Chapter 9 Rocky Matter Before advanced technology was available, people in the past made use of ‘materials in theit surroundings, such as rocks, to make useful tools. This Hoko knife (a modern model of the original knife) consists of a very small, sharp stone tied to a wooden handle with a spruce root, The otiginal knife was found near the Hoko River in western Washington, Archaeologists (people who study objects used by people of the past) think that it ‘was used by people who were living there about 2 700 years ago for cutting fish. 102 Chaptera Rocks You yj] LEARN * about the origins and characteristics of the main rock types © todescribe the distribution of the main k types in Singapore using a map Fig 1 Rocks are classified itn thee main ypes — igneous, sedimentary and mmetamophic rocks. Can you describe hoe tho rocks wathin each ype ae similar to ‘one another?of the Earth What Are Rocks? Landforms, such as mountains and volcanoes, are made up entirely of rocks. Without rocks, there would be no landforms on Earth, Let us now. earn about rocks, what they are made of and how they are formed. Roeks are solid materials of the Earth’s crust. They are made up of substances known as minerals, such as quartz and sand. Rocks are formed in various ways, such as when lava cools and hardens on the Earth's surface. Geologists (people who study rocks) have classified rocks into three main types, according to how they are formed. The three types are igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks. eon © Basait Uses: oor ties, basalt os and textiles © Grenite Uses: Buildings, monuments Sedimentary rocks © Limestone Uses: Camont, blackboard chalk © Stale Uses: aw material for making potter and tiles © Sandstone Uses: Canstuctio, raw ‘material fo making pottery Rocks of the Earth 103Igneous rocks The word ‘igneous’ comes from the Latin word ignis, which ‘fire’. Does this give you a clue as to where igneous rocks come from? Remember that magma, a very hot molten material, makes up the Earth’s interior. Geologists describe igneous rocks as magma that has cooled and hardened, either beneath or above the Earth’s surface. neans, Fig92 Whenta cool and hare i) peau racks it forms extus a How are igneous rocks formed? fine-grained igneous rocks are ferred when lava cools and Corso grand ignous rocks a tee ‘a formed when magma cools pe eatin ‘and hardans nso the Earth lve Fig93. Igneous works ao formed when magma cols and hardens inthe arth or when ava cols and hardens nthe Earth’ surface Coarse-grained igneous rocks ‘The appearance of igneous rocks is affected by how fast magma cools. When magma cools and hardens slowly in the Barth's interior, coarse-grained igneous rocks are formed. This means that we can see individual grains on the rocks with the naked eye. An example of a coarse-grained igneous rock is granite. Granite can be used to make many things, such as pavements and stone walls, Fig94 Thegairs afigneos orks that foe in ho Earth are vate Fine-grained igneous rocks When lava cools and hardens quickly on the Earth's surface, fine- grained igneous rocks are formed. The individual grains are very small and a microscope is needed to see them in detail. An example of a fine-grained igneous rock is basalt. Basalt is very hard and for floor tiles Fig95 Tho grains és af gnanus rocks that resistant to weathering, It can be used as a materi form onthe Earths surface ae ne. and basalt fibres. Basalt fibres are used in the construction industry to make concrete stronger. 104 Chopior9Sedimentary rocks Weathering and erosion cause rocks to break down into smaller pieces. Tiny pieces of broken rocks, together with grains of sand, clay and silt, are known as sediments. Being small and light, sediments are easily carried away by wind and water, Eventually, some of the sediments are deposited into rivers and oceans. As the sediments pile up in layers, the weight of the layers on top presses down on the layers below. Eventually, the sediments cement together and harden, These solid, hardened layers of sediments are Layers of souiments Fig 96 As the layers of sediments pile called sedimentary rocks. upon tho sea bed, the sediments coment ‘gether and hardon, ‘The appearance of sedimentary rocks depends on the type and size of the sediments. When the sediments are very small, fine-grained sedimentary rocks are formed. An example of a fine-grained sedimentary rock is shale, which is often used to make bricks. With larger sand-sized particles, coarse-grained sedimentary rocks are formed. An example of a coarse-grained sedimentary rock is sandstone. Another example is conglomerate, which is a mixture of pebbles and sand grains cemented together. Fig 97 Conglomerate isa sedimentary rock tats made up 1 patos an ahr sina Not all sedimentary rocks, however, are formed from sediments. Some cemented together are formed from the hardened remains of animals and plants. An example of such a sedimentary rock is limestone. Some types of limestone are. made up of the remains of coral, shell and even bone. mesione may IAG also contain fossils, which are the preserved parts of marine animals How are sedimentary rocks formed? and plants that lived long ago. Fig 98 We can cast recognise laniformsthat are made of sedimentary ‘orks bacause of her distinctive layers.How do we differentiate sedimentary rocks from other types of rocks? ‘Well, the main characteristic of sedimentary rocks is that they form in layers which vary in thickness and appearance. ‘The bottom layer is, usually the oldest and the top layer, the newest. Rocks sometimes give a place its identity. Jaipur, the capital of the i, ‘state of Rajasthan in North India, Metamorphic vocks ‘ is ropalariy ricum(asthe Pink hy Sedimentary and igneous rocks sometimes become completely because many houses there are transformed or changed under intense heat and pressure. This could made of pink sandstones! Read, ‘occur due to crustal movements or when the rock comes into contact with view and play games about rocks molten magma. When that happens, metamorphic rocks are formed. a itary ane ayes gos ‘The word meramorphosis is the Greek word for ‘transformation’. For last accessed on 1 June 2008). : d example, when an igneous rock like granite is subjected to extreme high temperatures and intense pressure, it transforms into a metamorphic rock called gneiss. Under similar conditions, sedimentary rocks like shale changes into slate, whereas limestone changes into marble. a How are metamorphic rocks formed? Intense pressure causes Intense haat causes sedimentary rocks to change igneous rocks to cheme into metamorphic rok. into metemerphic ros. Sedimantay rocks Fg 39 When tno Plats clide, one pate sinks beneath anotho, This causes rocks tobe sabjectd to inense heat and pressure, and change into metamaxpte os Heat and pressure sometimes cause metamorphic rocks to have a foliated appearance, that is, to have bands. Slate is an example of a metamorphic rock with a foliated texture. This means that the different minerals are aligned in parallel layers. It is formed from shale, a sedimentary rock, Metamorphic rocks can be used as materials for buildings and decorations. For example, marble is commonly used as a building material in homes, and as a sculpting material by artists. Slate is often used as a construction material for fireplaces and flooring, Fig 9.10_Slato isa fre rained, foliated motamorphic rock Em, 106 Chapter 9The Rock Cycle ‘The three main types of rocks are interrelated in the ways they are formed. Over time, one type of rock can change into another. Rocks of any type that are broken into pieces may form sedimentary rocks. Igneous and sedimentary rocks may change into metamorphic rocks, Metamorphic rocks sometimes get buried deep in the Earth where there is intense heat and pressure. They melt and become magma, which then cools and hardens to form igneous rocks. Hence, rocks constantly undergo a cycle of change. This continual process of change in rocks is known as the rock eyele. 41. Igneous rocks are formed from magma, oT 3. Metamorphic rocks that are buried deep in the Earth melt in the mantl, 4. Under intense heat and pressure, sodimentary and igneous rocks change into metamorphic rocks. ete @ What isthe rock cycle? Figg11 The rockoyie 2. Weathering and erosion of rocks resuitin sediments 3. Large and small sediments pile up in layers, and are cemented ‘and hardened to form sedimentary rocks Rocks of the Earth 107Main Rock Types in Singapore We have learnt that rocks are classified into igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic. All the three types of rocks are present in Singapore. Igneous rocks make up the central part of Singapore, while sedimentary rocks occupy the eastern and westem parts of the island. A small area of metamorphic rocks is located in Pulau Tekong, Fg9.12 A geological map showing te distribution of he three main rok typos in Singapore LEGEND neous eos Sedimentary ooks Metamorphic ook Igneous rocks in Singapore ‘The type of rock most commonly seen in Singapore is granite. It is located largely in the central part of Singapore, in the area known as the Bukit Timah Granite Formation, This large area of granite measures some 8 kilometres from north to south and 7 kilometres from east fo west. Fi 213. TheLitle Guilin at Bukit Batok Nature Pak s made up of igneous The ladon is ramad alter Gulin caus it oc ke te hil there‘There are several abandoned quarries in the central part of Singapore, where people once extracted granite for the construction of roads and. buildings, Some of the quarties have been changed into parks. An hed example is the Little Guilin at Bukit Batok Nature Park, Other than the main island, granite quarries are also found in Pulau Ubin. ale ‘more about the geology of Singapore: htphomepage. mac.comioyagerINoPlace! tect htm (last accassed on 4-1 June 2008), Fig 9.14. Quaryng was a major activity ‘which proved es fr the people on Pulau Ubin The last granite quary was ‘lose in 1999 Sedimentary rocks in Singapore ‘We can find different types of sedimentary rocks in the southern, eastern and western parts of Singapore, Rocks in these parts are layered, consisting of mainly sandstone and conglomerate Metamorphic rocks in Singapore ‘We can find a small area of metamorphic rocks called the Sajahat Formation on Pulau Tekong. The rocks here are formed under intense heat and pressure, and are very hard, CENA BE na sonnonope : 2 of rock found in Singapore? Rocks in Our Environment Whece can we find it? environment, Besides \dforms like mountains and voleanoes, Rocks are present everywhere in our physi being the building blocks of I rocks are used by people to build structures like buildings and roads. Rocks of the Earth 109Skills For each of the following rocks, identify its main rock type and the name based on the given information. lam the most ‘common type of rock found in Singapore! ‘May individual grains are very small and you cannot see them with ‘your naked eye. | am very hard and resistant 10 weathering. ‘lam coarse-grained vith pebbles and sand {grains cemented on mel Hi everyone, | used ‘tobe a limestone, Now that I have been transformed, [am ‘much tougher! 110 Chapterat It leans. ‘An igneous rock is a rock formed from magma that has cooled and hardened beneath or above the Earth’s surface. ‘A metamorphic rock is a rock that is completely transformed or changed, from an igneous or sedimentary rock under intense heat and pressure. ‘A rock is a solid material of the Earth's crust, and is made up of substances known as minerals, ‘The rock cycle is the continual process by which rocks change from one type to another. ‘A sedimentary rock is @ rock formed by the cementing and hardening of layers of sediments under pressure from the overlying layers. Silt. This diagram illustrates the processes that result in the formation of igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks. ‘Weathering and erosion break down rocks to produce sedi + Layers of sediments are pressed and cemented together, and hardened to form sedimentary Lava coos and hardens ‘quickly on the Earths surface to form fine- grained igneous rocks. Magma coo's and hardens slowly inside the Earth to form coarse-grained igneous rocks. ‘© Intense heat and pressure cause igneous and sedimentary rocks to change into metamorphic rocks. Rocks of the Earth 411