Introduction
Can you see the rock? The counter tops in this kitchen are made out of granite,
an igneous rock associated with volcanic systems and mountain building, and the floor tiles come from clay, derived from the sedimentary rock shale. Upscale homes
like this one featured in the Indianapolis 2007 Home-a-Rama often contain decorative igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks in
fireplaces, countertops, and walls (Hamilton Builders/BAGI).If you pick up a rock in southern Indiana, chances are good it is a piece of native limestone. If you pick up a rock in central and northern Indiana, chances are good it’s a rounded igneous or metamorphic rock deposited by glaciers. In New Hampshire, granite is a dime a dozen, while in Arizona, sandstone is everywhere. Do you ever pay attention to rocks? It is easy not to notice them even though they surround us. Have you ever noticed different rocks are found in different areas? Why is this?
Even in an urban area like Indianapolis, rocks and minerals abound. Rocks are used in landscaping. Rocks are used to decorate walls and counters in malls, banks, and stores. People use rocks to tile their floors and accentuate their kitchen counter tops. By the end of this lecture, you will be fluent in the world of minerals and rocks. Next time you are at a shopping mall, or walking past an old house, or driving down the street, you may start to notice just how many rocks and minerals surround you.
In the last two modules, we introduced the ideas of rocks, the Rock Cycle, and covered Geologic Time and the Theory of Plate Tectonics. Since rocks are made of minerals, we will begin this discussion by describing minerals, then move on to discussing rocks in the context of the Rock Cycle and Plate Tectonics. Finally, we’ll discuss the geology of Indiana, and what type of rocks and minerals you can find in Indiana.