Types of Rocks

Prof. Dr. Gamal El-din Mosa

General Geology
1ST Biotechnology
Rock cycle
 Types of rocks
Igneous Rocks
Igneous rocks are derived from the
cooling and crystallization of magma; they
are also called "magmatic rocks". The
temperature decrease and pressure
variation cause the magma to crystallize.
The magma may cool at great depths of
the earth crust, beneath the overlying
rock mass.
Classification of Igneous Rocks on the place
of formation

Intrusive (deep-seated)

Subvolcanic (shallow deep)

Effusive (surface) rocks

 Classification On the basis of SiO2
• Contain 40-50% SiO2
Ultrabasic •
•
Rich in ferric oxide and magnesium
Alumina and Alkalines completely absent
Rocks •
•
Heavy, their density varies from 3.0 to 3.4
Dark green, Dark-brownish to Dark color

• Contain 45-52% SiO2

•
Basic Rock •
Mafic mineral is about 45-50%
Heavy, their density varies from 2.6 to 3.27
• Acquire dark green almost black color
Intermediat • Higher silica percentage (52- 65%)
• Lower amount of mafic minerals (about 25%
e Rocks • Their density between 2.7-2.9

• High silica content (over 65%)

• Low percentage of mafic components (3-12%)
Acidic Rocks •
•
Light color
The dominant rockforming minerals of acid rocks are
quartz
 Ultrabasic Rocks Basic Rocks

Peridotite Hornblendite pyroxenite Gabrro

Acidic Rocks
Intermediate rocks

Granites Quartz diorites

Diorite Andesite
 Metamorphic Rocks

Metamorphism represents the set of processes by which rocks

undergo solid-state changes in mineralogy, texture, or both to
reach equilibrium with its changing environment, generally as
they are buried beneath the surface. Metamorphism therefore
occurs at temperature and pressures higher than 200C and
atmospheric pressure. Rocks can be subjected to these higher
temperatures and pressures as they become buried deeper in
the Earth.
 Factors of Metamorphism

Temperature Pressure
 Types of Metamorphism

1. Contact Metamorphism :
Contact Metamorphism occurs
adjacent to igneous intrusions and results
from high temperatures associated with
the igneous intrusion. Since only a small
area surrounding the intrusion is heated by
the magma, metamorphism is restricted to
the zone surrounding the intrusion, called
contact aureole. The rock produced is
often a finegrained rock that shows no
foliation, called a hornfels
2. Regional metamorphism :
Regional metamorphism occurs over large areas and generally does not show any relationship to
igneous bodies. Most regional metamorphism is accompanied by deformation under non-hydrostatic or
differential stress conditions. Thus, regionally metamorphosed rocks occur in the cores of fold/thrust
mountain belts or in eroded mountain ranges. Compressive stresses result in folding of rock and thickening
of the crust, which tends to push rocks to deeper levels where they are subjected to higher temperatures
and pressures.
3- Dynamic Metamorphism :
Dynamic metamorphism is associated with zones of high to moderate strain such as
fault zones. Cataclasis, crushing and grinding of rocks into angular fragments, giving cataclastic
texture. or near the surface of the earth.