By Abigail Gannon and Chris Connolly

1. , Rocks By Abigail Gannon and Chris Connolly

2. What are Rocks? • Rocks are made up of many minerals that are held together by natural cement. They differ in : • Mineral Content • Colour • Texture • Hardness

3. Types Of Rocks • Rocks Can be broken into Three groups : • Igneous • Sedimentary • Metamorphic

5. Igneous Rocks The word igneous comes from the Latin word Fire IGNEOUS rocks are FORMED AS A RESULT OF VOLCANIC MATERIAL. Hot molten Magma cooled down and solidified either on the surface or within the crust.

7. Sedimentary Rocks Sedimentary rocks were formed from the remains (Sediments) of other rocks, plant life and animal life. These sediments were deposited on the beds of seas. They were compressed and the cemented together.

8. Metamorphic Rocks Metamorphic rocks are those that have been changed in the shape or form by great heat and pressure. They already existed as igneous or sedimentary before being changed.

9. Granite Granite: Granite formed when molten magma forced its way into the crust. Cooled very slowly over millions of years, allowing large crystals to form. These crystals include quartz. It eventually came to the surface when overlying rocks were worn away.

10. Granite Granite varies in Colour from black or grey to pink. It is used in the building industry and for monument. Granite is found in the Mourne and Wicklow mountains.

11. Basalt Basalt formed when lava spread out across the Earths surface. It Cooled very quickly and solidified because it was exposed to air. As a result it has tiny crystals that cannot be seen without a microscope.

12. Basalt Basalt varies in Colour from dark grey to black. It is found in the Antrim-Derry plateau. The most famous section of it is the Giants Causeway. Here as the lava cooled it shrunk and cracked to form six sided columns.

13. Limestone Limestone formed on the beds of shallow warm seas from the skeletons of tiny sea creatures, fish and shells. These piled up over millions of years. The remains of some of the skeletons are preserved in the rocks as fossils. Limestone varies in Colour from white to grey.

14. Limestone It is permeable (allows water to pass through) and is laid down in strata. Limestone is found in the BurrenCo.Clareand under soils and bogs that cover Irelands central plain. Limestone is used to make monuments and is the raw material for cement. Many public buildings are constructed of Limestone.

15. Limestone The process of carbonation affects limestone badly. Farmers use ground limestone to improve soil fertility. Fact: Limestone is the most common rock in Ireland and is found in thirty-one of the thirty-two counties in Ireland.

17. Sandstone Sandstone formed when large amounts of sand were worn away from the surface of the Earth and transported by wind and rivers. The sand was then deposited on the beds of lakes and seas as well as deserts. Layers of sand built up and these were compressed and cemented to form sandstone

18. Sandstone Sandstone varies in Colour from brown to red . It sometimes used as building material. The mountains of Munster, including Magillicuddys reeks the Galtees and Comeraghs are all made up of sandstone. Coal is sedimentary rock that formed from decayed vegetation.

19. Metamorphic When Molten magma forces its way into a body of Limestone it puts it under great heat and Pressure. This alters the make up of the limestone and it changes into marble. Pure marble is white in Colour but when other minerals are present it can vary red, green or black.

20. Marble Marble is also a hard rock and it to contains crystals. Marble can be easily cut and polished. As a result it is in demand for fireplaces, gravestones and ornaments. Marble is found at Rathlin Island (white), Connemara (green) and Cork (red) Fact : The so-called black marble of Kilkenny is in fact a form of Limestone.

21. Quartzite Quartzite was formed when sandstone was changed into a metamorphic rock as it came into contact with magma deep in the Earths crust. This is usually happens during times of folding. Quartzite consists mainly of grains of quartz that are packed tightly together. It varies in Colour from grey to white. It is a extremely hard rock.

22. Quartzite It remains as a cap on some of Ireland Mountains. Theses include Croagh Patrick (Co.Mayo), Errigal (Co. Donegal) and the great sugarloaf (Co. Wicklow). Fact: Slate is a metamorphic rock that has been used for roofing and on billiard tables.

23. Rocks Permeable : Rocks that allow water to pass through them Impermeable: Rocks that do not allow water to pass through them

24. Geologist A person who studies rocks is a geologist

25. Thank you !