College of engineering - UOZ

Department of petroleum engineering

Petroleum Geology LAB
Stage: Three

Student names:
Ahmad J. Jaffer
Kevir N. Jamal
Akhrat M. Mohammadsaeed
Helen F. Rashed
Nareen N. Abdulla

Date: 20th FEB 2023

Lecturer: Mr. Barzan
Assignment: Rock Sample Description
 ABSTRACT
Generally rocks can be divided into three major types based on
the process of their formation. These are; Igneous rocks,
sedimentary rocks and metamorphic rocks. Igneous rocks are
formed by the solidification and cooling of magma in volcanic
areas, while sedimentary rocks are formed by low temperature
accumulation of sediments in tectonic basins and topographical
sinks. Metamorphic rocks on the other hand are formed by
application of temperature and pressure on pre-existing rocks.
Metamorphic rocks therefore form at great depths, but exposed
on the surface due to erosion and epirogenic movements. Each
of these three rock types can be further classified in terms of;
chemistry, how the form and environment of formation. The
distributions of these major rock types are critical in regional
mapping of natural resources. Igneous is coined from word
“ignis” meaning fire and therefore these rocks are good
indicators of volcanism and are there associated with geothermal
resources and hydrothermal deposits like porphyry copper, and
gold etc. sedimentary rocks especially the organic sediments on
the other hand are good source rocks and are associated with
resources like coal and oil. Sediments are also good proxies for
environmental reconstruction, since fossils can be well
preserved in these deposits. Metamorphic environments are
associated with Gemstones and alteration minerals which form
good index minerals as geobarometers and geothermometry. In
this paper we look mainly into igneous and metamorphic rocks,
their distribution, plate margins and geothermal resources.
Table of content

Introduction
Halite
Shale
Conglomerate
Clay stone
Limestone
Breccia
Grey Sandstone
Red Sandstone
Conclusion
INTRODUCTION
There are many definitions of rocks, according to (Ehlers and
Blatt, 1997). He defines rocks as stuff which the earth is made
off. A more acceptable scientific definition of rocks is that; a
rock is a natural occurring solid cohesive aggregate of one or
more mineral or mineral materials. Rocks are broadly classified
into three groups based on their process of formation. The three
major rock types are: 1. Igneous rocks 2. Sedimentary rocks 3.
Metarmoprphic rocks Sedimentary rocks makes up to 66% of
the earth‟s crust, with 34 % being the igneous and the
metamorphics. Igneous rocks however, forms the majority of 34
% (Ehlers and Blatt, 1997).The reason why sedimentary rocks
accounts for most of the rocks on the earth‟s surface is because
they are mainly found ocean floor basins which accounts to 70%
of total area of the earth. The three rock types are further
classified based on chemistry, environment of formation and
how they are formed.

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Halite

 Halite is primarily a sedimentary rock that occurs in arid

environments where ocean water evaporates. Evaporates
are chemical sedimentary rocks so the halite is classified as non-
clastic sedimentary .
 Has pink color that is chemical weathering minerals are changed
into new minerals and mineral byproducts .
 The texture of halite , it has very fine grain that is smaller than
0.004 , it „s very well sorted and the roundness of it between
angular and subangular , has high sphericity .
 Halite is fossils rock .
 The halite structure is type four is fossils.
 Has very low porosity and lower permeability.
 Halite can be critical in forming hydrocarbon traps and seals
because it tends to flow rather than fracture during deformation,
thus preventing hydrocarbons from leaking out of a trap even
during and after some types of deformation .

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Shale

 Shales are sedimentary rock that are typically deposited in very

slow moving water and are often found in lakes and lagoonal
deposits, in river deltas, on floodplains and offshore from beach
sands, is classified as clastic sedimentary.
 Has a grey color Weathering transforms the shale into a clay-rich
soil which normally has a very low shear strength - especially
when wet.
 The texture of shal, it has very fine grain that is smaller than 0.004
and is well sorted and is well-rounded , low sphericity.
 Shale is likely to contain fossils.
 Sedimentary structure is mud cracks.
 Shales are characterized by very low porosity and very low
permeability, which make them challenging in recovering
economically viable hydrocarbons.
 Shale is a type of sedimentary rock that is rich in kerogen. Kerogen
is a part of rock that breaks down and releases hydrocarbons when
heated. Hydrocarbons are substances made entirely of hydrogen
and carbon.

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 Conglomerate
Is a sedimentary rock classified as clastic and clastic rock types like
conglomerate are strong current transport and their physical properties,
high porosity and permeability. The colour is nearly to tan brown grain
size is fine size and high sphericity, subrounded and poorly sorted and
conglomerate rocks do provide fossils periodically however, some
fossils found in conglomerate rocks include (sponges, brachiopods and
gastropods).

Clay stone
Clay stone is sedimentary rock at the classification as clastic and this
color is almost dark red and a grain size less than 0.004 mm and low
sphericity subrounded and very well sorted and claystone for floor and
walls the natural and permanent alternative to cement very hardwearing
coating based on clay and sedimentary rock. The total porosity of the
COx claystone is estimated between 14% in carbonated levels and
19.5% in more argillaceous levels Claystone is the most porous sediment
but is the least permeable. Clay usually acts as an aquitard, impeding the
flow of water. Gravel and sand are both porous and permeable, making
them good aquifer materials. Gravel has the highest permeability.

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Claystone or clayband ironstones have been the basis of the steel
industry in many industrialized countries, largely because of their
association with coalfields. Essentially, they are accumulations of iron
carbonates (usually siderite) that have replaced the non-marine shales of
coal-measure cyclothems (parasequences) and occur as either thin
sheets or, more commonly,

Limestone
Limestone is a type of sedimentary rock that is composed of calcium
carbonate. The forms of calcium carbonate that make up limestone are
either calcite or aragonite. By adding certain elements, certain rocks can
form and behave slightly differently than pure limestone.

1. Rock type: sedimentary rock

2. Color: Limestone is ordinarily quite light in color, white, tan or grey,
but will vary in colour due to its impurities. For instance, iron
oxide will give it a brown, yellow, or red tinge whilst carbon could
give it a more a blue, black, or grey shad in lab the color was (milky
or white brown)
3. Texture(grain size, roundness, sorting): Most limestones shape is
between a granular and subrounded also have low spherical shape ,
Their constituent grains range in size from 0.001 mm (0.00004 inch)
<0.004 and it is well sorted .

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4. Fossils and accessories: It is commonly composed of tiny fossils,
shell fragments and other fossilized debris
5. Sedimentary structure : It is composed mostly of
the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal
forms of CaCO3. Limestone forms when these
minerals precipitate out of water containing dissolved calcium.
6. Porosity and permeability :Limestone has high porosity and
permeability
7. Hydrocarbons shows: calcium carbonate CaCO3.

Breccia
Breccia is commonly used for clastic sedimentary rocks composed of
large sharp-angled fragments embedded in a fine-grained matrix of
smaller particles or mineral cement. The breccia generated by folding,
faulting, magmatic intrusions, and similar
forces is called tectonic breccia.
1. Rock types : sedimentary _ clastic rock
2. Color: reddish brown
3. Texture: grain size is Gravel , shape is
high spherical and angular ,and is
poorly sorted

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Grey Sandstone

1. Rock Type:
It‟s a sedimentary rock and type of Sandstone that is made up mostly of
sand-size grains that were rapidly deposited very near the source rock
from which they were weathered.
And is Classiffied as a clastic sedimentry rock because the sediment
particles are clasts, or pieces, of minerals and fragments of rock.
2. Color: Gray.
3. Texture:
a. Grain Size: Medium sand sand (from 0.25 to 0.5 mm)
b. Shape: High Sphericity and Subrounded.
c. Sorting: well sorted

Grey Sandstone

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Red Sandstone:

1. Rock Type:
It‟s a sedimentary rock and type of Sandstone that appearing red due to
the inclusion of iron oxides (hematite
And is Classiffied as a clastic sedimentry rock because the sediment
particles are clasts, or pieces, of minerals and fragments of rock.
2. Color: Red.
3. Texture:
a. Grain Size: Fine sand sand (from 0.125 to 0.25 mm)
b. Shape: High Sphericity and Subrounded.
c. Sorting: poorly sorted

Red Sanstone

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 Conclusion

At first LAB class we took a lecture about Rock

sample description theoretically, for example
rock type, color and texture. But in the second
class we took lecture practically, Students
worked together in small groups to identify the
three different types of rocks given to them from
a small sample, igneous rock, metamorphic rock
or sedimentary rock. They will have to identify
each rock and Rock sample description using
the Earth Science Reference Tables.