IGNEOUS

ROCKS
 Rocks
 Rocks are aggregates of one or more minerals

 Rocks are classified on the basis of how they form

 There are 3 major classes of rocks:

 Igneous rocks
 Sedimentary rocks
 Metamorphic rocks
 Igneous Rocks
 Igneous Rocks form by crystallization of molten
rock material
 Molten rock material below Earth’s surface is
called magma

 Molten rock material erupted above Earth’s

surface is called lava

 The name changes because the composition

of the molten material changes as it is erupted
due to escape of volatile gases
 Effect of Cooling Rate on Crystal Size
 Crystals are formed by ions arranged in orderly patterns
 Crystal size is determined by the rate of cooling
 Extremely fast cooling
 Forms glass, not crystals
 Occurs above Earth’s surface under water or ice
 Yields obsidian, volcanic glass

 Fast cooling
 Forms very small invisible crystals
 Occurs above Earth’s surface
 Typical of lavas and pyroclastic volcanic rocks

 Slow cooling
 Forms large, visible crystals
 The slower the cooling rate, the larger the crystals formed
 Occurs below Earth’s surface
 Typical of plutonic rocks
 Classification and Naming of Igneous Rocks

 Igneous rocks are classified and named on the basis

of

 Where they form

 Their texture
 Their composition
 Classification of Igneous Rocks
Based on Where They Form
 Plutonic (intrusive) Igneous Rocks
 Form by crystallization of molten rock material
below Earth’s surface

 Coarse-grained plutonic rocks

 Crystallized out very slowly in large magma
chambers 12-20 km beneath Earth’s surface

 Fine-grained plutonic rocks

 Crystallized out less slowly, more rapidly, in
small intrusions and conduits closer to Earth’s
surface
 Classification of Igneous Rocks
Based on Where They Form

 Volcanic (Extrusive) Igneous Rocks

 Form by crystallization of molten rock material
above Earth’s surface
 Lavas flow out, are extruded
 Pyroclastic volcanic rocks are blasted out
 Ash is very fine-grained pryoclastic
material
 Blocks are large solid blocks that are
blasted out
 Bombs are large molten blobs that are
blasted out
 PLUTONIC IGNEOUS TEXTURE

 A plutonic igneous texture is phaneritic

 A phaneritic texture
 Consists of visible grains
 Is formed by very slow cooling below
Earth’s surface
 Characteristic of gabbro, diabase,
diorite, granite
 VOLCANIC IGNEOUS TEXTURES
 Glassy texture
 Is not crystalline, is formed by extremely rapid
cooling
 Characteristic of Obsidian

 Aphanitic texture
 Consists of invisible grains formed by fast rate
of cooling
 Characteristic of the lavas: basalt, andesite,
rhyolite
 VOLCANIC IGNEOUS TEXTURES

 Vesicular texture
 Is bubbly, formed by trapped bubbles of gas
 Characteristic of scoria (vesicular basalt) and pumice
(vesicular rhyolite)

 Porphyritic texture
 Consists of phaneritic (visible) grains in an aphanitic
matrix
 Phaneritic crystals form by very slow cooling below
Earth’s surface
 Aphanitic crystals form by very rapid cooling above
Earth’s surface
 Characteristic of the lavas: basalt, andesite, rhyolite
 Formed when a lava is erupted as a crystal mush
 Rock Compositions
 Ultramafic
 Means rich in magnesium and iron
 Is the average composition of Earth’s mantle
 Composed of olivine and augite
 Example: peridotite

 Mafic
 Means rich in magnesium, iron, and/or calcium
 Is the average composition of oceanic crust
 Composed of olivine, augite, and calcium plagioclase
feldspar
 Examples: basalt, diabase, and gabbro
 Compositions of Igneous Rocks
 Felsic
 Means rich in feldspar and silica
 Is the average composition of continental crust
 Composed of potassium feldspar, sodium plagioclase
feldspar, quartz
 Examples: rhyolite and granite

 Intermediate
 Means half mafic, half felsic
 Is the composition of a mixture of oceanic and
continental crust
 Composed of hornblende and calcium-sodium
plagioclase feldspar
 Examples: andesite and diorite
 Basalt, a mafic composition lava
A lava fountain
and rapidly
flowing basalt

Pahoehoe, a smooth-surfaced,
AA, a jagged-surfaced form ropy form of basalt that
of basalt that crystallizes out crystallizes out near the
at the end of a basalt flow beginning of a basalt flow
Andesite, an intermediate composition lava

Andesite flow, Andesite flow,

Mexico Cascade Range, Oregon
 Rhyolite, a felsic composition lava

Rhyolite dome, Rhyolite flow showing columnar

Mono Craters, California jointing, MacDougalls Island, New
Brunswick
 Pyroclastic Eruption
Eruption of Mount St. Helens, Washington, 1980
Other Notable Pryoclastic Volcanic Eruptions
 Identification of Volcanic Igneous Rocks
Volcanic Rocks
Vesicular texture Glassy texture
Scoria Obsidian
Mafic composition Aphanitic
Dark gray
matrix
Pumice The lavas
Felsic composition
Light gray

Andesite
Basalt Intermediate composition Rhyolite
Mafic composition Medium gray or Felsic composition
Dark gray greenish gray Light gray
Usually porphyritic or pink
Obsidian (volcanic glass)
Scoria (vesicular basalt)
Pumice (vesicular rhyolite)
Basalt
Porphyritic Andesite
Rhyolite
 Identification of Plutonic Igneous Rocks

Plutonic Rocks

Phaneritic texture

Mafic composition Intermediate composition Felsic composition

Dark gray Medium gray, Light gray
~ 50:50 black and white or pink
Diabase
(fine-grained) Diorite Granite

Gabbro
(coarse-grained)
Gabbro
Diorite
Granite
 How does magma form?

Magma forms in response to:

1. Decrease in pressure (decompression) as
hot rock rises closer to Earth’s surface

2. Coming in contact with magma rising from

the mantle

3. Addition of volatiles, e.g. H2O, CO2

 The
Geothermal
Gradient

The geothermal
gradient is the
rate of change in
temperature with
depth below
Earth’s surface
 Magma Formation due to Decompression
High pressure at great depth prevents melting
Pressure decreases with decreasing depth

Becomes fully melted at

depth C

Begins melting at depth B

Hot rock rising from depth A

Magma Formation due to Contact with
Rising Magma
Magma Formation due to contact with volatiles
 Where do magmas form?

Magmas form
 Where crustal plates are rifting apart
 Where oceanic crust is being subducted
 Above mantle plume hot spots
 Where Magmas Form

Riftings Subduction zones Hot spots