ROCK

What are Rocks made of?

* Rocks are made of elements from earth in different
proportions
* The conditions under which rocks are formed influence
the properties of the rocks.
* Minerals are the building blocks of rocks
* Elements are the building blocks of minerals

Are inorganic (dont contain Carbon)
Are chemical substances made of one or more
elements
(Gold, Silver, Sulfur 1 element; quartz, feldspar 2
elements)
Minerals
Are naturally occurring
Are usually solid crystal (about 2000 have been
found)
Almost half Earths crust is made of minerals
that contain Oxygen.
Minerals that are rare are called gems.
Minerals

There are three main types of rock:
There are three main types of rock
Igneous Rock
* Two Types : Volcanic and Plutonic

Volcanic Rock
* Cools above ground therefore rapidly and has small
crystals (Eg. Basalt)

Basalt columns
Plutonic Rock
* Cools underground therefore slowly and
has large crystals (Eg. Granite)
Large granite boulders
Therefore where igneous rock forms determines the crystal size in
the rock
Sedimentary Rock
Once sediment (mud, sand, gravel, clay)
Under pressure they formed into rock
Generally layered
Usually the colour of the sediment
Sometimes preserve signs of life and surface activity,
eg. fossils, tracks, ripple marks

Metamorphic Rocks
Sedimentary or igneous rock that has undergone change
The change can be due to heat, pressure and/or chemicals
Usually the change happens deep beneath the earth