Adventure #2: Introduction to Rocks

Starting off...

Hi! I'm Parker the petrologist! Today’s adventure consists of investigating the rocks that have built up all around us, from the huge mountains throughout our state to the little rocks in your backyard. You’ll learn specifically about the three types of rocks, how these rock types are formed, and how to identify them.

A Petrologist? What is the difference between a petrologist and a geologist?

Petrology: The branch of geology that deals with the origin, composition, structure, and alteration of rocks.

Geology: The scientific study of the origin, history, and structure of the earth.

Three Types of Rocks

There are three types of rocks: igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic. Each of these rock types is formed, or built up, in different ways and has different appearances. You can think of the formations of the different types of rocks as how they are “built up” or created.

Click on the video on the right to learn more about these types of rocks.

Let's break it down!

Igneous Rocks

The word “igneous” derives from the Latin word for fire. Igneous rocks are formed when molten hot material cools down and becomes a solid. These rocks can be formed in a few different ways: inside or outside of the Earth.

Sedimentary Rocks

Sedimentary rocks are formed of already existing organic material like other rocks. Unlike igneous rocks, sedimentary rocks are formed on or near Earth’s surface. There are three types of sedimentary rocks: clastic, organic (biological), and chemical.

Metamorphic Rocks

Metamorphic rocks are rocks that have been altered by either great heat or pressure. Think of the rocks “morphing” from one form to another. There are two classes of metamorphic rocks: foliated (striped) and non-foliated.

Want to learn more about these types of rocks? Click on the button to right to learn more about the three types of rocks.

Click Here!

Here are some more examples

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Igneous

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Sedimentary

IMG_0113.MOV

Metamorphic

So, how are these rocks created? Well, the Rock Cycle answers that!

Click Here!

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