Igneous Metamorphic Sedimentary Rock Gallery

The Rock Gallery contains pictures and descriptions of common igneous metamorphic
sedimentary rock. The igneous rocks are listed at the top of the page followed by
metamorphic rocks. The sedimentary rocks are at the bottom of the page.

The following is an example of igneous rocks. It is not an all inclusive list but a brief
pictorial list of some common igneous rocks.
Examples of Common Igneous Rocks

Andesite is a gray to black volcanic rock. It is generally erupted
from stratovolcanoes as thick lava flows. It can also generate
strong explosive eruptions to form pyroclastic flows.

Basalt Lava - Basalt is a hard, black volcanic rock. Less than
of the weight of basalt is silica (SiO2). Because of basalt's low
silica content, it has a low viscosity (resistance to flow). This
enables basaltic lava to flow quickly and allows volcanic gases
to escape without explosive events.

Dacite lava is most often light gray, but can be dark gray to
black. It is one of the most common rock types associated with
enormous Plinian-style eruptions.

Pumice is light and porous. It forms during explosive eruptions.
Pumice is full of holes caused by expanding volcanic gases. It is
composed of volcanic glass and minerals, and can form in all
types of magma: basalt, andesite, dacite, and rhyolite.

Obsidian is usually black in color though it can also be red or
have a greenish tint. It is a dense volcanic glass, usually
composed of rhyolite, rich in iron and magnesium. Obsidian is
formed when the lava cools so quickly that crystals do not have
time to grow. Obsidian fractures with very sharp edges. It was
used by Stone Age cultures for making knives, arrowheads, and
other tools where sharp edges are important.

Rhyolite is a light-colored volcanic rock. It has a high silica
content which makes it very viscous. This prevents gases from
escaping causing rhyolite eruptions to be explosive.

Granite is a common intrusive plutonic igneous rock. Because
it cools slowly crystals have time to form. The name granite
comes from the Latin word granum which means a grain for
the coarse grain crystalline structure of the rock.
All pictures of igneous rocks are courtesy of the USGS - United States Geological Survey
with the exception of granite. Discriptions are adapted from the USGS. The table below
shows examples of common metamorphic rocks. Clicking on the name of the rock will
bring up a larger picture and a description of the rock type in a new window.

Examples of Common Metamorphic Rocks

Quartzite is a coarse-grained metamorphic rock derived from
sandstone.

Marble is a metamorphic rock that comes from metamorphosed
limestone or dolomite.

Slate is a fined grained metamorphic rock.

Phyllite is a fined grained metamorphic rock.

Schist is a course grained metamorphic rock.

Gneiss is a medium to course grained metamorphic rock.
The table below shows examples of common clastic sedimentary rocks. They are listed by
grain size in decending order. Grain size is one factor in classifying sedimentary rocks.
Clicking on the name of the rock will bring up a larger picture and a description of the rock
type in a new window.
Examples of Clastic Sedimentary Rocks

Conglomerate is made up of rounded pebbles
cemented together.

Breccia is made up of angular pebbles cemented
together.

Sandstone is sand grains cemented together into solid
stone.

Siltstone is made from silt particles cemented
together.

Shale is made from silt particles cemented together. It
is similar to siltstone but with even finer grain size,


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