Minerals and surface rocks
Rocks are assemblages of minerals (more on that
in a second). There are three
basic types of rocks:
igneous -- a rock formed by the cooling
and consolidation of magma. Example: granite.
sedimentary -- a rock formed by sedimentation
(settling), deposition, or chemical precipitation.
The environments are typically either wind (deserts),
water (river or ocean deposition), or even ice.
Example: sandstone.
metamorphic -- a rock whose original compounds,
textures, or both have been transformed to new compounds/textures
by solid state reactions at high temperatures and/or
pressures. Example: marble.
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