Rocks

• rocks can differ in colour, texture, shape, size, weight mineral contents etc
• Igneous rocks are when lava quickly cools ont the earth's crust (extrusive) or cools slowly in earth's crust (intrusive)
• sedimentary rocks are formed when sediments accumalate on the sea bed over millions of years.
• Sedimentary rock's weight and the wight of the overlying water compress, compact & cement the lower layer into solid rock
• Metamorphic rocks are formed when one rock changes into another as a result of great heat from conatact with magma and/or pressure from colliding plates
• Examples of igneous rocks are basalt and granite.
• Examples of sedimentary rocks are limestone and sandstone
• Examples of metamorphic rocks are quartize and marble
• Basalt is form when lava cools (extrusive)on the earth's crust because of exposure to air & water
• Granite is formed when magma cools slowly(millions of years) in the earth's crust (intrusive)
• Basalt is used for road construction, road chippings or cobblestone
• Granite is used in constructions for buildings e.g patio
• You can find basalt in Co. Antrim Giant's causeway
• You can find Granite in Dublin Wicklow mountains
• limestone is formed when marine life accuumulat on the sea bed .
• Their weight and the weight of the overlying compress, compact & cement the lower layer into limestone
• Limestone forms in lava called strata.
• Limestone has vertical weaknesses called joints and horizontal weaknesses called bedding planes
• You can find limestone in the Midlands in the Burren Co. Clare
• You can use limestone for construction e.g stone walls, porches
• Sandstone is formed when sand is carried to the sea by wind or rivers, it accumulates. Over millions of years the weight of the sand deposits &the weight of the water compress,compact and cement the lowers layers into sandstone.
• Sandstone is porous and is capable of storing gas
• Sandstone is used for constructione.g crushed road chippings, walls, porches
• Marble is formed when limestone is in contact with magma and pressure from colliding plates it melts and crystalizes as marble
• You can find marble in Connemara Co. Galway
• Marble can be used for decorative trophies such as countertops, tiles, tabletops, statues etc
• Quartzite is formed when sandstone is subjected to great heat and pressure it melts and crystalizes as quartzite
• You can find quartzite top of the Sugar Loaf Co. Wicklow
• Quartzite can be used for countertops, glass watch faches, road chippings