Unit 8 Guide: Foundations of Earth Science
Minerals and Rocks
Key Concepts and Questions to Be Able to Explain and Answer:
1. What are the five characteristics shared by all minerals? Name three examples of minerals.
Name three non-examples.
2. What is a crystal? What are the two ways in which a crystal can form? How can you look at a
mineral sample to determine how it formed?
3. What are silicates and why are they important?
4. Name and describe two characteristics you can use to identify a mineral sample.
5. Is a rock an element, compound or mixture? Explain.
6. Draw the rock cycle and explain ALL the potential changes a rock can undergo.
7. Compare and contrast formation and characteristics of intrusive and extrusive igneous rocks.
Give an example of each.
8. Name characteristics of rocks that form from granitic, andesitic, and basaltic magma. Give
an intrusive and extrusive example for each magma type.
9. Name and describe three factors that can lead to the formation of metamorphic rocks.
10. Give characteristics of foliated and nonfoliated metamorphic rocks. Name an example of
each type.
11. Compare and contrast the formation and characteristics of detrital, chemical and organic
sedimentary rocks. Give an example of each.
12. Name the two factors used to classify detrital sedimentary rocks. Give an example of
detrital sedimentary rocks with various grain shapes and sizes.
Assessments
Unit 8 Test
Rock Lab
Date: _____________
Date: _____________
Reading Assignments:
Students will be assigned readings from the following pages in the text book.
Chapter 3
pages 60-87
Chapter 4
pages 88-115
Vocabulary
mineral
inorganic
crystal
silicates
hardness
metamorphic rock
detrital sedimentary
luster
rock
specific gravity
rock cycle
streak
weathering
fracture
erosion
cleavage
compaction
igneous rock
sedimentary rock
chemical sedimentary
Rock Types You Should be able to Classify:
Gabbro
Rhyolite
Diorite
Pumice
Granite
Scoria
Basalt
Obsidian
Andesite
Slate
Schist
Gneiss
Quartzite
Marble
cementation
basaltic
granitic
andesitic
sediments
magma
organic sedimentary
extrusive
intrusive
lava
pressure
foliated
nonfoliated
limestone
rock salt
fossil rich limestone
chalk
coal
sandstone
conglomerate
siltstone
shale
breccia
How to Receive up to 5 Bonus Points for Completing the Unit Guide:
1. Type or handwrite an answer to each Unit Objective Question. Unless stated in the
question, all answers must be given in complete sentences.
2. Define each of the vocabulary terms. Do not just copy the definition out of the book’s
glossary. Use and add on to the definition we developed in class by giving additional
information and examples of each word.
3. Unit Guides must be turned in on test day and will NOT be accepted late. You must answer
ALL unit objective questions and define ALL terms.
4. Mrs. Froehlich will review your Unit Guide and determine the number of bonus points to be
added to your test. Bonus points will be granted based on correctness and completeness of
answers and definitions.