Chapter number seven types of rocks the lithosphere the surface of the earth, made
up of solid rock and soil is called the lithosphere. It comprises the seven continents
and the rocky ocean beds. Land the part of the lithosphere that is not immersed
under seas and oceans occupies about 29% of the total surface area of the earth.
Continents are large land masses on the surface of the earth. They are usually
separated from each other by water bodies called oceans. The edges of the
continents extend up to the rocky ocean floors. Together, the continents and the
oceans ocean floors form the lithosphere. Table one of continents continent Asia area
of Asia is 44.36 million square kilometer area of Africa is 30.32 million square
kilometer area of North America is 24.25 million square kilometer area of South
America is 17.80 million square kilometer area of Antarctica is 14.24 million square
kilometer area of Europe is 10.50 million square kilometer area of Australia is 8.18.51
million square kilometer structure of the earth the earth is divided into three main
layers. The outermost layer is the crust, which is the thinnest layer of the earth. The
layer that lies below the crust is the mantle. The innermost layer is called the core.
The core the crust the crust is solid. It has two parts. The upper layer is made up of C
Al silica plus aluminum and the lower layer is made up of sema silica plus
magnesium. The thickness of the crust varies from eight to 50 km. It is thicker under
the continents and thinner under the oceans. The average density of this layer is
between 2.7 and three mantle. The mantle is semi solid. It is rich in iron and
magnesium. This layer is about 28 50 km wide. Its average density is between 3.5 and
5.5. The core the core has two parts, the outer core and the inner core. The outer
core is liquid. The inner core is solid. The core starts at depth of about 2900
kilometers from the surface of the earth. It is made up of mainly nickel and iron. The
density of the core varies from 5.1 to 13. The earth's crust is composed of minerals
and rocks. Minerals are natural substances that have definite chemical compositions.
Rocks are made up of a combination of different minerals compacted together.
Minerals are inorganic substances. The most common minerals in the earth's crust
are silica, quartz, feldspar, mica, calcite, dolomite, gypsum, etcetera. There are about
2000 minerals in the earth's crust and these combine differently to form various kinds
of rocks. Major rock types on the basis of the information rocks can be broadly
classified into three groups, igneous rock, sedimentary rock, and metamorphic rock.
Igneous rock igneous rocks are formed by cooling and solidification of molten rock
called magma, which lies beneath the earth's crust. These rocks are crystalline and
compact. They do not occur in layers or strata, nor do they contain fossils. The cooling
and solidification may take place at some depth within the earth or at the surface of
the earth. The molten magma that reaches the surface of the earth is called lava.
Thus, there are two types of igneous rocks classified on the basis of their place of
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origin, intrusive rocks, which form at some depth in the earth's crust, and extrusive
rocks, which form at or near the surface of the earth. Table two igneous rocks on the
basis of place of origin intrusive rocks in intrusive rocks, cooling takes place slowly.
Large crystals are formed. Example is granite. In extrusive rocks, cooling takes place
quickly. Small crystals are formed. Example is basalt. Intrusive rocks are also known
as plutonic rocks because they are named after greek God of the underworld, Pluto
and extrusive rocks are also known as volcanic rocks as they reach the earth's surface
during volcanic eruptions. Igneous rocks may also be classified as acidic or basic
depending on their composition. TAbLE three igneous rocks on the basis of
composition acidic rock contain more than 65% of silica and very low percentage of
oxide. They are less dense, light colored. An example is granite granite. Basic rocks
contain a low percentage of silica and high percentage of oxides. Dense they are
dense and dark colored. Example is basalt. The word igneous comes from the latin
word ignis, which means fire. Igneous rocks are also called primary rocks as they
were first the first to be formed on the surface of the earth. Sedimentary rocks
sedimentary rocks are formed from sediment accumulated over long periods of time,
usually underwater on the floors of shallow seas, rivers, and lakes. These rocks are
found in the layers of strata and contain fossil or remains of dead animals and plants.
Conglomerate sandstone, limestone, chalk, calcite, and dolomite are examples of
sedimentary rocks. Sedimentary rocks are divided into various types depending on
how they are formed. Metamorphic rocks metamorphic rocks are those rocks which
are formed by metamorphism of pre existing rocks due to high temperature and
pressure, or both. Igneous and sedimentary rocks completely change over long
periods of time because the movements in the earth's crust and volcanic or mountain
building activity, the nature, texture, color, etcetera of the rocks are.
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