Rock Classification

Rocks are divided into three main

classes based on how they form:
1. Igneous
2. Sedimentary
3. Metamorphic
Each type of rock can be further
classified based on:
 Composition and texture
 Composition

 Thechemical make up of the rock or

what it is made of.

 This
can be minerals or other
materials: shells, clay, plants,
sand, pebbles
 Texture/Grains
 Determined by the grains size, shape
and position.
 Igneous can be fine or coarse grain
 Sedimentary can be characterized by
observing lithified (cemented) inorganic
grains, minerals, organic material, or
fossil fragments. The wide range of
textures common in sedimentary rocks is
separated into clastic , chemical, and
bioclastic (biochemical) groups.
 Texture/Grains
 Metamorphic textures consist of
two main types: foliated and
non-foliated textures.
 Texture can reveal the process
that formed the rock.
Igneous Rocks
 What are they?
 Rock made from cooled

– LAVA, above ground or

– MAGMA, below ground.
Classification

They are classified

in 3 ways:

1. Texture – grain
2. Origin - where formed
3. Mineral Composition – made
from
Grain Size Have….

SPECIAL
NAMES
 Texture/Grain
 Coarse Grained = large grains, cooled
slowly
Think about it…. If it cools over a long time – the grains have time to get big! 

Most abundant intrusive rock is GRANITE

 Fine Grained = small grains, cooled fast

Think about it… If it cools over a short time – the grains don’t have time to get big! 

Basalt
Igneous Rock Formation-Origin
 Extrusive – formed ABOVE
GROUND. It cools fast so it has
small grains.
 Intrusive – formed
UNDERGROUND. It cools slowly so
it will have large grains.

Laccolith
Examples of each type of
ROCKFine Grained
Basalt = Extrusive Igneous rock

Course Grained
Granite = Intrusive Igneous rock
Big Crystals Small or No Crystals

Lighter

Darker
 Mineral Composition
 How much silica is in the magma/lava?

– Low silica content = dark colored = Mafic

– High silica content = light colored = Felsic

High Silica Content Low Silica Content

Felsic Igneous Rock Mafic Igneous Rock
Label the igneous rock formation
 Ticket out: CHOOSE ONLY
ONE
 What makes up the grains in
an igneous rock?
Illustrate grains of an igneous
rock and explain why this
happens
Compare and contrast
intrusive and extrusive igneous