum
 Limestone

11. Metamorphic Rocks
 Rocks that have undergone change due to extreme
heat and pressure
 The rocks and minerals contained in them do not melt
during this process.

12. Metamorphic Rocks
 There are two main types of metamorphic rocks, what
are they?
 Stratified
 Non-stratified

13. Stratified Rocks
 Rocks that have visible bands of minerals
 Bands run in lines that resemble layering
 Has had extreme pressure applied to two opposite
sides
 The bands are minerals that grouped together during
the extreme pressure

14. Examples of Stratified Rocks
Parent Rock Metamorphosed Rock
 Granite  Gneiss
 by Andrew Alden  by Andrew Alden
 Shale  Schist
 by Andrew Alden  by Andrew Alden

15. Non-stratified Rocks
 No rings or bands
 Noticeable change from parent rock
 Pressure was applied from all directions
Parent Rock Metamorphosed Rock
•Limestone •Marble
•Photo by: Georges Grondin Photo by: Titus Tscharntke

16. Bibliography
 Levin, Harold L. The Earth through Time. Hoboken, NJ: J. Wiley, 2010. Print.
 "Marble Blocks Public Domain Image Picture." Marble Blocks Public Domain Image Picture. N.p., n.d. Web.
15 Oct. 2012. <http://www.public-domain-image.com/textures-and-patterns-public-domain-images-
pictures/rock-stone-texture-public-domain-images-pictures/marble-blocks.jpg.html>.
 "Non-Clastic Sedimentary Rocks." Non-Clastic Sedimentary Rocks. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Oct. 2012.
<http://www.edhelper.com/ReadingComprehension_54_4350.html>.
 "Rock Picture Index." About.com Geology. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Oct. 2012.
<http://geology.about.com/od/rocks/a/Rock-Picture-Index.htm>.
 "Wetstone Pattern Public Domain Image Picture." Wetstone Pattern Public Domain Image Picture. N.p., n.d.
Web. 15 Oct. 2012. <http://www.public-domain-image.com/textures-and-patterns-public-domain-images-
pictures/rock-stone-texture-public-domain-images-pictures/wetstone-pattern.jpg.html>.
 "Wildaboutrocks." Sedimentary Rocks -. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Oct. 2012. <http://wildaboutrocks.com/Mineral-
Information/Sedimentary-Rocks>.