Rock Vocabulary

process in which different minerals crystallize from magma at different temperatures, removing elements form magma

small pieces of rock that are moved and deposited by water, wind, glaciers, and gravity

describes metamorphic rock whose minerals are squeezed under high pressure and arranged in wavy layers and bands

percentage of open spaces between grains in minerals

process that affects large areas of Earth’s crust, producing belts classified as low, medium, or high grade

igneous rocks with extremely large-grained minerals that can contain rare ore such as beryllium and lithium

process in which different minerals melt into magma at different temperatures, changing its composition

local effect that occurs when molten rock meets solid rock

continuous, dynamic set of processes by which rocks are changed into other types of rocks

type of bedding in which particle sizes become progressively heavier and coarser toward the bottom layers

fine-grained igneous rock that is formed when molten rock cools quickly and solidifies on Earth’s surface

characterized by large, well-formed crystal surrounded by finer-grained crystals of the same or different minerals

coarse-grained igneous rock that is formed when molten rocks cools slowly and solidifies inside Earth’s crust

the size, shape, and distribution of the crystals or grains that make up a rock

process of sedimentary rock formation that occurs when dissolved materials precipitate out of groundwater

sequential, predictable, dual-branched pattern in which minerals crystallize in cooling magma

intrusive or extrusive rocks formed from the cooling and crystallization of lava and magma

the physical and chemical processes that transform sediments into sedimentary rocks

describes metamorphic rock like quartzite and marble, composed mainly of minerals that form with blocky crystal shapes

layers of chemical sedimentary rocks that form when concentrations of dissolved minerals in water reach saturation

light-colored, intrusive igneous rock that has high silica content

characterized by containing vesicles, or holes, formed by gas bubbles

occurs when very hot water reacts with rock, altering its minerology and chemistry

magma that flows out onto Earth’s surface

rock that is dark colored, has lower silica contents, and is rich n iron/magnesium; contains mostly plagioclase/pyroxene

composed of rock & mineral fragments produced by weathering & erosion and classified according to particle size & shape

depositional feature of sedimentary rock, forms as inclined layers of sediment are carried across a horizontal surface

rare, ultra-mafic rock that can contain diamonds and other minerals formed only other very high pressures

most common sedimentary rock, forms from the abundant deposit of loose sediments that accumulate on Earth’s surface