1. Clastic Texture: This is the most common type and describes rocks formed from fragments of other rocks. The texture is characterized by the size, shape, and sorting of these fragments.
* Grain size: Examples include gravel (large fragments), sand (medium fragments), silt (small fragments), and clay (very small fragments).
* Grain shape: This can be rounded, angular, or a mix. Rounding usually indicates the fragments have been transported a long distance.
* Sorting: This refers to the uniformity of grain size. Well-sorted rocks have grains of similar size, while poorly-sorted rocks have a mix of grain sizes.
2. Crystalline Texture: This texture is formed by the interlocking crystals of minerals that precipitated directly from a solution, like a lake or ocean. These rocks often have a sugary or granular appearance. Examples include rock salt, gypsum, and some limestone varieties.
3. Bioclastic Texture: This texture is made up of fragments of once-living organisms, like shells, bones, or coral. The fragments can be cemented together to form the rock. Examples include fossiliferous limestone and some types of coquina.