Types of Rocks

■ Sedimentary Rocks - are types of rock that are formed by the

deposition and subsequent cementation of mineral or organic
particles on the floor of oceans or other bodies of water at the
Earth's surface.
■ Igneous Rocks - is formed through the cooling and solidification of
magma or lava. The magma can be derived from partial melts of
existing rocks in either a planet's mantle or crust.
■ Metamorphic Rocks - arise from the transformation of existing
rock types, in a process called metamorphism, which means
"change in form". The original rock is subjected to heat and
pressure, causing profound physical or chemical change.
How did Rocks formed?
EARLY THEORIES ON THE EVOLUTION
OF THE EARTH
■Catastrophism
■Uniformitarianism
Catastrophism
Uniformitarianism
Chemical Composition of Earth (by
mass)
■ 34.6% Iron
■ 29.5% Oxygen
■ 15.2% Silicon
■ 12.7% Magnesium
■ 2.4% Nickel
■ 1.9% Sulfur
■ 0.05% Titanium
The Planet Earth
■ Shape - Oblate spheroid
■ Equatorial Radius = 6378 km
■ Polar Radius = 6357 km
■ Equatorial Circumference = 40076 km
■ Polar Circumference = 40008 km
■ Volume = 260,000,000,000 cu. miles
■ Density = 5.52 g/cm3
Earth’s Internal Layers
Earth’s Internal Layers
Crust
1. Oceanic – basaltic
(SiMa)
– 6 to 11 km thick
– 3.0 g/cm3

2. Continental –granitic
(SiAl)
– 20 to 30 km thick
– ~2.7 g/cm3
Earth’s Internal Layers
Mantle – extends to a depth of ~2900 km (Fe, Mg)
1. Upper mantle – extends from the base of the
crust

2. Mesosphere – lower mantle; from 660 km

depth to the core-mantle boundary
Earth’s Internal Layers

Core – iron rich sphere with small amounts of Ni

and other elements
1. Outer core – 2270 km thick; liquid

2. Inner core – solid sphere with a radius of 1216

km