Geology 1401

Department of Physics and Geology

Name _________________________________________

Class _________________

Date _____________________

Igneous Rocks: Examination and Naming; and Pre Field Trip Orientation
Purpose
The purpose of this lab is practice making observations of igneous rocks to deduce a
reasonable rock name. Additionally students will be introduced to the geology of the Texas
Coastal Plain in preparation for the field trip.
Objectives
During this lab the student should become familiar with:

Minerals commonly associated with igneous rocks

Classification of igneous rocks based on color and texture

Color as an indication of chemical composition

Texture as an indication of the location where the rock formed

Recreating the short series of events that formed a rock

General geologic regions in Texas, including the Coastal Plain

Using a stratigraphic section to determine rock formation name and lithologic zone

Using the geologic time scale to determine the name and numerical dates of geologic
ages

Introduction
Igneous Rocks
Igneous rocks are named by considering two factors: color (composition) and texture.
The color of an igneous rock is related to its composition. Determining color usually means
placing the rock on a spectrum from very light to very dark. It is the average or overall
color that is observed, as if looking at the rock from a distance.
Mineral composition (and thus the color) in an igneous rock relate directly to the chemistry
of the magma and to the temperature at which the mineral crystals grew. For example,
magma with abundant Fe and Mg will crystallize minerals at a higher temperature than
magma with low amounts of Fe and Mg.

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It is generally sufficient to assign the color to one of these three categories:

Light color (light gray and pink to brick red) felsic composition (rich in silica content,
associated with magmas produced from the melting of continental crust)
Intermediate color (medium gray to greenish gray to brownish) intermediate composition
(intermediate felsic/mafic),
Dark color (dark green to black) mafic composition (very rich in ferromagnesian
minerals, associated with the magmas produced from the melting of upper mantle)
It is critical to realize color is directly related to the proportions of the 8 or so minerals that
make up most igneous rocks, and color is just an easy way of estimating the major mineral
content of the rock. The table below lists these common minerals and gives clues to
recognizing them. But, most igneous rocks can be named with little or no specific mineral
data.
Texture in rocks generally means the size, shape and arrangement of the mineral grains.
Igneous rock textures are described by terms which are (mostly) easily understood. The
Textures found in Igneous Rocks table below lists the most common texture terms for
igneous rocks and their meanings.
In making the observations required to name an igneous rock, you have unconsciously
constructed a series of events.

Just by recognizing that the rock is igneous (it looks like other igneous rocks), you
have already decided that the material was once molten (magma, melted rock); and
that it has cooled and probably crystallized. Remember, before it was molten, it had
a life as solid rock.

In deciding on the overall color, you performed a crude chemical analysis:

o Darker=more mafic=more Fe & Mg (and less Si).
o Lighter=more felsic=more Si (and less Mg & Fe)

This overall composition provides knowledge of what was melted. Generally, felsic
rocks are derived from continental crust, mafic rocks from the mantle. Intermediate
compositions represent mixtures of sources, or mixing of magmas.

If you recognized specific minerals, and noted their percentages, you may refine the
chemistry a little by referring to the chemical formulas for the minerals.

Most textures tell two pieces of the history: place of final cooling & crystallization,
and rate of crystal growth:
o Coarse grained=slow cooling at depth (below the surface).
o Fine grained=fast cooling on surface.
o Porphyritic=two different places and rates.

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Pre Field Trip Orientation

The geology of Texas can be split along a curved line that runs through San Antonio to
Austin and then generally north to Dallas. Rock units to the north and west of this line are
older than approximately 70 million years (mya). Rock units to the south and east of this
line, in the Texas Coastal Plain become progressively younger as we travel from the
interior to the Gulf of Mexico.
The Geology of Texas map provides a stratigraphic section and geologic time scale in
addition to a standard geologic map of the Texas region. A stratigraphic section provides
the name and a description of the lithology of each formation/group. Standardized
symbols correspond to the map so that the stratigraphic section can act as a legend. The
geologic time scale provides the name of the geologic age associated with different rock
formations and/or groups as well as the numerical dates associated with each geologic age.
Task 1: Igneous Rock Identification
This lab provides students with information and experience to rapidly examine hand
specimens of igneous rocks and deduce a reasonable rock name using the Igneous Rock
Identification Chart. Please note that a different version of the ID Chart is shown in Figure
4.13 of the lecture text. Please familiarize yourself with section 4.5: How Do You
Describe an Igneous Rock on pages 109-113 in your lecture text before coming to lab
(Essentials of Geology 4th edition, 2013).
The identification process is to make two simple observations and then apply the observed
data to an Igneous Rock Identification Chart to find the name. Refining the name if needed,
can be accomplished by considering secondary characteristics included on the ID Chart.
1. Observe the igneous rock samples in the rock boxes. For each sample determine the
color and texture. Record this information in the table given at the end of this packet.
2. Use the Igneous Rocks Identification Chart to determine the name of each sample and
record the name. Have your instructor check your table for correctness before you
leave!

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IGNEOUS ROCK-FORMING MINERAL RECOGNITION CHART

Temp of
crystallization
from magma (oC)

MINERAL

How to recognize

Quartz

Looks like gray (light, medium or smoky) glass.

Almost never occurs in well-formed crystals in 800-650
rocks. Does not weather.
Usually white to colorless to reddish or
pinkish; may be altered (weathered) to soft,
powdery white clay. Blocky shaped crystals
common.

800-700

Muscovite (mica)

This mica is colorless to yellowish.

800-650

Biotite (mica) (M)

This mica is brown to dark-brown to black.

900-750

Plagioclase (feldspar)

White, colorless, light gray, gray; often looks

gray in mafic rocks. With striations. Very
common and abundant. Weathers to white
powder.

1200-700 (!)

Hornblende
(amphibole) (M)

Jet black, elongated crystals; weathers

brownish.

1000-850

Augite (pyroxene) (M)

Black to greenish-black; short, stubby crystals;

1200-1000
commonly weathered to soft greenish clays.

Olivine (M)

Green, glassy grains. Weathers to a mix of

yellow-green clay and hematite.

K-spar
(potassium feldspar)

1300-1100

Notes:
1: Minerals which crystallize at about the same temperature are usually found in the same
rock. This fact relates directly to Bowens Reaction Series see textbook.
2: (M) = Mafic minerals and rocks contain abundant Magnesium (Mg) and iron (Fe) and
are typically brown, dark green or black in color. The overall color of an igneous rock is
mainly controlled by the percentage of mafic minerals. Felsic minerals and rocks contain
less abundant Mg and Fe and more O, Al, and Si. Intermediate minerals and rocks have a
composition between Mafic and Felsic.

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TEXTURES FOUND IN IGNEOUS ROCKS

Coarsegrained
(phaneritic)

Example

Most grains can be seen with the

naked eye. Typical of plutonic rocks.

Most grains cannot be seen with the

Fine-grained naked eye, though some large grains
(aphanitic)
may be present (see porphyritic).
Typical of volcanic rocks.

Porphyritic

Two (or three) distinctly different

sizes of crystals present. The larger
crystals are called phenocrysts and
always show excellent crystal shape.
The mass of smaller grains around
the phenocrysts is referred to as
matrix or groundmass. Usually the
larger crystals are of only one
mineral type. This is a common
texture and the term is used in
combination with a rock name (ex.:
porphyritic basalt). Porphyry
means a rock with this texture; used
mainly in the mining industry.

Most grains very coarse in size;

most grains larger than 2 cm.
Results from crystallization of last
Pegmatite
bits of magma containing lots of
(pegmatitic)
water, typically in veins and dikes.
Granite is the most common rock
with this texture.

Glassy

Rock from felsic magma which

erupted and cooled so fast that no
crystals had time to grow. Rock is
usually dark gray to black due to
submicroscopic crystals of
magnetite (iron oxide), but very thin
edges may be colorless. Edges on
freshly broken samples can be
extremely sharp.

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TEXTURES FOUND IN IGNEOUS ROCKS

Vesicular
(cellular)

Rock has abundant holes, like a

sponge. Holes may be very small or
large, and result from magma being
inflated by expanding gasses as it is
transported to the surface (lower
pressure).

Fragmental

Rock contains many broken

fragments of other rocks. Usually
results from violent, pyroclastic
volcanic eruptions.

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Example

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IGNEOUS ROCKS IDENTIFICATION CHART

Note: Bold rock names are commonly encountered.
COLOR

Light color:

Intermediate color:

Dark color:

Dark color:

(weathered
surfaces usually
lighter)

white, light gray,

pink, reddish

medium gray to
medium green

dark gray to
black

dark green to
black

COMPOSITION

Felsic

Intermediate

Mafic

Ultramafic

Typical Minerals

quartz, K-spar,
plagioclase,
biotite

plagioclase,
hornblende, biotite

plagioclase,
augite, olivine

olivine,
augite

TEXTURES

ROCK NAMES

Pegmatitic

Granite
Pegmatite

Diorite Pegmatite

Gabbro
Pegmatite

Coarse grained
(phaneritic)

Granite

Diorite

Gabbro

Fine grained
(aphanitic)

Rhyolite

Glassy

Obsidian

(Dunite, if
>80%
olivine)

Vesicular
Fragmental
(pyroclastic)
Porphyritic

Peridotite

Andesite

Basalt

Pumice
Volcanic breccia
<4 mm.

Scoria

or Tuff, if fragments

Use with rock names if two distinct grain sizes are present;
Example: porphyritic andesite

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Igneous Rocks: Examination and Naming

Geology 1401

Department of Physics and Geology

Name _________________________________________
#

Texture

Color

Class _________________
Principle Minerals

Date _____________________

Extrusive OR Intrusive

Rock Name

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Igneous Rocks: Examination and Naming

Geology 1401

Department of Physics and Geology

Name _________________________________________
#

Texture

Color

Class _________________
Principle Minerals

Date _____________________

Extrusive OR Intrusive

Rock Name

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

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Pre Field Trip Orientation

Geology 1401

Department of Physics and Geology

Name _________________________________________

Class _________________

Date _____________________

Task 2: Pre Field Trip Orientation

Work with a partner and examine a copy of the Geology of Texas map.
1. Find Starr County on the map.
1a. How many rock formations are in Starr County?

1b. List the formation names, map symbols, and geologic ages for all rock units in Starr
County.

2a. The first stop on the field trip is near La Grulla on the east side of Starr County. What is
the name and geologic age of the formation at stop #1?

2b. The last stop on the field trip is in Roma on the west side of Starr County, approximately
50miles from stop #1. What is the name and geologic age of the formation in Roma?

2c. Using the geologic time scale, approximately how much time is represented by the
formations in Starr County?

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3. Starting in San Antonio, follow a straight line through Corpus Christi to the Gulf of
Mexico.
3a. How many rock formations does your line pass through?

3b. List the formation names, map symbols, and geologic ages for all rock units between
San Antonio and Corpus Christi.

3c. Is the material in Corpus Christi older or younger than the material in San Antonio?

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