UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA

GEOLOGY LABORATORY

ECG253
OPEN-ENDED LAB
MARCH-JULY 2021

TITLE OF EXPERIMENT : IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF IGNEOUS

ROCK

DATE OF EXPERIMENT : 7 APRIL 2021

GROUP : EC1102L

GROUP MEMBERS 1. NUR ALIEA HANIM BINTI ZAMBERI (2020488246)

2. NUR FATIHAH IZATI BINTI OMAR (2020824472)
3. NURULAIN FATIHAH BINTI MOHD YUSRI(2020600534)
4. AINUR FATIN NADHIRAH BINTI YUSNI (2020451506)

LECTURER : TS. DR. ROHAYA ALIAS

LEVEL OF OPENNESS : 0
 COMMENT
ITEM COPO MARKS
S
INTRODUCTIO
CO2-PO7
N
OBJECTIVE(S) CO2-PO7
METHODOLOG
CO2-PO7
Y
RESULTS CO2-PO7
DISCUSSION CO2-PO7 2 4 6 8 10
CONCLUSION CO2-PO7 2 4 6 8 10
ORGANIZATIO
CO2-PO7 2 4 6 8 10
N
TOTAL MARKS

INTRODUCTION
The traditional methods of conducting laboratory activities will not be able to
provide the avenue for students to enhance independent learning activities and
inculcate creativity and innovation. Level 0 is fully prescriptive where problem,
ways & means and answers are provided to the students. However, it is still
necessary especially to first- and second-year students.

Rocks that are formed by crystallization of a melt are igneous rock and they may be
formed at depth (intrusive or plutonic) or on the surface (extrusive or volcanic). In
general, igneous rocks that cool rapidly (i.e., volcanic rock) are very fine-grained
whereas rocks that cool slowly (i.e., plutonic rocks) are coarse-grained.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this laboratory test is to recognize, identified and observed

distinguishing features of igneous rock specimen in the laboratory.

PROCEDURES
 Students should learn to familiarize and observe the samples by referring the
igneous classification charts and tabulate the results observation in the Appendix 2
(b) attached.

i. The minerals are named by referring from the Reference set.

ii. The texture of minerals is identified through observation.
iii. The colour of minerals is identified through observation.
iv. The grain size and origin of the igneous rocks is identified from Table 2.2
in theoretical background.
v. Mineral composition of the igneous rocks is determined from Appendix 2
(a)

RESULT

The group is required to submit the team report of the experiment. All observed
data need to be tabulated in the table provided in

Appendix 2 (b): Tabulation of Igneous Rock Identification

Rock Texture Colour Grain Size Mineral Composition Origin Picture

Name
Basalt Aphanitic, Dark mineral Aphanitic, Magnetite & ilmenite, Extrusive
porphyritic precominant porphyritic plagioclase, augite,
hornblende
Gabbro Medium to Dark grey Medium to Hornblende, augite, Intrusive
coarse coarse plagioclase, olivine,
magnetite & ilmenite
Diorite Phaneritic, Dark grey, Phaneritic, Hornblende, augite, Intrusive
medium to typically medium to orthoclase,
course speckled course plagioclase, magnetite
black and & ilmenite, biotite
white
Granite Medium to Light<25% Medium to Muscovite, biotite, Intrusive
coarse, dark minerals coarse, plagioclase,
phaneritic phaneritic orthoclase,
hornblende, quartz
DISCUSSION

• Intrusive Igneous Rocks

Intrusive igneous rocks are rocking that form within the Earth’s solid lithosphere.
Intrusive igneous rocks can be brought to the surface of the Earth by denudation and by
a variety of tectonic processes. Intrusive or plutonic rocks crystallize from magma
beneath the earth’s surface. Intrusive or plutonic igneous rock are form
underground. They involved the “intrusion” or insertion of magma between other
rocks, which then cools below the surface. Intrusive or plutonic igneous rock forms
when magma is trapped deep inside the Earth. Great globs of molten rock rise toward
the surface. Some of the magma may feed volcanoes on the Earth's surface, but most
remains trapped below, where it cools very slowly over many thousands or millions of
years until it solidifies. Slow cooling means the individual mineral grains have a very long
time to grow, so they grow to a relatively large size. Intrusive rocks have a coarse-
grained texture.

• Extrusive Igneous Rocks

If the crystallization process occurs at the Earth’s surface, the rocks created are
called extrusive igneous rock. Extrusive or volcanic rocks crystallize from lava at the
earth’s surface. Volcanic rocks are named after volcanoes, which erupt the lava and
volcanoes are named after Vulcan, the Roman god of fire. Volcanic rocks are formed
above ground. They involve the “extrusion” or eruption of magma, which then is called
“lava”. The lava cools upon or very close to the surface. Volcanic rocks can also form
from “ash” which is simply broken up rock blown into the air or called pyroclastic
material. Extrusive or volcanic igneous rock is produced when magma exits and cools
above (or very near) the Earth's surface. These are the rocks that form at erupting
volcanoes and oozing fissures. The magma, called lava when molten rock erupts on the
surface, cools and solidifies almost instantly when it is exposed to the relatively cool
temperature of the atmosphere. Quick cooling means that mineral crystals don't have
much time to grow, so these rocks have a very fine-grained or even glassy texture. Hot
gas bubbles are often trapped in the quenched lava, forming a bubbly, vesicular texture.
i. Group of intrusive and extrusive igneous rock

INTRUSIVE ENTRUSIVE
GRANITE
DIORITE BASALT
GABBRO

ii. Identify the use of igneous rock in civil engineering

They are many types of igneous rock use in civil engineering work. Igneous rocks have a
wide variety of uses in civil engineering. One important use is as stone for buildings and
statues.

Granite is the coarse-grained intrusive Igneous rock. It is used in

architectural and construction sites. This is also used in making ornaments. It's
available in large quantities and has good strength. These are also used in decorative
monuments, bridges, and commercial buildings. Granite also a popular choice for
kitchen countertops.

Next, Basalts are called solidified lava. This is used in the building and construction
process. These are the volcanic or extrusive rocks. Intrusive cannot be formed. It is
commonly crushed for use as an aggregate in construction projects like. Crushed basalt
is used for road base, concrete aggregate, asphalt pavement aggregate and also in
flooring, cobblestone, countertops, and railroad track ballast.

Apart from that gabbro Igneous Rock also use in civil engineering which is come dark in
colour. It consists of magnetite & ilmenite, plagioclase, augite and hornblende.
Sometimes the colour can turn into grey. They have small spots in them. As this fall
under the plutonic type, it differs in texture. When polished, it can be used for multiple
purposes like making cork surface, floor tiles, facing stone and cemetery markers.
Gabbro igneous rock are usually used in road-related works like forming concrete
aggregate, ballast for railroads and road metal.

Lastly, diorite is also the coarse-grained intrusive Igneous rock. It has minerals
named biotite, magnetite & ilmenite, plagioclase, orthoclase, augite and hornblende.
These are light in colour. Sometimes they have darkened spots. This is the hard-
Igneous Rock. This is used for inscriptions, for making statues and carvings on rocks.
Nowadays the function of diorite is restricted. It is used as a base material in the
construction roads, building, parking areas and also in flooring and landscaping. It has
weather resistant agents in it.

ANALYSIS

As we all known that there are two types of igneous rock which is intrusive and
extrusive igneous rock. Not all types of igneous rock have same properties with each
other but a certain maybe have same physical properties. So, in this experiment we as a
group must carry out lab test about identification of igneous rocks. There are 5 physical
properties of igneous rock that we have to conduct or test it with different type rock
name of igneous rock either intrusive or extrusive. If we refer to table 1, there are
different result for each igneous rock that we test. Each igneous rock has different
physical properties from each other. As example a granite, is an intrusive igneous rock.
Its texture is medium to coarse, phaneritic. The colour is light or <25% dark mineral and
have its mineral composition. Through this test we can recognize and know to identify a
type of igneous rock, physical properties of igneous and understand forming of igneous
rock.

CONCLUSION

In this experiment, we learn how to identify the various classification of igneous rocks
which is determined by the texture, colour, grain size, mineral composition and origin of
the igneous rock. The igneous rock formation can be defined by the origin where it
either instructive or extractive. Intrusive rocks, cool slowly without reaching the surface.
Extrusive igneous rocks form when magma reaches the Earth’s surface.

REFERENCE

Geology News and information, https://geology.com/rocks/igneous-rocks.shtml

Earth Eclipse, https://www.eartheclipse.com/geology/formation-types-and-examples-

of-igneous-rocks.html