
Rock | Definition, Characteristics, Formation, Cycle, Classification ...
Mar 20, 2025 · Rock, in geology, naturally occurring and coherent aggregate of one or more minerals. Such aggregates constitute the basic unit of which the solid Earth is composed and typically form recognizable and mappable volumes. The three major classes of rock are igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rock.
Geology | Definition, Examples, Rocks, Study, Importance, & Facts ...
Geology, the fields of study concerned with the solid Earth. Included are sciences such as mineralogy, geodesy, and stratigraphy. Geology also explores geologic history, which provides a conceptual framework and overview of Earth’s evolution.
Sedimentary rock | Definition, Formation, Examples,
Feb 25, 2025 · sedimentary rock, rock formed at or near Earth’s surface by the accumulation and lithification of sediment (detrital rock) or by the precipitation from solution at normal surface temperatures (chemical rock).
Rock - Structure, Texture, Composition | Britannica
Mar 20, 2025 · Rock - Structure, Texture, Composition: Physical properties of rocks are of interest and utility in many fields of work, including geology, petrophysics, geophysics, materials science, geochemistry, and geotechnical engineering.
rock summary | Britannica
rock, In geology, a naturally occurring and coherent aggregate of minerals. The three major classes of rock—igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic—are based on the processes that formed them.
Geology - Earth Composition, Rocks, Minerals | Britannica
Geology - Earth Composition, Rocks, Minerals: As a discipline, mineralogy has had close historical ties with geology. Minerals as basic constituents of rocks and ore deposits are obviously an integral aspect of geology.
Igneous rock | Characteristics, Examples, Formation, & Types
Mar 6, 2025 · igneous rock, any of various crystalline or glassy rocks formed by the cooling and solidification of molten earth material. Igneous rocks constitute one of the three principal classes of rocks, the others being metamorphic and sedimentary.
Texture | Geology, Description, Examples, & Facts | Britannica
Texture, in rocks, the size, shape, and arrangement (or fabric) of the mineral grains and crystals. Also important in rock texture are the extent of homogeneity (i.e., uniformity of composition throughout) and the degree of isotropy (i.e., uniformity in all directions of such properties as
Rock - Mechanical Properties | Britannica
Mar 20, 2025 · Rock - Mechanical Properties: When a stress σ (force per unit area) is applied to a material such as rock, the material experiences a change in dimension, volume, or shape. This change, or deformation, is called strain (ε).
Extrusive rock | Igneous, Volcanic, Magma | Britannica
extrusive rock, any rock derived from magma (molten silicate material) that was poured out or ejected at Earth’s surface. By contrast, intrusive rocks are formed from magma that was forced into older rocks at depth within Earth’s crust; the molten material then slowly solidifies below Earth’s surface, where it may later be exposed through ...