Republic of the Philippines

Department of Education
Region III
Division of Nueva Ecija
Peñaranda National High School
Peñaranda, Nueva Ecija

EARTH AND LIFE SCIENCE

Classification of Rocks

The Rock Cycle can begin with any of the three types of Rocks. It is important to understand that a rock does not
necessarily pass all the way through the Rock Cycle from Igneous to Sedimentary to metamorphic and back to igneous
rock again.

Rocks are classified on the basis of the mode of formation. The Three basic type of rocks are IGNEOUS,
SEDIMENRATY and METAMORPHIC rocks.

IGNEOUS ROCKS

 Rocks that are formed from the solidification of molten rock materials (magma or Lava).
 There are two types of Igneous Rocks.
a. INTRUSIVE or PLUTONIC IGNEOUS ROCKS – formed when rising Magma is trapped deep
within the Earth, where it cools very slowly over a million or thousand years until it finally
solidifies.
Slow cooling allows the individual mineral grain sufficient time to grow to form relatively
LARGE CRYSTAL.
Example: diorite, gabbro, granite, pegmatite and peridotite
b. EXTRUSIVE or VOLCANIC IGNEOUS ROCKS – are produced when Magma erupted at or at
the very near of the Earth’s Surface. The Erupted Magma cools and solidify quickly therefore
forming SMALL CRYSTAL.
Example: Lava, tuff, andesite, basalt, obsidian

METAMORPHIC ROCKS

 Formed from the transformation of pre-existing rocks through the process of metamorphism.
Metamorphism can change in the physical and chemical properties of rocks in response to heat,
pressure and chemically active fluids.
 There are two types of Metamorphic Rocks
a. Foliated Metamorphic Rocks – have a layered or banded appearance that is produced by
exposure to heat at directed pressure.
Example:
b. Non-Foliated Metamorphic Rocks – do not have a layer or banded appearance
 Types of Metamorphism
Example:
a. Regional Metamorphism – Pressure as main factor. Occur in areas that have undergone
deformation during orogenic event resulting in mountain belts. It occurs in large scale. Creates
FOLIATED METAMORPHIC ROCKS. (Schist and Gneiss)
b. Contact Metamorphism – Heat as the main factor. It occurs when pre existing rocks get in
contact with a source of heat. It occurs on small scale. It creates NON FOLIATED
METAMORPHIC ROCKS.

SEDIMENTARY ROCKS

 Formed from the eroded fragments of pre-existing rocks, or from the skeletal fragments of once
living plants or organisms. They accumulate in various environments on the Erath’s surface
 There are three types of Sedimentary Rocks
a. Clastic Sedimentary Rocks -- made up of clasts of pre-existing rocks. Fragments or Crystals of
the pre-existing rocks are loosened by Weathering, and subsequently transported to a site where
they are deposited.
Example: Sandstone, shale
b. Biological or Organic Sedimentary Rocks – form when large quantities of living plants or
organisms die and accumulate. Their remains are broken down, compressed and cemented to
form rocks.
Examples: Limestone
c. Chemical Sedimentary Rocks – are formed by chemical precipitation from solution.
Example: Rock Salt, Dolomite

LITHIFICATION – Process that converts sediments into solid rocks.

ROCK CYCLE
NAME: __________________________ SECTION: _____________

ACTIVITY:

Multiple Choice. Choose the letter of the best answer. Write the chosen letter on a
separate sheet of paper.

1. Coal is a sedimentary rock made up of organic matter that has become solid.
Unlike limestone, coal is made up of
a. plant fossils c. insects
b. shells d. dinosaurs
2. You can group igneous rocks by the size of grains in them. Coarse grained rocks
are _______ and fine-grained rocks are _____.
a. intrusive, extrusive c. volcanic, metamorphic
b. crystals, minerals d. intrusive, only made of silica
3. Diamonds, like many rocks that come from natural resources, are made of
compressed _____
a. quartz c. carbon
b. aluminum d. kimberlite
4. Which of the following is true about rocks?
a. Rocks are composed of only one mineral
b. Rocks do not contain mineral
c. Coal is not considered a rock
d. Most rocks is a mixture of minerals
5. Metamorphic rock forms as a result of ______
a. Heat and pressure c. The cooling of magma
b. Compaction of sediments d. The melting of rock
6. A rock that forms when magma hardens beneath Earth’s surface is called an
______
a. Intrusive metamorphic rock c. Extrusive sedimentary rock
b. Intrusive igneous rock d. Extrusive igneous rock
7. Which of the following is an example of an extrusive igneous rock?
a. Basalt c. Coal
b. Sandstone d. Granite18
8. Lava that cools so quickly that crystals do not have time to form will lead to igneous
rocks with a _______
a. Porphyritic texture c. Glassy texture
b. Coarse-grained texture d. Fine-grained texture
9. Which of the following represents the correct order of the processes responsible
for the formation of sedimentary rocks?
a. Erosion, weathering, cementation, deposition
b. Compaction, cementation, deposition, weathering, erosion
c. Deposition, cementation, compaction, erosion, weathering
d. Weathering, erosion, deposition, compaction, cementation
10. What rock-forming process occurs when hot magma comes near and heats up
rock?
a. Regional metamorphism c. Contact metamorphism
b. Biochemical sedimentation d. Deposition