Rocks and Minerals

• Igneous rock - formed from the cooling and solidification of magma or lava.
• Sedimentary rocks - formed by the accumulation, cementation, and compaction of sediments such as sand, mud, and shell fragments.
• Metamorphic rocks - formed through changes in existing rocks due to heat, pressure, and chemical reactions.
• Igneous: Intrusive

  • made from magma
  • Phaneritic texture - large crystals that can be seen by the naked eye
• Igneous: Extrusive

  • made from lava
  • Aphanitic texture - small crystals that cannot be seen by the naked eye
• Sedimentary: Clastic

  • composed of fragments of preexisting rocks
• Sedimentary: Chemical

  • formed through water evaporation and ion precipitation
• Sedimnetary: Organic

  • remains that accumulated debris
• Metamorphic: Regional

  • formed by pressure
  • banding
• Metamorphic: Contact

  • formed by heat
  • no banding
• Minerals

  • Inorganic
  • Solid
  • Naturally occuring
  • Definite composition
  • Atoms that are arranged in orderly pattern
• Sillicates


  Most abundant MINERAL
• Oxygen


  Most abundant ELEMENT
• Heavier and deeper located minerals are denser and darker