UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH ALABAMA

GY 111: Physical Geology

Lecture 9: Extrusive Igneous Rocks

Instructor: Dr. Douglas W. Haywick

Last Time
1) The chemical composition of the crust
2) Crystallization of molten rock
3) Bowen's Reaction Series
Web notes 8

Chemical Composition of the Crust

Element

Wt%

% of atoms

Oxygen

46.6

60.5

Silicon

27.7

20.5

Aluminum

8.1

6.2

Iron

5.0

1.9

Calcium

3.6

1.9

Sodium

2.8

2.5

Potassium

2.6

1.8

Magnesium

2.1

1.4

All other elements

1.5

3.3

Crystallization of Magma

http://myweb.cwpost.liu.edu/vdivener/notes/igneous.htm

Bowens Reaction Series

Source http://www.ltcconline.net/julian

Igneous Rock
Composition

Source: http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu

Composition

Formation
Temperature

Dominant
Minerals

Silica content

Ultramafic

Very high

Olivine, pyroxene

Very low (<45%)

Mafic

High

Olivine, pyroxene,
Ca-plagioclase

low

Intermediate

Medium

Na-Plagioclase,
amphibole, biotite

moderate

Felsic

Medium-low

Orthoclase, quartz,
muscovite, biotite

high (>65%)

Igneous Rock Texture

Extrusive Rocks (Rapid Cooling; non visible* crystals)

Intrusive Rocks (slow cooling; 100 % visible crystals)

*with a hand lens

Igneous Rock Texture

Igneous Rock Texture

Todays Agenda
1) Pyro-what? (air fall volcanic rocks)
2) Felsic and Intermediate Extrusive Rocks
3) Mafic Extrusive Rocks
Web notes 9

Pyroclastic Igneous Rocks

Pyroclastic Igneous Rocks

Pyroclastic: Pyro means fire. Clastic means particles;
both are of Greek origin.

Pyroclastic Igneous Rocks

Pyroclastic: Pyro means fire. Clastic means particles;
both are of Greek origin.
Pyroclastic rocks are usually erupted from composite
volcanoes (e.g., they are produced via explosive eruptions
from viscous, cool lavas)

Pyroclastic Igneous Rocks

Pyroclastic: Pyro means fire. Clastic means particles;
both are of Greek origin.
Pyroclastic rocks are usually erupted from composite
volcanoes (e.g., they are produced via explosive eruptions
from viscous, cool lavas)
The eruptions that produce pyroclastic rocks include
phreatic, plinian and ultraplinian.

Pyroclastic Igneous Rocks

Pyroclastic: Pyro means fire. Clastic means particles;
both are of Greek origin.
Pyroclastic rocks are usually erupted from composite
volcanoes (e.g., they are produced via explosive eruptions
from viscous, cool lavas)
The eruptions that produce pyroclastic rocks include
phreatic, plinian and ultraplinian.
These rocks cool extremely rapidly. Textures are glassy to
aphanitic.

Pyroclastic Igneous Rocks

Pyroclastic Igneous Rocks

Volcanic ash

Pyroclastic Igneous Rocks

Volcanic ash

Pumice

Pyroclastic Igneous Rocks

Volcanic ash

Obsidian

Pyroclastic Igneous Rocks

Nuee ardents and
pyroclastic flows may
deposit volcanic breccias
or ignimbrites
http://ougseurope.org/trips/santorini/santorini/Picture04.jpg

Ignimbrite

Pyroclastic Igneous Rocks

During pyroclastic eruptions,
volcanic gas is produced in
copious quantities (more so
than ash and rock).
water vapor (H20)
carbon dioxide (CO2)
hydrogen chloride (HCl)
sulfur dioxide (SO2)
nitrogen oxide (N2O)
Hydrogen cyanide (HCN)
argon (Ar)
helium (He)

Other
pyroclastic
rocks
Volcanic Bombs

Tuff
Rhyolite

Chalk board

Felsic/Intermediate Extrusive Igneous Rocks

Felsic/Intermediate Extrusive Igneous Rocks

Rhyolite
Mt. St. Helens Lava dome

Felsic and intermediate rocks are

classified by the amount of SiO2 in
their bulk chemistry (they have
relatively high SiO2 content). We can
distinguish them on the basis of
mineral composition and color.

Andesite

Mafic Extrusive Igneous Rocks

Mafic Extrusive Igneous Rocks

Basalt
http://z.about.com/d/geology/1/0/F/W/scoria.jpg

Mafic extrusive igneous rocks have

relatively low SiO2 contents in their
bulk chemistry. Ultramafic extrusive
igneous rocks are relatively rare
today.
Scoria

Mafic Extrusive Igneous Rocks

Mafic extrusive igneous rocks

erupted under water produce a
unique structure called pillows.
Pillow basalt forms at divergent
plate boundaries like the MidAtlantic Ridge

Pillow Basalt

Todays Homework
1. Study; Lecture test 1 next Tuesday

Next Time
1.
2.

Quiz 5; fill in the blanks

Intrusive igneous rocks

GY 111: Physical Geology

Lecture 9: Extrusive Igneous Rocks
Instructor: Dr. Doug Haywick
dhaywick@southalabama.edu

This is a free open access lecture, but not for commercial purposes.
For personal use only.