IGNEOUS ROCKS

Group 4
 What is an Igneous rock?
• The name 'igneous' comes from the Latin word 'ignis' which
means fire.
• In that notion, igneous rocks occur “when molten rock turns into
solid either below the earth's crust to create intrusive igneous
rocks” or “on the earth's surface to create extrusive igneous
rocks.”
• Igneous rocks are formed from the cooling of magma (a very hot
liquid found underneath the Earth's surface).
 Obsidian
An extrusive type of Igneous rock that solidifies
above Earth’s surface, it can also form in
different type of cooling environment.
 Dacite
A type of extrusive rock that is normally light in
color. It is a rock type usually found on
continental crust above subduction zones.
 Granite
An example of intrusive rock that is a light-
colored Igneous rock with grains large enough to
be visible with the unaided eye. Granite is
composed mainly of quartz and feldspar with
minor amounts of mica, amphiboles, and
other minerals.
 Gabbro
A type of intrusive rock it is usually black or dark
green in color. It is the most abundant rock in the
deep oceanic crust. It has a variety of uses in the
construction industry. It is used for everything
from crushed stone base materials at construction
sites to polished stone counter tops and floor tiles.
 How is Igneous Rock formed?

• Molten substances exist underneath the earth's crust and

are usually subjected to intense pressure and high
temperatures (that can be up to 1200°C). As a result of the
immense pressure and temperature changes, the molten
substances may at times flow up to surface leading to a
volcanic eruption. Eventually, they cool and solidify to
form extrusive (volcanic) igneous rocks.
 Types of Igneous Rock
There are mainly two types of igneous rock:
1. Intrusive/ plutonic Rocks
• These are formed when the hot molten rock (magma) cools down
slowly beneath the earth's crust and solidifies into large crystals/rocks.
Intrusive rocks are naturally very hard and are usually coarse-
grained.
Examples are gabbro and granite rocks.
 Types of Igneous Rock
2. Extrusive/ volcanic Rocks
• These are formed when the hot molten rock (magma) spills over to
the earth's surface due to volcanic eruption. The magma, which is
now termed as lava, cools quicker on the earth's surface to create small
crystals or fine-grained igneous rocks.
Examples of such rocks are basalt, pumice and obsidian.
 Three Reasons Why
Igneous Rocks are Important

• Their minerals and overall chemistry provide needed

information regarding: the components of the mantle from
which igneous rocks originate from.
• This type of rocks generates a time series of events.
• Their properties are typically the characteristics of a
particular tectonic surrounding.
 Igneous Rocks are
classified according
to:
The classification of the 1. Chemical Composition
igneous rocks may give us vital 2. Mode of Occurrence
information regarding the 3. Mineralogy
conditions under which they
were created. 4. Geometric Setting of its structure
5. Texture

Identifying Igneous Rocks
The key concept about all
igneous rocks is that they
were once hot enough to
melt. The following traits are
all related to that.
• Because their mineral grains grew
together tightly as the melt cooled, they
are relatively strong rocks.
• They're black, white, or gray. Any other
colors they may have are pale in shade.
• Their textures generally look like
something that was baked in an oven.
• Fine-grained lava may look like black bread or dark
peanut brittle.
“
The upper section of the Earth’s crust is made up
of around 90 – 95% Igneous rocks.
”
Just Facts # 1
“
Igneous Rocks are the oldest rocks.

”
Just Facts # 2
“
There are over 700 different types of Igneous
rocks.
”
Just Facts # 3