In Lecture Today:

1. Geology in the news presentation by Michael

Zara.
2. Classification of igneous rocks.
3. Nature and classification of igneous plutons.
4. Origins of magma and relationship to plate
tectonic setting.
Naming Igneous Rocks

Igneous rocks are classified by their:

 Texture
depends on: how fast/slow magma cools
 Mineral Composition
depends on: chemical makeup of parent magma
 Cooling rate
in igneous
rocks
is determined
by Fig. 6.15
cooling rate,
which is in
W. W. Norton
turn,
determined
by proximity to
the surface.
Coarse-grained Fine-grained
or “phaneritic” or “aphanitic”

Fig. 6.16a

0 Mm 0.5
0 Mm 0.5

Grain size in igneous rocks

is determined by cooling rate.
Photod by Dr. Kent Ratajeski, Dept. Geology and Geophysics, University of Wisconsin, Madison
Fig. 6.14cd

Stephen Marshak
Fig. 6.12

W. W. Norton
 Fig. 6.19

Stephen Marshak
Naming Igneous Rocks

Basic magma types:

 Mafic magnesium + ferrum

High in Mg, Fe. Dark, dense

 Felsic feldspar + silica (quartz)

High in Si. Lighter, less dense
Naming igneous rocks
Zooming in:

volcanic
Basalt
Aphanitic

plutonic
Gabbro
Phaneritic
Fig. 6.17a

Figure 6.17
Text, page 155
Naming igneous rocks
Zooming in

volcanic
Andesite
Aphanitic

plutonic
Diorite
Phaneritic
Fig. 6.17a

Figure 6.17
Text, page 155
Naming igneous rocks

Zooming in:

volcanic
Rhyolite
Aphanitic

plutonic
Granite
Phaneritic
 Fig. 6.17a

W. W. Norton. Mineral proportions

after Hamblin and Howard.
 Ultramafic: ~ 40% Silica
Naming Igneous Rocks:
(less than gabbro/basalt,
Upper mantle plutonic with more Fe and Mg).
igneous rocks,
“peridotite” or “dunite”.

(Near Globe, AZ)

Naming Igneous Rocks:
Glassy Volcanic Rocks

Obsidian Volcanic Glass

Pumice Volcanic “Froth”

Bowen’s Reaction Series
Magmas don’t
crystallize all at once!

Minerals with the highest

melting temperatures come
out first, followed by
minerals with successively
lower melting temperatures.
The sequence of silicate
mineral crystallization in
magmas was first studied by
University of Chicago
geologist, N.L Bowen, in the
1920’s.
 Bowen’s Reaction Series
Box 6.2 Text, page 145.

Fig. 6.06

W. W. Norton

This diagram shows the order in which silicate

minerals crystallize from magma and how that
Relates to mineral content and rock type.
Basaltic lavas are very fluid and travel far from the vent to

produce volcanoes with low profiles.

Basalt eruptions on land produce flows
that travel great distances.

Fig. 6.20a

W. W. Norton
Columbia River
basalts
Basaltic lavas erupted under water produce “pillows”

Fig. 6.21a

W. W. Norton
Fig. 6.21b

Stephen Marshak
Fig. 6.21c

© Peter Kresan
 Products
of
volcanic
eruptions
Fig. 6.02 includes
more
W. W. Norton than
just
lava
flows!
 Explosive Volcanic
Eruptions

Violently explosove volcanic

eruptions produce: These accumulate
to form:
 Rock fragments

(all sizes)
 Finely-fragmented ash Pyroclastic
 Molten bombs
Volcanic
Rocks
Fig. 6.08a

W. W. Norton
Naming Igneous Rocks

 Pyroclastic volcanic rocks:

Composed of rock fragments ejected
during eruptions. Types include:

“Tuff”: Composed of ash, finely fragmented

volcanic rock. Welded tuffs form when ash is
so hot, it deforms plastically.

Scoria: Red or black, frothy lava, denser than

pumice.

Volcanic Breccia: Coarse, angular rock

fragments, usually in an matrix of fine to
coarse ash.
 Obsidian: Volcanic glass. Pumice: Formed by

Formed by quenching of lava. the quenching of

gas-charged lava.

Volcanic ash:
Lithifies to form a
volcanic tuff.