Types of Rocks and Minerals

1) What Is Petrology?

The scientific study of rocks and the conditions of their formation is called petrology.
It deals with the three major types of rocks—igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary.

2) What Do You Understand by Diagenesis?

The physical and chemical changes affecting the formation of sediments and the sedimentation process are called diagenesis.

3) Do Microbes Play a Role in the Formation of Rocks?

• Yes, microbes play a role in the formation of rocks.
• They grow on the surface of rocks and facilitate the process of weathering and sedimentation.

4) What Is Smelting?

Extracting minerals from their ores by applying heat is called smelting. Many metals like copper, silver, and iron are extracted by this process

5) What Are Mafic and Felsic Rocks?

• Mafic rock is a type of igneous rock rich in magnesium and iron.
• Felsic rock is a type of igneous rock that is rich in silica.

6) What Do You Understand by the Term ‘Texture’ of Rocks?

The size, shape, and arrangement of the mineral crystals on the rock indicate the ‘texture’ of the rock.

7) What Is Diamond Made Up Of?

Diamond is made up of carbon.

8) Diamond and Graphite Are Made Up of Carbon. But a Diamond Is the Hardest Substance Known, and Graphite Can Be Broken Easily. State the Reason Behind It.

• The arrangement of carbon atoms in diamond and graphite is quite different.
• Due to this differential arrangement, diamond is the hardest substance known, and graphite can be broken easily.

9) Graphite Is Which Type of Rock?

Graphite Is Which Type of Rock?

10) What Is Metamorphism?

The phenomenon by which a rock changes over time due to different changes like pressure, heat, and chemical activities is called metamorphism.

11) How Can We Categorise Sedimentary Rocks Based on Their Mode of Formation?

Based on the mode of formation, sedimentary rocks can be classified as follows—

• Organically formed sedimentary rocks
• Chemically formed sedimentary rocks
• Mechanically formed sedimentary rocks

12) What Do You Understand by the ‘Hardness’ of a Mineral?

• The degree to which a mineral resists any physical scratches is called its hardness.
• It is determined by scratching a mineral against the surface of another mineral whose hardness value is known.
• Diamond possesses the highest mineral hardness.