Rocks and Minerals

Identifying rocks and minerals

 Rocks

Naturally occurring aggregate of minerals

Lithosphere (Earth’s crust made of rocks)
Three main types igneous, metamorphic and
sedimentary
Petrology is the scientific study of rocks.
Does not have a fixed chemical composition.
 Igneous Rocks

• Crystallise from molten material either above

(volcanic) or below (plutonic) the Earth’s surface
• Characterised by interlocking crystals

• Volcanic rocks fine-grained

Plutonic rocks coarse-grained

Image sources:
http://www.fs.fed.us/r2/gmug/permits/grand_valley/gv_rock.shtml
http://www.beg.utexas.edu/mainweb/publications/graphics/granite.htm
 Metamorphic Rocks

• Formed as a result of heat and pressure being

applied to pre-existing rocks
• Characterised by foliation
• Structure where crystals
align perpendicular to the
direction of pressure
• Classified by texture and
mineral/chemical assemblage.
Image Source :
http://www.cropsoil.uga.edu/soilsandhydrology/Important%20Rocks%20&%20Minerals.htm
 Sedimentary Rocks

• Formed when sediments are cemented together at or

near the surface of the Earth
• Sediments formed as a result of chemical
or mechanical weathering, erosion,
transportation and deposition.
• Commonly form layers as sediment is
deposited following erosion and
transportation
• May contain structures to indicate
way-upness!

Image source: http://www.edupic.net/geo.htm

 Classifying Sedimentary Rocks

Breccia Conglomerate Sandstone

Halite Limestone Coal

 Minerals

• Naturally occurring substance formed through geological

processes
• Have a characteristic chemical composition, a highly
ordered atomic structure and specific physical properties
• Range in composition from pure elements and simple salts
to very complex silicates with thousands of known forms
• Study of minerals is called
mineralogy
• Can be mined and processed
to obtain constituent metals
Image Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mineral
 Rocks v Minerals-
What’s the difference?

• A mineral is made up of one substance that under normal

circumstances would form crystals.
• Rocks are made up of minerals.  Most rocks have several types of
minerals in them, but some have only one type of mineral.  For
example, sandstone is mostly quartz. 
Examples:
• Minerals:  Quartz, feldspar and mica.
Rocks: Granite, pegmatite, shale, slate, gneiss, schist (all made of
quartz, feldspar and mica)
• Mineral:  Calcite   
Rock: Limestone and marble (made of calcite)
• Minerals: Plagioclase feldspar and augite
Rock: Basalt (oceanic volcanic rock made of plagioclase and
augite)
Source: http://borntoexplore.org/ryan/rocksvs.htm
 Task

Identify the samples provided as either rocks or

minerals, justifying your response for each.