Rock Gallery
Rocks come in many different shapes, sizes, colours and textures. Some are harder than others. Some are very precious while others are not. However, no matter what qualities a rock possesses, it can be placed into one of the three major classes of rock. Here are a few examples of igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks. Click on an image to start the slideshow.
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photo by Marcus Revertegat
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Obsidian (volcanic glass) is an extrusive igneous rock formed when lava cools very rapidly.
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Volcanic agglomerate (extrusive igneous rock)
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Basalt (extrusive igneous rock)
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Biotite granite (intrusive igneous rock)
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Adamellite granite (intrusive igneous rock)
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Pegmatite is an intrusive igneous rock with very large crystals
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Dolerite (intrusive igneous rock)
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Gabbro (intrusive igneous rock)
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photo by yeowatzup
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Shale (sedimentary rock formed from the compaction of tiny particles)
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Sandstone (sedimentary rock formed when sand sized particles are cemented together)
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Red sandstone (sedimentary rock)
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Limestone (sedimentary rock formed mainly from calcium carbonate)
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Chalk is a soft porous sedimentary rock composed mainly of calcium carbonate
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Conglomerate is sedimentary rock made up of large sediments such as pebbles which have been cemented together
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Breccia is sedimentary rock made up of broken fragments of rock which have been cemented together
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photo by GOC53
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Gneiss is a metamorphic rock formed when rocks are subjected to very intense heat and pressure.
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Schist is a metamorphic rock formed when rocks are subjected to intense heat and pressure.
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Slate is a metamorphic rock formed when shale is subjected to intense heat and pressure.
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Marble is a metamorphic rock formed when limestone is subjected to intense heat and pressure.