1. Rocks: sedimentary, igneous, metamorphic
This project and its actions were made possible due to co-financing by the European Fund for the Integration of Third-Country Nationals
EAL Nexus resource
Rocks: sedimentary, igneous, metamorphic
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.

2. Limestone – sedimentary rock (rock formed from sediment)
Limestone is formed from the shells and skeletons of sea animals so may contain fossils.
© Hannes Grobe.
It is very heavy so it cannot be used for tall buildings.
light
heavy
It reacts with acid rain which corrodes the buildings.
Uses:
Buildings
Roads
Wall filler
Cement
© Coyau
It is easy to cut and carve into detailed shapes.
© Serouj

3. Sandstone – sedimentary rock (rock formed from sediment)
Sandstone is made of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.
Sandstone comes in many colours such as brown, yellow, red, grey, pink, white and black, but is usually a reddish-brown.
© Whitegoast.unk
The surface of sandstone is rough.
Uses:
Buildings
Paving
Carvings
Sharpening tools
Sandstone wears away easily in the rain and cold.
It is easy to carve but can crumble.
© Connie Ma

4. Shale – sedimentary rock (rock formed from sediment)
Shale is made of very fine rounded grains of sediment that have compacted together.
Shale often contains fossils.
Shale contains mud and flakes of clay.
Shale is grey to black in colour.
© Michael C. Rygel
Shale can be split into thin sheets.
Shale is often found in lakes, by rivers, on floodplains and offshore from beaches.
Uses:
Tiles
Bricks
Pottery

5. Chalk – sedimentary rock (rock formed from sediment)
Chalk is formed from the shells of one type of sea creature.
Chalk is white.
Chalk is crumbly.
Chalk is porous and can hold a large amount of water.
© Michael King
Chalk doesn’t weather easily, so chalk cliffs still stand by the sea.
Uses:
Toothpaste
Fingerprint powder
Blackboard chalk

6. 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.
Uses:
Knives/sharp tools
Jewellery gems
© Simon Burchell
© AlejandroLinaresGarcia
It is hard and brittle and can be broken to make sharp edges.

7. Gabbro – igneous rock (rock formed when magma cools)
Gabbro is formed when molten magma is trapped beneath the Earth’s surface.
Gabbro has large interlocking crystals.
Gabbro is dark grey to black in colour.
© Maria Ly
© Kevin Walsh
Gabbro is usually found near ocean ridges and in mountainous areas.
Uses:
Building
Decorating buildings
Kitchen worktops
Paving stones
© Roll-Stone
Gabbro has a rough surface.
© Ggrrdll

8. Basalt – igneous rock (rock formed when magma cools)
Basalt rock is formed by the rapid cooling of lava near the surface.
Basalt has a rough surface.
It is dark grey and very hard.
Basalt weathers in air and water to change to a red-brown colour.
© Eurico Zimbres
Uses:
Cobbles
Statues
Paving roads
Basalt sometimes forms columns of stone as it hardens.
© ray blow

9. 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.
Granite is hard and tough.
Granite can be polished to make it smooth and to make it look good.
light
Uses:
Buildings
Kitchen worktops
Kitchen utensils
heavy
Granite comes in many colours from pink to grey and sometimes black.
© Ggrrdll
© Halvard

10. Marble – metamorphic rock (rock changed by heat or pressure)
Marble is made from limestone that has been heated to change it into marble.
It is very heavy.
It is often white and has coloured swirls and streaks.
heavy
light
Uses:
Sculptures
Buildings
Statues
Chopping boards
Tiles
It is easy to polish and make the surface smooth and shiny.
It is easy to carve because it is soft and doesn’t crumble when cut.

11. Slate – metamorphic rock (rock changed by heat or pressure)
Slate is made when mudstones called shale are changed by heat and pressure.
Slate is blue, purple and grey in colour.
Slate is waterproof.
The crystals that the slate is made from are arranged in layers.
Uses:
Roof and floor tiles
Walls
Decorative gravel
Gravestones
It is easy to cut into thin sheets due to its layers.

12. Gneiss – metamorphic rock (rock changed by heat or pressure)
Gneiss is formed when sedimentary and igneous rocks are exposed to extreme temperatures and pressure.
© Siim Sepp
Gneiss often has alternating bands of colour that make interesting patterns.
Gneiss has a coarse texture and is rough to the touch.
© Michael C Rygel
The bands are due to the various rocks it is made from.
Uses:
Building construction
Decorative facing
Gravestones
Base for roads
© Daniel CD
The quartz in gneiss makes it sparkle.

13. Soapstone – metamorphic rock (rock changed by heat or pressure)
Soapstone is formed when sedimentary and igneous rocks are exposed to extreme temperatures and pressure.
© Ra’ike
Soapstone has a high resistance to heat and acid.
Soapstone is grey, green, pink or white in colour.
Uses:
Bowls
Carved objects
Lining fireplaces
Jewellery
Soapstone is a soft stone and is easy to carve with a sharp tool such as a knife.
It feels slippery like soap.
Soapstone can be polished to a smooth finish.

14. Limestone

15. Sandstone

16. Shale

17. Chalk

18. Obsidian

19. Gabbro

20. Basalt

21. Granite

22. Marble

23. Slate

24. Gneiss

25. Soapstone

27. Limestone
It is a sedimentary rock.
It is formed from the shells of sea animals.
It may contain remains of fossils.
It is used in buildings and to make cement.
It is heavy.
It corrodes.

28. Sandstone
It is a sedimentary rock.
It is made of sand-sized grains of similar sizes.
It can be many colours, but is often reddish brown.
It feels rough.
It is easy to carve.
It can crumble.
It can be used to sharpen tools.

29. Shale
It is a sedimentary rock.
It is made of very fine rounded grains.
Fossils are often found in it.
It forms layers which can be split into thin sheets.
It can be used to make tiles.
It is formed in lakes.

30. Chalk
It is a sedimentary rock.
It is formed from the shells of a particular sea animal.
It is white.
It is porous.
It is used to write on blackboards.

31. 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.

32. Gabbro
It is an igneous rock.
It has large interlocking crystals.
It is usually dark grey.
It can be used for paving stones.
It is rough.
It can be found in mountainous areas.

33. 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.

34. 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.

35. Marble
It is a metamorphic rock.
It is formed from limestone.
It can be many colours but is often white with streaks in it.
It is used for making statues and chopping boards.
It is heavy.

36. Slate
It is a metamorphic rock.
It is formed from shale.
Its crystals are arranged in layers.
It is used to make roof tiles.
It can be blue, purple and grey.

37. Gneiss
It is a metamorphic rock.
It is formed from sedimentary and igneous rocks.
It is formed under pressure.
It has alternating bands of colours.
It is rough to touch.
It sparkles.

38. Soapstone
It is a metamorphic rock.
It is quite a soft rock.
It is used for making bowls and other objects with carvings.
It feels smooth and slippery.
It has a high resistance to heat.