Igneous RocksIgneous Rocks

Dr. R. B. SchultzDr. R. B. Schultz

Igneous RocksIgneous Rocks Igneous rocks form from molten rock (magma) crystallizing below earth's

surface or from volcanic activity. They commonly form at plate boundaries and are commonly exposed in mountainous areas.

 Igneous rocks form from crystallization of magma at depth (within the

earth's crust) or at the surface (from volcanic eruptions)

There are two (2) basic types or forms of igneous rocks: 1. PlutonicPlutonic rocks rocks = intrusive igneous rocks = igneous rocks that form

from cooling magma at depth 2. ExtrusiveExtrusive igneous rocks igneous rocks = igneous rocks that form from volcanic

activity (at or near surface)  *Plutonic rocks are usually coarse-grained *Extrusive rocks are usually fine-grained  

These samples represent These samples represent igneous rocks which have igneous rocks which have formed at depth within formed at depth within the Earth, although each the Earth, although each exhibit different textures.exhibit different textures.

Igneous rock texturestextures depend on cooling historycooling history

Intrusive textures:1. Fine-grained texture (Fine-grained texture (AphaniticAphanitic)) -- due to fast cooling (at or near surface) 2. Coarse-grained texture (Coarse-grained texture (PhaneriticPhaneritic)) -- due to slow cooling at depth 3. Porphyritic Porphyritic texturetexture -- coarse crystals (phenocrysts) surrounded by fine-grained matrix

(groundmass) forms due to initial slow cooling, then magma rising to (or close to) surface and the

remaining magma cooling quickly Extrusive textures:4. GlassyGlassy texture texture -- due to very rapid cooling -- magma cools so fast crystals don't have

time to form. Obsidian (volcanic glass) forms this way. 5. VesicularVesicular texture texture -- full of rounded holes (vesicles) -- forms due to escape of gas

bubbles during cooling of lava. Pumice is a light-colored rock with this vesicular texture. 6. PyroclasticPyroclastic texture texture- chunks of molten material that fuse together  So, how does magmamagma form?• Magma forms in the lower crust and mantle in which high temperature melts the rock and

makes it into molten magma.

• Rock composition, pressure, and water content influence the melting temperature of rocks also.

• When magma reaches the surface through a volcanic eruption, it is referred to as lavalava.     

Coarse-grained Fine-grained Coarse-grained Fine-grained PorphyriticPorphyritic

Glassy Vesicular Glassy Vesicular PyroclasticPyroclastic

Igneous Rock Igneous Rock TexturesTextures

Influences on rock melting temperatureCompositionComposition -- if rock contains a mixture of minerals it will melt at

a lower temperature compared to rocks that are mono-mineralic

PressurePressure -- high-pressure environments raise the melting temperature of rocks

Water contentWater content -- rocks that contain some water melt at lower temperatures than dry rocks

 Magma composition• The composition of the magma determines the composition of

the rock that forms • Igneous rock classification scheme shows that rocks vary in

silica content (e.g. quartz-rich rocks have higher silica content) • Gabbros and basalts are low in silica, with bulk compositions

less than about 60% silica • Granites and rhyolites are high in silica (bulk compositions with

higher than 60% silica)     

Bowen's Reaction SeriesBowen's Reaction Series

Professor Norman L. Bowen summarized results of experiments done early in the 1900’s on crystallization of granitic magmas. These experiments showed that there is a sequence of minerals that crystallize as the temperature of magma is lowered:

Start with a collection of molten magma and progressively cool it. Minerals will crystallize (solidify) in a definite sequence.

Bowen’s Reaction Series represents that sequence that has implications for other types of rocks as well, although it is only used to determine the crystallization sequence in a molten magma (intrusive igneous rocks).

 

Types of Igneous Intrusions Igneous intrusionsintrusions are rock bodies that form from crystallization of magma at depth

within earth's crust.  They are categorized based on their shape and overall size. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes:

DiscordantDiscordant: cut across pre-existing fabric of rock layersDikesDikes are small igneous intrusions that cut across rocks into which the magma

intrudes. They are commonly sheet-like, only a few meters wide, but possibly laterally extensive. Think of magma invading a vertical or near-vertical fracture in rock. Igneous rock would fill the crack due to crystallization of magma. One would call the rock body a dike.

StocksStocks are fairly large (10’s of miles) igneous intrusions that cut across pre-existing rock layers. In size, they are on the order of an individual mountain peak.

BatholithsBatholiths are huge igneous intrusions made of many stocks. Their size is on the scale of an entire mountain range (100’s of miles).

ConcordantConcordant: follow pre-existing fabric of rock layers without interruption of layering.SillsSills are also small igneous intrusions. They are sheets of rock that, unlike dikes, are

parallel to pre-existing rocks. Think of magma invading sedimentary rocks by spreading out between rock layers. That magma would cool to form a sill.

LaccolithsLaccoliths are rather large, mushroom-shaped intrusions that “puff up” in the center due to gases.

LopolithsLopoliths are also large, inverted mushroom-shaped (spoon-shaped) intrusions that “sag down” in the middle because of dense rocks.

 

SillSill

Key Key TerminologyTerminology

PlutonicPlutonic IntrusiveIntrusive

ExtrusiveExtrusive VolcanicVolcanic

TextureTexture PhaneriticPhaneritic

AphaniticAphanitic PorphyriticPorphyritic

GlassyGlassy VesicularVesicular

PyroclasticPyroclastic MagmaMagma

LavaLava Bowen’s Reaction SeriesBowen’s Reaction Series

AssimilationAssimilation Partial meltingPartial melting

Fractional crystallizationFractional crystallization DiscordantDiscordant

ConcordantConcordant DikeDike

StockStock BatholithBatholith

SillSill LaccolithLaccolith

LopolithLopolith

Ask a Geologist (USGS) Have a geological question? Here is your chance to ask it.

Bob's Rock Shop An interesting site for hobbyists and collectors.

Earth Resources Links (NAGT) An extensive listing of Earth resources links arranged by topic from the National Association of Geology Teachers (NAGT).

Electronic Volcano (Dartmouth College) An excellent site with a wealth of information and numerous links to related sites.

Geology Central One of the most extensive lists of geology related sites available online.

Granite Page Everything you ever wanted to know about granites from Rob's Granite Page.

Igneous Rock Classification A great site dealing with the classification and identification of igneous rocks hosted by James Madison University, Virginia.

Igneous Rocks Links (NAGT) An extensive listing of igneous rocks links arranged by topic from the National Association of Geology Teachers (NAGT).

Igneous Rocks Tour A good review of igneous rocks with photographs from California State University at Long Beach.

Igneous Rocks (UBC) An overview of igneous rocks from the University of British Columbia.

Mineral and Rock Description (National Park Service) Mineral and rock photographs and descriptions from the National Park Service.

Online Rock Tutorial from W. H. Freeman Company An introduction to rock identification online tutorial.

Pertinent Web SitesPertinent Web Sites

Rock and Mineral Collecting (USGS)

Selected references on rocks, minerals, and gemstones from the United States Geological Survey (USGS).

Rock Classification and Identification

A good tutorial on the classification and identification of common rocks from the Ministry of Energy and Mines, British Columbia, Canada.

Rock Cycle (Mineralogical Society of America)

The Mineralogical Society of America site offers a good, general description of the rock cycle directed toward elementary school students.

Rock Cycle - University of British Columbia

A general introduction to the rock cycle.

Rockhounds Information Page

The Rockhounds Information Page offers many links to mineral and rock related Websites.

Rock Identification Tutorials

Rock identification tutorials (see lab notes) from Texas A & M University.

Rocks and Their Origins (UBC)

An online study of rocks and their origins at the University of British Columbia.

Rocks and the Rock Cycle Links (NAGT)

An extensive listing of rocks and the rock cycle links arranged by topic from the National Association of Geology Teachers (NAGT).