Igneous Rock Types Menu

Andesite Basalt Diorite Gabbro Granite Obsidian

Pegmatite Peridotite Pumice Rhyolite Scoria Tuff

Andesite

Andesite is a fine-grained, extrusive igneous rock composed mainly of plagioclase with other minerals such as
hornblende, pyroxene and biotite. The specimen shown is about two inches (five centimeters) across.
Return to Top

Basalt
Basalt is a fine-grained, dark-colored extrusive igneous rock composed mainly of plagioclase and pyroxene. The
specimen shown is about two inches (five centimeters) across.
Return to Top

Diorite
Diorite is a coarse-grained, intrusive igneous rock that contains a mixture of feldspar, pyroxene, hornblende and
sometimes quartz. The specimen shown above is about two inches (five centimeters) across.
Return to Top

Gabbro
Gabbro is a coarse-grained, dark colored, intrusive igneous rock that contains feldspar, augite and sometimes
olivine. The specimen shown above is about two inches (five centimeters) across.
Return to Top

Granite
Granite is a coarse-grained, light colored, intrusive igneous rock that contains mainly quartz and feldspar minerals.
The specimen above is about two inches (five centimeters) across.
Return to Top

Obsidian
Obsidian is a dark-colored volcanic glass that forms from the very rapid cooling of molten rock material. It cools so
rapidly that crystals do not form. The specimen shown above is about two inches (five centimeters) across.
Return to Top

Pegmatitie
Pegmatite is a light-colored, extremely coarse-grained intrusive igneous rock. It forms near the margins of a magma
chamber during the final phases of magma chamber crystallization. It often contains rare minerals that are not found
in other parts of the magma chamber. The specimen shown above is about two inches (five centimeters) across.
Return to Top

Peridotite
Peridotite is a coarse-grained intrusive igneous rock that is composed almost entirely of olivine. It may contain small
amounts of amphibole, feldspar, quartz or pyroxene. The specimen shown above is about two inches (five
centimeters) across.
Return to Top

Pumice
Pumice is a light-colored vesicular igneous rock. It forms through very rapid solidification of a melt. The vesicular
texture is a result of gas trapped in the melt at the time of solidification. The specimen shown above is about two
inches (five centimeters) across.
Return to Top

Rhyolite
Rhyolite is a light-colored, fine-grained, extrusive igneous rock that typically contains quartz and feldspar minerals.
The specimen shown above is about two inches (five centimeters) across.
Return to Top

Scoria
Scoria is a dark-colored, vesicular, extrusive igneous rock. The vesicles are a result of trapped gas within the melt at
the time of solidification. It often forms as a frothy crust on the top of a lava flow or as material ejected from a volcanic
vent and solidifying while airborne. The specimen shown above is about two inches (five centimeters) across.
Return to Top

Tuff
 Welded
Tuff is a rock that is composed of materials that were ejected from a volcano, fell to Earth, and then lithified into a
rock. It is usually composed mainly of volcanic ash and sometimes contains larger size particles such as cinders. The
specimen shown above is about two inches (five centimeters) across.

Igneous rocks are formed from the solidification of molten rock material. There are two basic types: 1)intrusive
igneous rocks such as diorite, gabbro, granite and pegmatite that solidify below Earth's surface; and 2) extrusive
igneous rocks such as andesite, basalt, obsidian, pumice, rhyolite and scoria that solidify on or above Earth's
surface. Pictures and brief descriptions of some common igneous rock types are shown below.
Andesite is a fine-grained, extrusive igneous rock composed mainly of plagioclase with other minerals such as
hornblende, pyroxene and biotite. The specimen shown is about two inches (five centimeters) across.