ENVIRONMENTAL - MANAGEMENT - 0680 - NOTES
Chapter 1 – rocks and minerals and their exploitation
Lithosphere: Surface layer of rocks and minerals or crust
Crust : >GREAT VARITIES OF ROCKS AND USEFUL PRODUCTS
>SURFACE COVERING OF SOIL , MAKES FARMING POSSIBLE
>5KM TO 100KM THICK
WEATHERING : BREAKDOWN OF LARGE ROCKS INTO SMALLER
PARTICLES OR SEDIMENTS.
FACTORS OF WEATERING:
 WATER , ICE AND WIND
TYPES OF WEATHERING:
1. PHYSICAL
2. CHEMICAL
3. BIOLOGICAL
TYPES OF ROCKS
1. IGNEOUS ROCKS
 NEW ROCKS AND ARE FORMED BY FIRE3 AND VOLACANIC
ACTIVITY.
 MAGMA FROM THE MANTLE REACHES THE SURFACE
 WHEN IT COOLS AND HARDENS AN IGNEOUS ROCK IS FORMED
 THESE ROCKS ARE FORMED ALONG PLATE BOUNDARIES
 EXAMPLES : GRANITE , BASALT
2. SEDIMENTARY ROCKS :
 SECOND HAND ROCKS
 MADE FROM SEDIMENTS OR OLD MATERIALS
 THESE ROCKS ARE FORMED IN LARGE LOWLAND AREAS
 EXAMPLES : SANDSTONE , LIMESTONE , SHALE , CLAY
3. METAMORPIC ROCKS :
 OLD IGNEOUS OR SEDIMENTARY ROCKS CHANGED BY HEAT
AND PRESSURE IN THE EARTH’S CRUST ARE KNOWN AS
METAMORPHIC ROCKS
