Types of Rocks And Their Significance | UPSC Geography

Rocks are a type of mineral that is formed with a combination of properties of all the mineral traces. The unique combination of chemical composition, minerals, texture, and other unique characteristics form different types of rocks. 

There are three types of rocks that are: 

1. Igneous Rocks 

2. Sedimentary Rocks 

3. Metamorphic Rocks. 

Igneous Rocks 

Igneous rocks are the type of rocks, that is formed through the cooling and solidification of magma or we can also it as lava. They form with or without the crystallization process. The magma can be derived from partial melts of existing rocks in the earth’s mantle or crust. 

The melting is done in some exciting processes like an increase in temperature, decrease in pressure, or change in composition. 

They are types of igneous rocks that are intrusive igneous rocks and extrusive igneous rocks. 

Examples of Igneous rocks are Mica and Quartz, Granite, Basalt, and others. 

Sedimentary rocks 

Sedimentary rocks are the types of rocks that are formed through the solidification of sediments. They are formed from the organic remains, or from the cementing of the other rocks. They are quite difficult to classify because they have several qualities like the sedimentation process and organic or inorganic material. 

There are three types of Sedimentary rocks that are Clastic sedimentary rocks, chemical sedimentary rocks, and organic sedimentary rocks. 

Examples of Sedimentary rocks are Limestone, Siltstone, Sandstone, and others 

Metamorphic rocks

Metamorphic rocks are classified by their texture, and by chemical and mineral assembling together. They are formed simply beneath the earth’s surface and they are subjected to high temperatures. 

Metamorphic rocks come out from the transformation of existing, and this process is called metamorphism which simply means change in form. The rocks are subjected to heat with temperatures of more than 200 degrees and there is a huge pressure of around 1500 bars that causes the change in them. 

There are two types of Metamorphic rocks that are Foliated metamorphic rocks, and non-foliated metamorphic rocks. 

Examples of metamorphic rocks are Marble, Phyllite, Slate, and others. 

The igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks have their significance. These rocks have their own characteristics and features. They exhibit some type of variation in their properties, and they rarely show simple characteristics.

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