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EAL Nexus resource
Rocks – igneous
Subject(s):
Geography, Science
Age group(s):
8–11, 12–14, 15–16
Topic:
Types of rocks
Licence information | This resource is free to use for educational purposes. ©British Council 2014
Source | This resource was originally developed from a resource on TES by j33ffa , Charlotte Hurley and Alison Fisher and has been adapted by
EAL Nexus.
Obsidian – igneous rock
(rock formed when magma cools)
Obsidian is formed when molten rock cools
quickly.
Obsidian is a type of
volcanic glass.
It is dark black
and shiny.
© Simon Burchell
© AlejandroLinaresGarcia
It is hard and brittle and can be
broken to make sharp edges.
Uses:
knives/sharp tools
jewellery gems
Gabbro – igneous rock
(rock formed when magma cools)
Gabbro is formed when molten magma is
trapped beneath the Earth’s surface.
Gabbro is dark
grey to black in
colour.
Gabbro has large
interlocking crystals.
© Maria Ly
© Kevin Walsh
Gabbro is usually found near ocean
ridges and in mountainous areas.
© Roll-Stone
Gabbro has a
rough surface.
© Ggrrdll
Uses:
building
decorating buildings
kitchen worktops
paving stones
Basalt – igneous rock
(rock formed when magma cools)
Basalt rock is formed by the rapid cooling of
lava near the surface.
It is dark grey
and very hard.
Basalt weathers in
air and water to
change to a redbrown colour.
Basalt sometimes forms columns of
stone as it hardens.
Basalt has a rough
surface.
© Eurico Zimbres
Uses:
cobbles
statues
paving roads
© ray blow
Granite – igneous rock
(rock formed when magma cools)
Granite is made when molten rock from a volcano is
cooled down and forms large interlocking crystals.
Granite is a
very heavy
material.
light
Granite can be polished to
make it smooth and to make
it look good.
heavy
Granite comes in
many colours from
pink to grey and
sometimes black.
© Halvard
Granite is hard and
tough.
Uses:
buildings
kitchen worktops
kitchen utensils
© Ggrrdll
Obsidian
Gabbro
Basalt
Granite
Obsidian
• It is an igneous rock.
• It is formed by magma cooling
quickly.
• It is dark and shiny like glass.
• It is used to make very sharp knives.
Gabbro
•
•
•
•
•
•
It
It
It
It
It
It
is an igneous rock.
has large interlocking crystals.
is usually dark grey.
can be used for paving stones.
is rough.
can be found in mountainous areas.
Basalt
It is an igneous rock.
It has small interlocking crystals.
It is dark grey and very hard.
It sometimes forms columns of stone
as it hardens.
• It turns red when it weathers.
•
•
•
•
Granite
• It is an igneous rock.
• It has interlocking crystals.
• It is formed by magma cooling slowly
so it has large crystals.
• It is used for kitchen worktops because
it is so hard.
• It is heavy.