IGNEOUS ROCKS

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33 Terms

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Igneous Rocks

Rocks formed through the cooling and solidification of magma or lava.

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Sedimentary Rocks

Rocks formed by the accumulation and compaction of mineral and organic particles.

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Metamorphic Rocks

Rocks that have been transformed by heat, pressure, or chemically active fluids.

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Decompression Melting

Melting that occurs when pressure drops on hot rock, leading to the formation of magma.

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Partial Melting

The process by which only a portion of a solid melts to form magma.

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Lava

Molten rock that erupts onto the Earth's surface.

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Mafic magma

Formed by melting mantle - igneous rock that is rich in magnesium and iron - dark in color - BASALTIC.

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Intermediate magma

Formed by melting continential crust - Igneous rock that has a medium amount of magnesium, iron, and silica - moderate light color (kinda dark, kinda light) - ANDESITIC.

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Felsic magma

Igneous rocks that are rich in silica - light in color - more viscous than mafic magma - GRANITIC.

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Assimilation

The process by which solid or fluid foreign material is incorporated into magma - can change the magma chemistry.

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Mixing

Two magmas combine on their way to the surface.

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Phaneritic

A texture of igneous rocks where crystals are large enough to be seen with the unaided eye - slow crystallization inside crust.

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Aphanitic

A texture of igneous rocks where crystals are too small to be seen without a microscope or hand lens - “fine-grained” - fast crystallization at the surface.

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Porphyritic

A texture characterized by large crystals (phenocrysts) embedded in a finer-grained matrix - mixed coarse & fine-grained material - indicates two phases of crystallization.

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Phenocrysts

Large crystals found in a porphyritic igneous rock.

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Matrix/Groundmass

Small crystals found in a porphyritic rock that surrounds the larger phenocrysts.

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Glassy Texture

A texture of igneous rocks where the rock appears shiny and glass-like due to rapid cooling (ex:Obsidian).

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Vesicular Texture

A texture of igneous rocks characterized by the presence of gas bubbles, creating a sponge-like structure (ex: Basalt, Pumice, & Scoria).

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Plutonic Rocks

Rocks formed below the Earth’s surface - AKA: Intrusive.

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Volcanic Rocks

Rocks formed at the Earth’s surface - AKA: Extrusive.

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➢ Basics of the rock cycle:

The rock cycle is a continuous process of formation, alteration, and destruction of rocks, involving igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic processes.

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➢ How igneous rocks form:

Igneous rocks form from the cooling of magma or lava; ions slow down, attract, and begin mineral formation.Then they can be classified into two main types: intrusive and extrusive, depending on their formation location.

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➢ Magma vs. Lava:

Magma is found beneath the Earth's crust, while Lava erupts onto the surface during volcanic activity.

~ Magma is molten rock and dissolved gas, forming from either decompression or partial melting. Lava is molten rock material from which gas has mostly escaped.

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➢ How rocks melt and why:

Rocks melt due to increased temperature and pressure conditions, often enhanced by the presence of water or other volatiles that lower the melting point of minerals.

***Adding water lowers the melting temperature of rocks.

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➢ Types of melting at different plate boundaries:

~ Decompression melting at ocean ridges.

~ Partial melting of subducting slabs.

*Divergent boundary: Decompression melting

*Convergent boundary: Partial melting

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➢ How is water added to rocks to lower melting temperature?

Adding water lowers melting temperature of

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➢ How can magma chemistry be changed to allow for various rock types from a single magma chamber?

Magma Differentiation allows for the magma chemistry to change through processes such as crystalization, mixing, and assimilation.

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➢ Bowen’s Reaction Series:

A concept that explains the order of crystallization of minerals from cooling magma.

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➢ Xenoliths:

A piece of rock trapped in another type of rock - usually the rock is embedded in magma while the magma was cooling. These rocks give clues to underlying geology. (ex: Diamonds).

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➢ Igneous textures and what they indicate:

Refers to the size, shape, and arrangement of minerals within the rocks, which can indicate the cooling rate and environment of formation. Textures include: Phaneritic, Aphanitic, and Porphyritic.

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➢ Plutonic vs. Volcanic Rocks:

Plutonic: (intrusive) formed below Earth’s surface.

Volcanic: (extrusive) formed at the surface.

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➢ Batholiths, Sills, & Dikes:

Refers to the types of plutonic structures

Batholiths: large masses formed in Earth’s crust.

Sills: sheet-like intrusions

Dikes: large slab of rock that cuts across layers.

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➢ Related igneous rocks (ex: Gabbro and Basalt):

Gabbro: a coarse-grained plutonic rock.

Basalt: a fine-grained volcanic rock.