We will, we will, rock you!

        From minerals to the types of rocks! Let's look further on what I have learned!

        Contrary to my belief, Petrology was not a study of Petrol Gas, but of rocks! Here, petrologists classify rocks based on how they were formed. Rocks are an aggregate of minerals that may be composed of a single or multiple minerals! Let us see the three types of rocks:

1. Igneous Rocks

        It is formed through cooling and crystallization of magma/lava deep inside the earth. These can be classified based on texture (relates to general appearance) and composition (elements in the magma that directly affect the kind of mineral that will form after it cools). Also, we have learned that there are two types of Igneous rocks depending on where they formed. If the rock was formed when lava cooled down on Earth’s surface, it is an Extrusive/Volcanic rock. As the cooling process is fast, its crystals are described as small (fine-grained). On the other hand, when a rock is formed slowly beneath the Earth’s surface, it is an Intrusive/Plutonic rock.

2. Sedimentary rocks

        The second type of rock is classified as such if it undergoes the process of compaction and cementation, it is considered to be Sedimentary. To get a sedimentary rock, it undergoes weathering, erosion, deposition, and then Cementation. It has three types: (1) Clastic Sedimentary rock (from accumulation of clasts), Chemical (from dissolved minerals), and Organic (from accumulation of animal debris).

3. Metamorphic Rocks

        Lastly, the third type of rocks are formed from the change of igneous and sedimentary rocks that have been under intense temperature and pressure.

        It has been an amazing journey to learn about these kinds of rocks! I hope to see them in person in the near future! As their characteristics and differences are quite interesting. Additionally, this lesson also talks about the process in which Earth as we know it, produces new land and soil! And is also quite an interesting process to study. I hope to learn more about this in the future. Until next time, Ad Astra!