 Andesite

Andesite is a fine-grained, extrusive igneous rock composed mainly of plagioclase with other minerals
such as hornblende, pyroxene, and biotite. The specimen shown is about two inches (five centimeters)
across.

What are Igneous Rocks?

Igneous rocks are formed from the solidification of molten rock material. Some form below Earth’s
surface. Some form on or above Earth’s surface. We describe these two basic types:

Intrusive igneous rocks crystallize below Earth’s surface, and the slow cooling that occurs there allows
large crystals to form. Examples of intrusive igneous rocks are: diabase, diorite, gabbro, granite,
pegmatite, and peridotite.

Extrusive igneous rocks erupt onto the surface, where they cool quickly to form small crystals. Some
cool so quickly that they form an amorphous glass. These rocks include: andesite, basalt, dacite,
obsidian, pumice, rhyolite, scoria, and tuff.

 Dacite
Dacite is a fine-grained, extrusive igneous rock that is usually light in color. It has a composition that is
intermediate between rhyolite and andesite. The specimen shown is about four inches (ten centimeters)
across.

Basalt

Basalt is a fine-grained, dark-colored extrusive igneous rock composed mainly of plagioclase and
pyroxene. The specimen shown is about two inches (five centimeters) across.

Diabase

Diabase is an intrusive igneous rock composed mostly of plagioclase feldspar and pyroxene minerals.
The grains in diabase are larger than those in basalt but smaller than those in gabbro. Diabase is used in
the construction industry as trap rock or dimension stone. When the diabase contains colorful
labradorite crystals, it makes an especially nice architectural stone.

Gabbro

Gabbro is a coarse-grained, dark-colored, intrusive igneous rock that contains feldspar, pyroxene, and
sometimes olivine. The specimen shown above is about two inches (five centimeters) across.

Diorite

Diorite is a coarse-grained, intrusive igneous rock that contains a mixture of feldspar, pyroxene,
hornblende, and sometimes quartz. The specimen shown above is about two inches (five centimeters)
across.

Obsidian

Obsidian is a dark-colored volcanic glass that forms from the very rapid cooling of molten rock material.
It cools so rapidly that crystals do not form. The specimen shown above is about two inches (five
centimeters) across.

Granite

Granite is a coarse-grained, light-colored, intrusive igneous rock that contains mainly quartz, feldspar,
and mica minerals. The specimen above is about two inches (five centimeters) across.

Peridotite
Peridotite is a coarse-grained intrusive igneous rock that is composed almost entirely of olivine. It may
contain small amounts of amphibole, feldspar, quartz, or pyroxene. The specimen shown above is about
two inches (five centimeters) across.

Pegmatite

Pegmatite is a light-colored, extremely coarse-grained intrusive igneous rock. It forms near the margins
of a magma chamber during the final phases of magma chamber crystallization. It often contains rare
minerals that are not found in other parts of the magma chamber. The specimen shown above is about
two inches (five centimeters) across.

Rhyolite

Rhyolite is a light-colored, fine-grained, extrusive igneous rock that typically contains quartz and feldspar
minerals. The specimen shown above is about two inches (five centimeters) across.

Pumice

Pumice is a light-colored vesicular igneous rock. It forms through very rapid solidification of a melt. The
vesicular texture is a result of gas trapped in the melt at the time of solidification. The specimen shown
above is about two inches (five centimeters) across.

Scoria

Scoria is a dark-colored, vesicular, extrusive igneous rock. The vesicles are a result of trapped gas within
the melt at the time of solidification. It often forms as a frothy crust on the top of a lava flow or as
material ejected from a volcanic vent and solidifying while airborne. The specimen shown above is about
two inches (five centimeters) across.

Fire Opal in Rhyolite

Fire Opal is sometimes found filling cavities in rhyolite. Long after the rhyolite has cooled, silica-rich
ground water moves through the rock, sometimes depositing gems like opal, red beryl, topaz, jasper, or
agate in the cavities of the rock. This is one of many excellent geological photographs generously shared
through a Creative Commons License by Didier Descouens.

Unakite

Unakite is a colorful rock composed of green epidote and pink orthoclase. It is formed when granite, an
igneous rock, is metamorphosed by hydrothermal activity. Attractive pieces of unakite are often used to
make cabochons, tumbled stones, small sculptures, and other lapidary items. It is named after the
Unaka Mountains of eastern Tennessee.

Trap Rock

“Trap Rock” is a layman’s term for any dark-colored igneous rock that is used to make crushed stone.
This crushed stone can be used as road base material, or as an aggregate in concrete or asphalt. The
most common types of trap rock are basalt, diabase, gabbro, and peridotite. Image copyright
iStockphoto / Brilt.

Rock study kit

The best way to learn about rocks is to have a collection of specimens to examine while you study.
Seeing and handling the rocks will help you understand their composition and texture much better than
reading about them on a website or in a book. The Geology.com store offers inexpensive rock collections
that can be mailed anywhere in the United States or U.S. Territories. Mineral collections and instructive
books are also available.

Tuff

Welded Tuff is a rock that is composed of materials that were ejected from a volcano, fell to Earth, and
then lithified into a rock. It is usually composed mainly of volcanic ash and sometimes contains larger
size particles such as cinders. The specimen shown above is about two inches (five centimeters) across.

Pictures of Sedimentary Rocks

Photos of Common Clastic, Chemical, and Organic Sedimentary Rock Types.

Article by: Hobart M. King, PhD, RPG

Breccia

Breccia is a clastic sedimentary rock that is composed of large (over two-millimeter diameter) angular
fragments. The spaces between the large fragments can be filled with a matrix of smaller particles or a
mineral cement which binds the rock together. The specimen shown above is about two inches (five
centimeters) across.
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What Are Sedimentary Rocks?

Sedimentary rocks are formed by the accumulation of sediments. There are three basic types of
sedimentary rocks.

Clastic sedimentary rocks form from the accumulation and lithification of mechanical weathering debris.
Examples include: breccia, conglomerate, sandstone, siltstone, and shale.

Chemical sedimentary rocks form when dissolved materials preciptate from solution. Examples include:
chert, some dolomites, flint, iron ore, limestones, and rock salt.

Organic sedimentary rocks form from the accumulation of plant or animal debris. Examples include:
chalk, coal, diatomite, some dolomites, and some limestones.

Photos and brief descriptions of some common sedimentary rock types are shown on this page.

Chalk

Chalk is a type of limestone made up of the microscopic calcium carbonate shells of marine organisms.
Chalk is soft, friable, porous, and effervesces vigorously in contact with hydrochloric acid. Because it is
very porous, subsurface chalk units can serve as reservoirs for oil and natural gas.

Caliche

Caliche is found in arid or semiarid climates around the world. It forms when rock fragments and
sediment particles are cemented together by mineral matter, usually calcium carbonate, that
precipitates and hardens between the particles. Over time, caliche can become very dense and durable,
which explains why it is also called hardpan, calcrete, and duricrust. Some people might call it a
puddingstone.
Chert

Chert is a microcrystalline or cryptocrystalline sedimentary rock material composed of silicon dioxide

(SiO2). It occurs as nodules and concretionary masses, and less frequently as a layered deposit. It breaks
with a conchoidal fracture, often producing very sharp edges. Early people took advantage of how chert
breaks and used it to fashion cutting tools and weapons. The specimen shown above is about two inches
(five centimeters) across.

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Conglomerate

Conglomerate is a clastic sedimentary rock that contains large (greater than two millimeters in
diameter) rounded particles. The space between the pebbles is generally filled with smaller particles
and/or a chemical cement that binds the rock together. The specimen shown above is about two inches
(five centimeters) across.

Coal

Coal is an organic sedimentary rock that forms mainly from plant debris. The plant debris usually
accumulates in a swamp environment. Coal is combustible and is often mined for use as a fuel. The
specimen shown above is about two inches (five centimeters) across.

Diatomite

Diatomite is a sedimentary rock with many uses. It is made up of the siliceous skeletal remains of
diatoms, which are tiny single-celled algae. Diatomite is crushed into a powder known as “diatomaceous
earth”. It is lightweight, porous, relatively inert, and has a small particle size along with a large surface
area. These properties make diatomaceous earth useful as a filtration media, a lightweight aggregate, a
lightweight filler, an effective absorbent, and more.

Coquina

Coquina is a type of limestone composed of calcium carbonate shells, shell fragments, and other sand-
sized fossil debris. It forms in the shallow waters of coastal areas with a tropical or subtropical climate.
The particles are weakly cemented together, and therefore coquina is a very porous material that can
function as an aquifer or a reservoir for oil and natural gas. Public Domain photo by Mark A. Wilson of
the Department of Geology, The College of Wooster.
Flint

Flint is a hard, tough, chemical or biochemical sedimentary rock that breaks with a conchoidal fracture.
It is a form of microcrystalline quartz that is typically called “chert” by geologists. It often forms as
nodules in sedimentary rocks such as chalk and marine limestones.

Dolomite

Dolomite (also known as “dolostone” and “dolomite rock”) is a chemical sedimentary rock that is very
similar to limestone. It is thought to form when limestone or lime mud is modified by magnesium-rich
ground water. The specimen shown above is about four inches (ten centimeters) across.

Limestone

Limestone is a rock that is composed primarily of calcium carbonate. It can form organically from the
accumulation of shell, coral, algal, and fecal debris. It can also form chemically from the precipitation of
calcium carbonate from lake or ocean water. Limestone is used in many ways. Some of the most
common are: production of cement, crushed stone, and acid neutralization. The specimen shown above
is about two inches (five centimeters) across.

Iron Ore

Iron Ore is a chemical sedimentary rock that forms when iron and oxygen (and sometimes other
substances) combine in solution and deposit as a sediment. Hematite (shown above) is the most
common sedimentary iron ore mineral. The specimen shown above is about two inches (five
centimeters) across.

Rock Salt

Rock Salt is a chemical sedimentary rock that forms from the evaporation of ocean or saline lake waters.
It is also known by the mineral name “halite.” It is rarely found at Earth’s surface, except in areas of very
arid climate. It is often mined for use in the chemical industry or for use as a winter highway treatment.
Some halite is processed for use as a seasoning for food. The specimen shown above is about two inches
(five centimeters) across.

Oil Shale

Oil Shale is a rock that contains significant amounts of organic material in the form of kerogen. Up to 1/3
of the rock can be solid organic material. Liquid and gaseous hydrocarbons can be extracted from the oil
shale, but the rock must be heated and/or treated with solvents. This is usually much less efficient than
drilling rocks that will yield oil or gas directly into a well. The processes used for hydrocarbon extraction
also produce emissions and waste products that cause significant environmental concerns.

Shale

Shale is a clastic sedimentary rock that is made up of clay-size (less than 1/256 millimeter in diameter)
weathering debris. It typically breaks into thin flat pieces. The specimen shown above is about two
inches (five centimeters) across.

Sandstone

Sandstone is a clastic sedimentary rock made up mainly of sand-size (1/16 to 2 millimeter diameter)
weathering debris. Environments where large amounts of sand can accumulate include beaches,
deserts, flood plains, and deltas. The specimen shown above is about two inches (five centimeters)
across.

Rock study kit

The best way to learn about rocks is to have a collection of specimens to examine while you study.
Seeing and handling the rocks will help you understand their composition and texture much better than
reading about them on a website or in a book. The Geology.com store offers inexpensive rock collections
that can be mailed anywhere in the United States or U.S. Territories. Mineral collections and instructive
books are also available.

Siltstone

Siltstone is a clastic sedimentary rock that forms from silt-size (between 1/256 and 1/16 millimeter
diameter) weathering debris. The specimen in the photo is about two inches (five centimeters) across.

More Rocks

Rock, Mineral and Fossil Collections.

Geodes

Flint, Chert, and Jasper

Pictures of Metamorphic Rocks

Photos of Common Foliated and Non-Foliated Metamorphic Rock Types

Article by: Hobart M. King, PhD, RPG

Amphibolite

Amphibolite is a non-foliated metamorphic rock that forms through recrystallization under conditions of
high viscosity and directed pressure. It is composed primarily of hornblende (amphibole) and
plagioclase, usually with very little quartz. The specimen shown above is about two inches (five
centimeters) across.

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What are Metamorphic Rocks?

Metamorphic rocks have been modified by heat, pressure, and chemical processes, usually while buried
deep below Earth’s surface. Exposure to these extreme conditions has altered the mineralogy, texture,
and chemical composition of the rocks.

There are two basic types of metamorphic rocks. Foliated metamorphic rocks have a layered or banded
appearance that is produced by exposure to heat and directed pressure. Examples of foliated rocks
include: gneiss, phyllite, schist, and slate

Non-foliated metamorphic rocks do not have a layered or banded appearance. Examples of nonfoliated
rocks include: hornfels, marble, novaculite, quartzite, and skarn.

Photographs and brief descriptions of some common types of metamorphic rocks are shown on this
page.

Gneiss

Gneiss is a foliated metamorphic rock that has a banded appearance and is made up of granular mineral
grains. It typically contains abundant quartz or feldspar minerals. The specimen shown above is about
two inches (five centimeters) across.
Anthracite Coal

Anthracite is the highest rank of coal. It has been exposed to enough heat and pressure that most of the
oxygen and hydrogen have been driven off, leaving a high-carbon material behind. It has a bright,
lustrous appearance and breaks with a semi-conchoidal fracture. It is often referred to as “hard coal”;
however, this is a layman’s term and has little to do with the hardness of the rock. The specimen shown
above is about two inches (five centimeters) across.

Hornfels

Hornfels is a fine-grained nonfoliated metamorphic rock with no specific composition. It is produced by

contact metamorphism. Hornfels is a rock that was “baked” while near a heat source such as a magma
chamber, sill, or dike. The specimen shown above is about two inches (five centimeters) across.

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Marble

Marble is a non-foliated metamorphic rock that is produced from the metamorphism of limestone or
dolostone. It is composed primarily of calcium carbonate. The specimen shown above is about two
inches (five centimeters) across.

Lapis Lazuli

Lapis Lazuli, the famous blue gem material, is actually a metamorphic rock. Most people are surprised to
learn that, so we added it to this photo collection as a surprise. Blue rocks are rare, and we bet that it
captured your eye. The round objects in the photo are lapis lazuli beads about 9/16 inch (14 millimeters)
in diameter. Image copyright iStockPhoto / RobertKacpura.

Novaculite

Novaculite is a dense, hard, fine-grained, siliceous rock that breaks with a conchoidal fracture. It forms
from sediments deposited in marine environments where organisms such as diatoms (single-celled algae
that secrete a hard shell composed of silicon dioxide) are abundant in the water. The specimen shown
above is about three inches across.
Mariposite

Mariposite is a word that has been used in many ways. It can refer to green mica minerals, or
metamorphic rocks that contain enough green mica to impart a green color. Gold prospectors learned
that gold could be found in areas where these green rocks were present. This is because mariposite is an
ore of gold.

Quartzite

Quartzite is a non-foliated metamorphic rock that is produced by the metamorphism of sandstone. It is

composed primarily of quartz. The specimen above is about two inches (five centimeters) across.

Phyllite

Phyllite is a foliated metamorphic rock that is made up mainly of very fine-grained mica. The surface of
phyllite is typically lustrous and sometimes wrinkled. It is intermediate in grade between slate and
schist. The specimen shown above is about two inches (five centimeters) across.

Skarn

Skarn is a rock characterized by its formation rather than its mineral composition. It often forms when
carbonate rocks near a magma body are altered by contact metamorphism and metasomatism. Various
minerals, gems, and even precious metals can sometimes be found in skarn.

Schist

Schist is a metamorphic rock with well-developed foliation. It often contains significant amounts of mica
which allow the rock to split into thin pieces. It is a rock of intermediate metamorphic grade between
phyllite and gneiss. The specimen shown above is a “chlorite schist” because it contains a significant
amount of chlorite. It is about two inches (five centimeters) across.

Soapstone

Soapstone is a metamorphic rock that consists primarily of talc with varying amounts of other minerals
such as micas, chlorite, amphiboles, pyroxenes, and carbonates. It is a soft, dense, heat-resistant rock
that has a high specific heat capacity. These properties make it useful for a wide variety of architectural,
practical, and artistic uses.

Slate
Slate is a foliated metamorphic rock that is formed through the metamorphism of shale. It is a low-grade
metamorphic rock that splits into thin pieces. The specimen shown above is about two inches (five
centimeters) across.

Rock study kit

The best way to learn about rocks is to have a collection of specimens to examine while you study.
Seeing and handling the rocks will help you understand their composition and texture much better than
reading about them on a website or in a book. The Geology.com store offers inexpensive rock collections
that can be mailed anywhere in the United States or U.S. Territories. Mineral collections and instructive
books are also available.

More Rocks