LESSON 6:

THREE CLASSIFICATION OF
ROCKS AND THE ROCK CYCLE

Different Exogenic Processes

Objectives:

 Identify and describe the three basic rock

types;
 Establish relationships between rock types
and their mode of origin and
environments of deposition/formation;
and
 Understand the different geologic
processes involved in rock formation.
Quick Review

Describe a mineral.
Give the properties of
mineral.
Name the different
mineral groups.
 ROCKS
 Rocks are an aggregate of minerals. A rock
can be composed of a single mineral (e.g.
Quartzite is a metamorphic rock composed
predominantly of Quartz) or more commonly
composed of an aggregate of two or more
minerals.
 Rocks are classified on the basis of the mode

of formation and that some of these physical

and chemical properties are inherent on how
the rocks are formed.
THREE CLASSIFICATION
OF ROCKS
 IGNEOUS ROCKS
 rocks that are formed from the solidification
of molten rock material. The process of
solidification involves the formation of
crystalline solids called minerals. Molten
rock material can solidify below the surface
of the earth (plutonic igneous rocks) or
solidify at the surface of the Earth (volcanic
igneous rocks)
 Kinds of Igneous Rocks

 Plutonic or Intrusive rocks

-from solidified magma underneath the earth
- gradual lowering of temperature is indicated by
the movement of magma from depth to surface
causing slow cooling /crystallization
- Phaneritic textures
- Examples: granite, diorite, gabbro
 Volcanic or Extrusive Rocks
- from solidified lava at or near the surface of the earth
- fast rate of cooling/crystallization due to huge variance
in the temperature between Earth’s surface and
underneath
-common textures: aphanitic, porphyritic (define
groundmass vs phenocrysts), vesicular
Examples: rhyolite, andesite, basalt
More Examples of Igneous Rocks
 SEDIMENTARY ROCKS

rocks that form through the

accumulation, compaction, and
cementation of sediments.
form at surface or near surface
conditions.
 Kinds of Sedimentary Rocks

 Clastic sedimentary rocks

- grains, matrix and cement are the components of clastic
rocks
- clastic rocks are commonly classified based on particle size
- clastic rocks with volcanic origin (e.g. pyroclastics) and may
have undergone some stages in the sedimentary processes
could be classified as sedimentary rock (e.g. volcanoclastic
rocks).
- the presence of variable grain sizes (including matrix and
cement) is indicative of sedimentary differentiation which is
actually a function of processes happening in different
sedimentary environments.
 Terminologies
Grains: greater than sand-sized minerals
and/or rock fragments.

Matrix: fine-grained (clay to silt sized)

minerals.

Cement: minerals precipitated from solution

that binds the grains and matrix together
Examples:
Non-Clastic Sedimentary Rocks

- evaporation and precipitation from

solution or lithification of organic matter
- classified as evaporites (halite, gypsum
and dolostone), precipitates (limestone)
and bioclastics (coal, coquina)
Examples:
 Terminologies

Evaporites: rocks formed from the

evaporation of water leaving the dissolved
minerals to crystallize
Precipitates: rocks formed when minerals
from a mineral supersaturated waters start to
crystallize at the bottom of the solution
Lithification : to convert unsolidated
sediments into rocks
 METAMORPHIC ROCKS

 formed below the surface of the

earth through the process of
metamorphism with the
recrystallization of minerals in rocks
due to changes in pressure and
temperature conditions - contact and
regional metamorphism
 Kinds of Metamorphic Rocks
 Contact metamorphism
- heat and reactive fluids as main factors: occurs when a pre-
existing rock gets in contact with magma which is the source of
heat and magmatic fluids where metamorphic alterations and
transformations occur around the contact / metamorphic
aureole of the intruding magma and the rock layers. The
aureole occurs on different scales depending on the sizes of the
intruding magma and the amount of water in the intruded rocks
and the reactive fluids coming from the magma.
 - creates non-foliated metamorphic rocks

 - example: hornfels
Illustration of Contact Metamorphism
Hornfel Rock
 Regional metamorphism
- pressure as main factor: occurs in areas that have
undergone considerable amount of mechanical
deformation and chemical recrystallization during
orogenic event which are commonly associated with
mountain belts
- occurs in a regional/large scale
- creates foliated metamorphic rocks
- examples: schist, gneiss
- non-foliated rocks like marble also form through
regional metamorphism, where pressure is not
intense, far from the main geologic event
Illustration of Regional Metamorphism
 THE ROCK CYCLE
-constant recycling of minerals
- illustrates how geologic processes occurring both
underneath and on the Earth’s surface can
change a rock from one type to another..
 EXOGENIC PROCESSES
- include geological phenomena and
processes that originate externally to the
Earth's surface. They are genetically related
to the atmosphere, hydrosphere and
biosphere, and therefore to processes of
weathering, erosion, transportation,
deposition, denudation etc.
 ENDOGENIC PROCESSES
geological processes associated with energy originati
ng in the interior of the solid earth. Endogenic
processes include tectonic movements of the crust, ma
gmatism, metamorphism, and seismicactivity.
The principal energy sources
for endogenic processes are heat and the
redistribution of material in the earth’s interior accor
ding to density (gravitational differentiation).
 GROUP ACTIVITY: Concept Mapping
 Group the class into three teams, each electing their
leader. Provide each team a blank chart similar to the
one below, written in a Manila paper. Each team will fill
up portions of the chart which correspond to the list of
words provided to choose from.
 Group 1 to fill up the left side of the chart
(igneous rocks),
 Group 2 the middle portion (sedimentary
rocks) and Group 3 to fill up the right side of
the chart (metamorphic rocks). When done, the team
leaders will present their work to class.
GROUP ACTIVITY

 Correct map- 10pts

 Presentation- 5 pts

 Creativity of output- 5 pts

 Total: 20 points