Chapter no 2

Igneous Rocks
Igneous Rocks:
Molten rocks material which is generated inside or below the earth crust reaches the
surface of the earth. This molten material is termed as lava or magma and when it solidifies it
makes igneous rocks. Natural magmas are hot and viscous in which chief elements present are
silicon and oxygen the metals passion magnesium passion sodium and iron may also be present
in this magma. Small amounts of PO2 ,SO2 ,H2O and other elements are also present. If the
magma cools quickly it solidifies as a rock/ glass which is without crystals and if it cools slowly,
rock forming minerals are in crystal form where are two types of igneous rocks

1. Acidic Rocks.
If the rocks contain silica (SiO2) abundance i.e. 10%, slash 80% then these
are called acidic rocks. For example granites

2. Basic Rocks:

If quantity of silica (SiO2) is less (less than 65%) are neglect able then a
rock called Basic Rocks, e.g. gabbro’s.

The igneous rocks may be either it’s extrusive if they are found at the earth’s surface (e.g.
basalt) or intrusive if magma solidifies underground (e.g. granites).

Classification of igneous Rocks

On the basis of texture and mode of occurrence, the rock have been classified into three
groups.

I. Plutonic Rock

These rocks are formed when magma cools slowly at great depth with
the retention of the volatiles. The texture of such rocks is coarse grained.
 II. Volcanic

Volcanic rocks are formed when magma erupts at the surface of the earth and
cools rapidly. The volatiles present in magma escape into the atmosphere. The texture of
these rocks are fine grained or glassy.

III. Hypabyssal Rocks

These rocks are formed when consolidation of magma takes place very close to
the earth surface. Examples of such igneous bodies are dykes and sills. Hypabyssal rock may be
fine grained or partly glassy.

Classification of igneous rocks

Acidic > 65% Intermediate Basic 45% - Ultra Basic <

silica 55% - 65% 55% silica 45% Silica
silica
Plutonic Granite Syenite Diorite Gabbro Peridotite
Dunite
Hypabyssal Granite- Syenite- Diorite- Dolerite
prophyry prophyry prophyry
Volcanic Phyolite Trachyte Andesite Basalt
Obsidian
Pitchstone

All the rocks in “vertical column” have same chemical composition but differ in texture,
because they are made of the same magma but cooled under different conditions. On the other
hand in a “horizontal” the composition changes from acidic to basic but the texture remains
approximately similar. Thus both gabbro and granite are coarse grained.