Rocks

MINERALS AND ROCKS
Definition of Minerals
A mineral is a naturally occurring inorganic substance with a definite chemical and physical
properties at or below the surface of the earth.
Characteristics of Minerals
1. Minerals have different degrees of hardness. (diamond hard while talc is soft)
2. Mineral have different abilities to allow light to pass through (May be opaque,
transparent or translucent)
3. Minerals have different textures (Some are rough while others are smooth)
4. Minerals have specific colors e.g. gold is yellow while copper is brown.
5. Minerals differ in lustre: This is the shiny appearance when a mineral reflects
light.
6. Some minerals have Cleavage: This is the tendency of a mineral to break or split
along certain lines.
7. Minerals have different densities i.e. Weight per unit volume of water e.g. some are
very heavy e.g. lead while others are light.
8. Minerals have different degrees of tenacity: This is the ability for a mineral to
resist tearing, crushing or breaking.
9. Minerals differ in streak: This is the color left by a mineral when it is rubbed
against a hard surface.
Types of Minerals
a) Metallic minerals
b) Non-metallic Minerals: Minerals that contain other substances other than metals.
Example: Diamond – Hardest mineral
Uses of diamond
 Used to make jewelry,

 To make glass cutter,
 Making drill bits
 Sharpening of other metals
Page 1
c) Energy Minerals
 Petroleum,
 Coal
 Uranium.
Rocks
A rock is a naturally occurring substance that is an aggregate of minerals particles and
forms the solid part of the earth.
Major classes of rocks according to origin and mode of formation
1. Igneous rocks
2. Sedimentary rocks
3. Metamorphic rocks
Igneous rocks
Igneous rocks are formed when magma from the interior of the earth cools and solidifies at
or below the surface of the earth.
Depending on the point at which they form, igneous rocks are also classified as:
 Intrusive or plutonic rocks
 Hypabyssal rocks
 Extrusive or volcanic rocks
Intrusive or plutonic rocks
They are formed when magma cools and solidify deep below the surface of the earth.
Examples are: Granite, Diorite, Peridotite, Gabbro, Syenite
Hypabyssal rocks
These are intrusive igneous rocks which form when magma cools and solidify at shallow
depths near the earth’s surface. Examples of Hypabyssal rocks are: Dolerite, Porphyrite,
Porphyry, Diabase, Lamprophyre, Granophyre
Extrusive or Volcanic Igneous Rocks

Rocks formed when lava and other solid volcanic materials cool and solidify on the surface
of the earth. Examples are: Pumice, Tuff, Basalt, Obsidian, Scoria, Andesite, Rhyolite
Page 2
Extrusive igneous rocks are of two types namely:
Volcanic Ejecta: Extrusive igneous rocks formed when ash and lava ejected forcefully from
underground during volcanic eruption, cool as they fall on the earth’s surface e.g. pumice
Lava Flows: Extrusive igneous rocks formed when basic lava flows over a considerable
distance then cools and solidifies.
Sedimentary Rocks
Rocks formed from sediments of pre-existing rocks, remains of plants and animals or
through sediments resulting from chemical reactions.
Characteristics of sedimentary rocks
 Most sedimentary rocks are non-crystalline
 Some Sedimentary rocks contain fossils.
 Sedimentary rocks occur in layers/strata.
 Sedimentary rocks hey have bedding planes
 Young sedimentary rocks are elastic
Categories of sedimentary rocks according to their mode of formation

a) Mechanically Formed Sedimentary Rocks
b) Organically formed Sedimentary Rocks
c) Chemically formed Sedimentary Rocks
Mechanically Formed Sedimentary Rocks
 They are formed from eroded rocks which may be igneous or metamorphic
 The eroded rocks are transported by air, wind water or moving ice
 They are deposited on land or water in layers
 The layers exert pressure and compress the sediments leading to formation of a
rock with layers.
Organically formed Sedimentary Rocks
 Formed from remains of plants and animals
 The remains are deposited and buried in layers
 Over time, the remains are compressed and compacted to form a rock with layers.
They can also be formed when:
Page 3
 Sea polyps extract lime from sea water
 They use the lime to build their shells, attach themselves to each other and on rocks
 When they die, their shells form coral rocks
Chemically formed Sedimentary Rocks
 They are formed when running water dissolves different minerals and transports
them in solution form.
 Different waters mix at ocean or lakes leading to a chemical reaction
 The chemical reaction leads to precipitation hence formation of sediments
 These sediments settle at the bottom of the water body and are compressed to form
a rock
 In hot areas, water containing dissolved mineral salts evaporates leaving salt layers
that form sedimentary rocks.
Metamorphic Rocks
Rocks which have changed their physical appearance and chemical properties as a result
of subjection to great heat and pressure during earth movements.
Changes that occur in sedimentary rocks when they are subjected to intense heat and
pressure:
 New Minerals are formed
 The minerals in the rocks are recrystallized
 Rock particles become compacted and the rock becomes harder
 The physical appearance of the rock changes
Types of metamorphism
Thermal (Contact) metamorphism
 Occurs during vulcanicity
 Hot, molten magma comes into contact with crustal rocks subjecting them to intense
heating
 The intense heat causes further recrystallization of the minerals in the rock and
forms new minerals
 This leads to formation of a new rock
Dynamic metamorphism
Page 4
 Caused by intense pressure
 Crustal rocks are subjected to pressure from crustal rocks during earth movements
and from the weight of overlying rocks
 This changes the arrangement of grains/structure of the rock
 This causes a change in the physical appearance of the rock forming a metamorphic
rock.
Regional (dynamo thermal) metamorphism
 This occurs when rocks are subjected to a combination of great heat and pressure.
 During earth movements, crustal rocks are compressed and heated by magma
during vulcanicity.
 This great heat and pressure modify the structure of the original rocks and changes
its characteristics leading to a new rock.
Example of metamorphic rocks and their parent rocks
Parent Rock Metamorphic Rock

Quartz Quartzite
Limestone Marble
Shale Schist,
Coal Graphite
Granite Gneiss
Characteristics of the rocks

 Rocks have distinct colors determined by their mineral composition.
 Rocks have varying degree of hardness.
 Rocks differ in texture.
 Rocks have different cleavage.
 Rocks differ in lustre.
 Rocks differ in the degree of density.
Distribution of Major Rocks in Kenya
Page 5
Significance of Rocks
1. Some rocks such as the granitic tors form fascinating features that attract tourist leading
to foreign exchange
2. Some rocks under the surface of the earth store underground water which can be
harnessed for domestic and industrial use
3. Some rocks such as volcanic rocks are weathered down to produce fertile soils suitable
for crop farming hence boosting agriculture
4. Some rocks such as granite are used to make ballast which is used in construction of
buildings and roads
5. Some rocks such as soapstone are used in carving artefacts which are sold to generate
income
6. Some rocks contain valuable minerals which are extracted and sold to generate income
7. Some rocks such as coal are used to provide energy used in industries
8. Some rocks e.g limestone is a raw material in manufacture of cement and smelting of iron
hence boosting industrial development.
Page 6

Rocks

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Rocks

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Rocks

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

MINERALS AND ROCKS

 Used to make jewelry,

Extrusive or Volcanic Igneous Rocks

Categories of sedimentary rocks according to their mode of formation

Parent Rock Metamorphic Rock

Characteristics of the rocks

Distribution of Major Rocks in Kenya

You might also like