Minerals and surface rocks

Rocks are assemblages of minerals. There are three basic types of rocks that we are going to discuss briefly:

  • igneous -- a rock formed by the cooling and consolidation of magma. Example: granite.

  • sedimentary -- a rock formed by sedimentation (settling), deposition, or chemical precipitation. The environments are typically either wind (deserts), water (river or ocean deposition), or even ice. Example: sandstone.

  • metamorphic -- a rock whose original compounds, textures, or both have been transformed to new compounds/textures by solid state reactions at high temperatures and/or pressures. Example: marble.

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