Processing the Igneous Rock - Assignment Example

Lecturer Part ‘A Type of rocks Metamorphic rocks The type of metamorphic rock used for constructing houses is called marble. Part of the building it is used for It is mainly used in the construction of the following parts of a building: i) Floors ii) Tiles for bathrooms. Useful properties of the rock i) The most important property making this rock be used in constructing houses is because it is hard. ii) It is not foliated. This feature makes it be the best choice as a material for architectural and construction works. Origin The rock has been accepted to have arisen from the alteration of the forms of rock though a process called metamorphism. This is a process that basically includes the change in form of the originally existing rocks. Then a chemical and physical change occurs to the rock especially when heated and subjected to a condition with a temperature of between 150 to 200 °C and a pressure of 1500 bars. This kind of condition results into combined physical and chemical changes in the existing rock. Similarly, the amorphous rock can also result from a series of tectonic processes like continental collision. This kind of reaction causes a friction that helps in the transformation of the existing rocks to form the amorphous rock (Press, F., R. Siever, J. Grotzinger & T. H. Jordan, 2003). However, a series of researches have also reported that the amorphous rocks can result from other processes like magma, very hot sediment that may come as a result of earth movements like volcanic eruptions. After their sedimentation and subsequent cooling, the amorphous rock is formed. Characteristics of the rock i) It is also stable at low pressure high temperatures ii) It also remains chemically unchanged chemically hence more stable iii) It is coarse and non foliated iv) It is highly crystallized Processing the rock Actually, for this rock to be used in construction process, it must be specially prepared through a series of processes. First, an appropriate mining method is used before it is taken to the industry to be given a series of chemical treatment where it will be given color, shape, texture and be put in the right shape to be used in construction. For instance, being that it can be used in making the bathroom tiles means that it should be accorded a kind of finishinthat will make it be so smooth and shiny. 2. Igneous rock The type of igneous rock used in the construction of houses is the granite. It is just because it posses the right qualities necessary for the building and construction of various parts of a building structure (Press, F., R. Siever, J. Grotzinger & T. H. Jordan, 2003). Part of the building it is used for The granite igneous rocks are mainly suitable for constructing: i) Floor ii) Walls Useful properties of the rock i) Unlike the other types of rocks, this kind of rock is preferred for this job because it is less prone to the gaining of structural fabrics Origin According to the geological researches, the igneous rock is formed through a process of cooling and solidification of lava or magma. The magma undergoes a crystallization process either intrusively or extrinsively. In this case, the intrinsic crystallization occurs when the process occurs underneath the surface of the earth. On the other hand, extrinsic crystallization occurs on the surface of the earth mainly from volcanic eruptions. The partial or wholesome melting that is here at this stage is being brought by subsequent increased and decreased temperature and pressure respectively. Processing the rock In order to process the materials from this rock, an appropriate mining method is used before it is taken to the industry to be given a series of chemical treatment where it will be given color, shape, texture and be put in the right shape to be used in construction. For instance, the use of well designed colors will be useful in making the tiles shine as is required. At the same time, the materials chosen should be designed to fit the required shape and size in order to be fixed with ease. 3. Sedimentary rocks The type of sedimentary rock used in the building and construction industry is called sandstone. It is also preferred in this activity due to its features that make it suitable for this kind of work. Part of the building it is used for The sedimentary rocks are used in the construction of the following parts of a building: i) Floors ii) Walls iii) Roofs Useful properties of the rock This rock is useful for the construction of houses because of the following features: i) It is permeable ii) It is hard because it is made up of cement which are made up of the precipitated mineral crystals Origin It is generally accepted that the sedimentary rocks were formed as a result of the sedimentation (settling down) of the organic particles that came from the accumulated sediments from a solution. These materials were then deposited on the earth’s surface or in the water bodies in the areas where the process was taking place (Blatt, H., G. Middleton & R. Murray, 1980). However, it is worth noting that the whole of this process comes as a result of weathering or rather erosion that occurs in the surrounding areas. After this, the sediments are then ferried up to the place where they are deposited by the agents of denudation: water, ice, wind, glaciers or the mass movements before they cool down to form the rocks. Characteristics of the rock The major features of this rock include: i) It is permeable ii) It is hard iii) It has iron elements in it iv) It has a clastic texture Processing the rock Just like other rock materials, this kind of material passes through a series of physical and chemical processes before it is used to make the required quality and size of the material. This typically includes all the activities carried out right from extraction to industrial finishing. However, in order to produce quality materials, a proper planning should be done to ensure that the necessary chemicals, colorings and other essentials are availed (Press, F., R. Siever, J. Grotzinger & T. H. Jordan, 2003). Part ‘B’ 1. The type of plate boundary represented here is the convergent plate boundary. 2. The formation of convergent plate boundary The convergent boundary occurs when two different plates move towards one another. This sliding then leads to the formation of two different kinds of zones: i) The subduction zone which occurs only when the one plate slides on top of the other. ii) Continental collision which occurs when the plates are containing the continental crust. However, the feature that forms at the subduction zone is the foreland basin. The crust is destroyed before it is recycled into the interior of the earth during when one plate slides on top of the other one (Tarbuck, E. J. & F. K. Lutgens, 1999). At their convergence, volcanoes and mountains are formed the resultant features normally associated with the heated waters on the interior of the earth. Because, it is this water that melts to produce that volcano. Since the nature of occurrence differs, it then comes to our realization that this process may result into three distinct types of convergent plate boundaries: i) Oceanic-oceanic convergent ii) Oceanic-continental convergent and iii) Continental-continental convergent boundaries 3. Natural hazards expected The natural hazards associated with this kind of phenomenon include, but not limited to: i) Earth quake ii) Tsunami iii) Earth tremor iv) Volcanic eruptions 4. The plate boundary is located in South America. Work cited Blatt, H., G. Middleton & R. Murray (1980). Origin of Sedimentary Rocks. Prentice-Hall. Press, F., R. Siever, J. Grotzinger & T. H. Jordan (2003). Understanding Earth (4th Ed.). W. H. Freeman and Company. Tarbuck, E. J. & F. K. Lutgens (1999). Earth, an introduction Geology (6th Ed.). Prentice Hall. Read More