p. 98 Igneous
Rocks
Igneous
Rocks Tour
This
site supports an on-line geology course by the Department of Geological Sciences,
California State University at Long Beach. Visit the site for a review of the
igneous rocks, including images of various types of igneous rocks. You can begin
the tour with card 1, igneous rocks, then continue through card 10, basalt.
Try the Igneous Rocks Quiz on card 11 to test your knowledge of igneous rocks.
Can you identify image 8 as to its rock type?
Igneous
Rocks
This
is a good site for the beginning geologist. At this Department of Geology and
Environmental Science, James Madison University site you can learn about the
Bowen’s reaction series, classification of igneous rocks, and the distribution
of igneous rocks. It also includes an alphabetical listing of all igneous rocks.
Click on an introduction to igneous rocks, then scroll down to find out what
eight minerals form the bulk of igneous rocks.
The
Rock Cycle
Visit
this site by the University of British Columbia, Canada for an explanation of
the rock cycle, the cycle that describes the relationships among igneous, sedimentary,
and metamorphic rocks. Scroll down and use your mouse to click on parts of the
rock cycle map to see how this cycle works. Click on any active part of the
map to see more detailed descriptions of the rock types within their tectonic
settings. Then scroll back up and click on igneous rocks to see how extrusive
and intrusive rocks crystallize. Where do extrusive rocks crystallize?
p. 105 Bowen’s
Reaction Series
Bowen’s
Reaction Series
Visit
this site by the University of Waterloo, Canada for a graphic of Bowen’s Reaction
Series and an explanation of the formation of igneous rocks.
Bowen’s
Reaction Series and the Igneous Rock Forming Minerals
At
this James Madison University site you can see a graphic of the Bowen’s Reaction
Series that includes images of each rock type in the series. Click on any of
these images to see a close up photograph and a description of the rock type.
What
is Bowen’s Reaction Series?
At
this Ask GeoMan page by Rogue Community College and Grants Pass High School,
Oregon you can see a graphic and explanation of the Bowen’s Reaction Series.
Click on the same 8 elements to find out what 8 elements make up igneous rocks.
What element is the largest component of igneous rocks? Does this surprise you?
p. 116 Common
Uses of Igneous Rocks
Stone
University
This
commercial site by the Cold Spring Granite Company provides an educational component
about granite called Stone University. Click on what is granite to find out
more about the composition of granite. Then return to the previous page and
click on granite compared to other materials. Here you can compare the characteristics
and physical properties of granite with those of marble, limestone, travertine,
and sandstone. Scroll down to weathering. Why is granite nearly impervious to
weathering?
A
Technological Mystery Resolved
Visit
this site by the Corning Museum of Glass to learn how the igneous rock obsidian
played a part in the history of Mexico and Central America. Learn how the abundant
obsidian resources of the area made obsidian an important part of the local
Aztec ceremonies. Find out why obsidian weapons were unable to compete with
the steel swords of the Spanish conquistadors. Then scroll down to find out
why obsidian blades are still used today in delicate surgery.
GeoMysteries:
The Mystery of the Floating Rock
Although
this site by the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis is geared toward younger
children, it has a good animation of an erupting volcano and an explanation
of the igneous rock pumice. Scroll down and click on tossed from a volcano.
Then click on let’s watch, then on watch the eruption. After viewing the animation,
scroll down to find out more about other igneous rocks.
