rock-forming
Making up mountains
Rock-forming describes minerals that make up the bulk of the Earth's rocks.
Geologists distinguish rock-forming minerals—like quartz, feldspar, and mica—from rarer or accessory minerals.
The rock-forming minerals in granite are visible to the naked eye.
Oxygen-bound crystal compound
- feldsparSilicate mineral group
- quartzCrystalline silicon dioxide
- olivineGreen igneous rock mineral
- pyroxeneRock-forming silicate group
amphibole · mica · calcite · dolomite · biotite · muscovite · hornblende · garnet
Molten rock underground
- lavaErupted liquid stone
- coolingLosing thermal energy
- solidificationTransition to firm state
- precipitationAtmospheric water deposit
recrystallization · crust · mantle · tectonic · volcanic · plutonic · intrusive · extrusive
Forming ordered solid structure
- accretionGrowth through external addition
- cementationMineral-binding of particles
- compactionReducing volume through pressure
- meltingSolid-to-liquid transition
cooling · deposition · sedimentation · metamorphism · subduction · volcanism · precipitation · evaporation
silicate
Oxygen-bound crystal compound
pyroxene · amphibole · mica · calcite · dolomite · biotite · muscovite · hornblende · garnet · magnetite
magma
Molten rock underground
- lavaErupted liquid stone
- coolingLosing thermal energy
- solidificationTransition to firm state
precipitation · recrystallization · crust · mantle · tectonic · volcanic · plutonic · intrusive · extrusive · basalt
crystallization
Forming ordered solid structure
- accretionGrowth through external addition
- cementationMineral-binding of particles
- compactionReducing volume through pressure
melting · cooling · deposition · sedimentation · metamorphism · subduction · volcanism · precipitation · evaporation · consolidation
rock-formingerosive
Causing gradual wearing away
weathering · erosional · corrosive · abrasive · dissolving
rock-formingaccessory
Supplementary addition
trace · non-essential · minor · rare · incidental
rock, form, forming, rocks, rocky, rockier, rockiest, forms, formed