ROCK / MINERAL OBITUARY
STEP 1: Choose a rock or mineral from the list.
STEP 2: Give your rock/mineral a name (ex: Sally Sandstone).
STEP 3: Write an obituary about your rock/mineral’s life.
 In your obituary, you need to give at least 5 facts about it that we did not cover in class.
 Don’t use details that you don’t understand… if you come across something weird that you don’t
understand, research it until you do!! You should be able to answer questions about your obituary.
Use your textbook, the internet, or books to find your information, and don’t forget to cite all of your sources!!
 For websites, simply give the URL address. I WILL CHECK THESE SITES.
o “www.google.com” doesn’t count!! Give me the actual website you used!!!
 For your textbook and any other books, use standard MLA bibliography format.
GRADING:
 10 points for level of creativity
 10 points for your 5 facts (2 points for each)… make sure we didn’t cover them in class!!!!!
 20 points: Be sure to answer the following questions:
o 5 pts: What type of rock is it? (igneous, sedimentary, metamorphic, or mineral)
o 5 pts: What subtype is it? AND don’t forget to creatively explain what this means!!
 For Igneous: Intrusive or Extrusive
 For Sedimentary: Clastic, Chemical, or Biochemical
 For Metamorphic: Foliated or Nonfoliated
 For Minerals: What group is it in? (Halides, Oxides, etc.)
o 5 pts: Tell me the story of his life. (How was he “born”, what kind of “job” did he have, tell
about his “family”, how did he “die”, etc.)
 Be creative with this stuff… when you find info about the uses of your rock/mineral,
which could be his “job”, etc.
 These should be integrated into the story, and this info can be part of your 5 facts.
 You will lose major points here if you don’t make it into a story. I don’t want a bunch of
facts written in paragraph form.
o 5 pts: Make it understandable to the reader (and yourself – don’t use facts you don’t understand).
CATEGORY
Creativity
5 Facts NOT discussed in class
What type of rock is it?
What subtype is it?
Telling his/her life story
Clarity (understandable, used facts
that the author understands)
POINTS EARNED
0 2 4 6 8 10
0 2 4 6 8 10
0 1 2 3 4 5
0 1 2 3 4 5
0 1 2 3 4 5
COMMENTS
0 1 2 3 4 5
TOTAL GRADE
out of 40
ROCK / MINERAL OBITUARY
STEP 1: Choose a rock or mineral from the list.
STEP 2: Give your rock/mineral a name (ex: Sally Sandstone).
STEP 3: Write an obituary about your rock/mineral’s life.
 In your obituary, you need to give at least 5 facts about it that we did not cover in class.
 Don’t use details that you don’t understand… if you come across something weird that you don’t
understand, research it until you do!! You should be able to answer questions about your obituary.
Use your textbook, the internet, or books to find your information, and don’t forget to cite all of your sources!!
 For websites, simply give the URL address. I WILL CHECK THESE SITES.
o “www.google.com” doesn’t count!! Give me the actual website you used!!!
 For your textbook and any other books, use standard MLA bibliography format.
GRADING:
 10 points for level of creativity
 10 points for your 5 facts (2 points for each)… make sure we didn’t cover them in class!!!!!
 20 points: Be sure to answer the following questions:
o 5 pts: What type of rock is it? (igneous, sedimentary, metamorphic, or mineral)
o 5 pts: What subtype is it? AND don’t forget to creatively explain what this means!!
 For Igneous: Intrusive or Extrusive
 For Sedimentary: Clastic, Chemical, or Biochemical
 For Metamorphic: Foliated or Nonfoliated
 For Minerals: What group is it in? (Halides, Oxides, etc.)
o 5 pts: Tell me the story of his life. (How was he “born”, what kind of “job” did he have, tell
about his “family”, how did he “die”, etc.)
 Be creative with this stuff… when you find info about the uses of your rock/mineral,
which could be his “job”, etc.
 These should be integrated into the story, and this info can be part of your 5 facts.
 You will lose major points here if you don’t make it into a story. I don’t want a bunch of
facts written in paragraph form.
o 5 pts: Make it understandable to the reader (and yourself – don’t use facts you don’t understand).
CATEGORY
Creativity
5 Facts NOT discussed in class
What type of rock is it?
What subtype is it?
Telling his/her life story
Clarity (understandable, used facts
that the author understands)
POINTS EARNED
0 2 4 6 8 10
0 2 4 6 8 10
0 1 2 3 4 5
0 1 2 3 4 5
0 1 2 3 4 5
COMMENTS
0 1 2 3 4 5
TOTAL GRADE
out of 40
1. Sandstone
2. Limestone
3. Gneiss
4. Diamond
5. Amethyst
6. Obsidian
7. Pumice
8. Schist
9. Granite
10. Marble
11. Rhyolite
12. Basalt
13. Coquina
14. Breccia
15. Shale
16. Slate
17. Anthracite
18. Quartz
19. Emerald
20. Beryl
21. Ruby
22. Sapphire