Rocks

Question 1

Rock cycle - igneous

Answer 1

1) Magma rises from the mantle, cooling as it gets closer to the surface, forming intrusive igneous rock.
2)Magma that reaches the surface cools as soon as it hits the air, forming igneous rock
Eg. Granite and basalt

Question 2

Rock cycle - sedimentary

Answer 2

Rocks on the surface are worn down over time. Broken pieces are dropped on the sea floor. They’re pressed together, merge with dead sea creatures + form sedimentary rocks
Eg. Sandstone + limestone

Question 3

Rock cycle - metamorphic

Answer 3

Metamorphic rocks are formed when igneous / sedimentary rocks are put under great heat / pressure
Eg. Marble and quartzite

Question 4

Intrusive igneous rock example

Answer 4

Granite
Cooled over millions of years
Huge crystals
Multicoloured
Used in monuments
Found: The Burren

Question 5

Extrusive igneous rock

Answer 5

Basalt
Cools quickly when it reaches surface
Very small crystals
Can only be seen under a microscope
Grey-black
Used in road building
Found in the Antrim–Derry plateau

Question 6

Sedimentary rock - Limestone

Answer 6

Formed when remains of dead sea creatures, shells +fish bones pile up on the sea bed
Remains are pressed for millions of years, forming strata
Permeable + soluble
Used in roads + monuments
Found: The Burren, Co. Clare
Most common rock in Ireland

Question 7

Metamorphic rock - marble

Answer 7

Formed when limestone is under great pressure
Black, white, red, or green
Used in headstones, fireplaces + tiles
Black marble is found in Kilkenny

Question 8

Name 3 methods of rock exploitation

Answer 8

Drilling
Quarrying
Shaft mining

Question 9

Drilling - process

Answer 9

Boring into the crust to get oil/gas
Oil/gas are pumped to the surface and used as fuel

Question 10

Drilling - environmental impact

Answer 10

Oilspills damage the local environment
Animals can swallow oil, be covered by by it, hurting or killing them
Oilspills can destroy plantlife

Question 11

Quarrying - process

Answer 11

Removing rock, sand, gravel /minerals from the ground
Down near the surface
Materials are used to build roads + houses

Question 12

Quarrying - environmental impact

Answer 12

Lots of dust - air pollution
Sound pollution

Question 13

Shaft mining - process

Answer 13

Drilling vertically into the earth to get minerals, eg. Coal, lead + zinc

Question 14

Shaft mining - environmental impact

Answer 14

Lots of dust - air pollution

Question 15

Economic impact of rock exploitation

Answer 15

Supplies need
Good for the economy - generates wealth
Supports jobs
Pays millions in taxes