Rocks in a Bag
#1
Name: _______________________________
______________________________
______________________________
______________________________
In bag #1 you will find three rocks, one representing each type of rock. Use your knowledge of igneous,
sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks to classify each rock. Write down your guess and evidence below.
Rock Type
Rock #
Team
Guess
Write in bullet points your evidence and reasoning
for your selection
Correct Name of Sample
Rock #
Igneous
Sedimentary
Metamorphic
#2
In bag #2 you will find two igneous rocks. One rock is intrusive-igneous and the other is considered
extrusive-igneous. Use your knowledge of how igneous rocks are formed to determine the classification
for both of these igneous rocks.
Igneous
Rock #
Classification Team
Guess
Intrusive
Extrusive
Write in bullet points your evidence and reasoning
for your selection
Correct Name of Sample
Rock #
#3
In bag #3 you will find four sedimentary rocks. Each of these rocks is unique in their formation. Use your
critical thinking skills and the knowledge of sedimentary rocks to determine how each one of these four
rocks was formed.
Sedimentation
Formation
Rock #
Team
Guess
Write in bullet points your evidence and
reasoning for your selection
Correct Name of Sample
Rock #
This rock has pieces
of plants and/or
animal fossils
cemented together
This rock is called
conglomerate,
because of the large
chunks of different
loose particles
cemented together
This sedimentary
rock formed as an
evaporate.
This sedimentary
rock was formed
under great heat
and pressure. It is
evident by the
condensed layering.
#4
In bag #4 you will find four metamorphic rocks. This type of rock is classified at foliated or non-foliated.
Use your vocabulary knowledge to determine which two rocks in the bag are foliated, and which two are
non-foliated.
Metamorphic Rock #
Classification Team
Guess
List 2 foliated
metamorphic
rocks
List two nonfoliated
metamorphic
rocks
Write in bullet points your evidence and reasoning
for your selection
Correct Name of Sample
Rock #
Rocks in a Bag
#1
In bag #1 you will find three rocks, one representing each type of rock. Use your knowledge of igneous,
sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks to classify each rock. Write down your guess and evidence below.
Rock Type
Rock #
Team
Guess
Igneous
Sedimentary
Metamorphic
#2
Name: ___________Answer Key_______
______________________________
______________________________
______________________________
Write in bullet points your evidence and reasoning
for your selection









Correct Name of Sample
Rock #
Unified grey color
Small crystal grains (cooled fast)
Can see the luster of very small mineral grains
Looks like it is made out of sand particles
Can see obvious horizontal layers
Visual bands of pink tones
Slight banding of grey and brown tones
Large chunks of garnet crystals
Looks like a mix of two different types of rocks
8
Basalt
2
Banded Sandstone
5
Garnet Shist
In bag #2 you will find two igneous rocks. One rock is intrusive-igneous and the other is considered
extrusive-igneous. Use your knowledge of how igneous rocks are formed to determine the classification
for both of these igneous rocks.
Igneous
Rock #
Classification Team
Guess
Intrusive
Write in bullet points your evidence and reasoning
for your selection



Extrusive




2 distinct colors (black and white)
Can see different large crystal grains (Cooled
slowly)
Crystal grains has shiny luster that reflects
light.
Small crystal grains (cooled fast)
Unified tan color
Possible gas bubbles
Low density
Correct Name of Sample
Rock #
4
Anorthosite
11
Tuff
#3
In bag #3 you will find four sedimentary rocks. Each of these rocks is unique in their formation. Use your
critical thinking skills and the knowledge of sedimentary rocks to determine how each one of these four
rocks was formed.
Sedimentation
Formation
Rock #
Team
Guess
Write in bullet points your evidence and
reasoning for your selection
Correct Name of Sample
Rock #
This rock has pieces
of plants and/or
animal fossils
cemented together
This rock is called
conglomerate,
because of the large
chunks of different
loose particles
cemented together
This sedimentary
rock formed as an
evaporate.

Visual indentations of shells and plant
particle
10
Fossil Limestone

Looks like the pebbles have been glued
or stuck together
Made of gravel and sand particles
1
Conglomerate
Translucent suggesting made from
evaporation.
Has the luster of halite
Resembles salt
14
Rock Salt
This sedimentary
rock was formed
under great heat
and pressure. It is
evident by the
condensed layering.

Visual highly condensed layers a result
of extreme pressure
7
Oil Shale
#4




In bag #4 you will find four metamorphic rocks. This type of rock is classified at foliated or non-foliated.
Use your vocabulary knowledge to determine which two rocks in the bag are foliated, and which two are
non-foliated.
Metamorphic Rock #
Classification Team
Guess
List 2 foliated
metamorphic
rocks
Write in bullet points your evidence and reasoning
for your selection



List two nonfoliated
metamorphic
rocks
Banding of mica, quartz, and feldspar
Wavy lines of alternating colors
Correct Name of Sample
Rock #
1
Gneiss
3
Mica Schist


Small muscovite bands, layered with flakes of
muscovite or biotite. Visual banding of two
different colors
12
Unified color (white) #12
Unified color (green) #11

No banding of colors
11
Marble
Serpentinite