Rocks Study Guide
Vocabulary:
Rock
Rock cycle
Magma
Lava
Igneous rock
Sedimentary rock
Metamorphic rock
Composition
Texture
Felsic
Mafic
Intrusive
Extrusive
Sediment
Strata
Stratification
Clastic sedimentary rock
Chemical sedimentary rock
Organic sedimentary rock
Contact metamorphism
Regional metamorphism
Foliated
Nonfoliated
Other concepts to know:
Know some ways that humans have used rock over the centuries.
Know what the rock cycle is and be able to describe how the three different types
of rock change into one another. Be able to describe the path a rock takes through
the rock cycle using the appropriate key terms.
Be able to describe the three main types of rock and how each type forms.
Know how composition and texture are used to describe rock.
Know how rocks are described based on texture.
Know what the meanings of the terms igneous and metamorphic are.
Know the three ways that rock can melt.
Know and be able to describe and identify the two types of igneous rocks based
on composition.
Know how the cooling rate of magma (or lava) affects the texture of the resulting
igneous rock.
Know how and where intrusive and extrusive igneous rocks form.
Know the textures of intrusive and extrusive igneous rocks and the reason for this.
Know the other name for intrusive igneous rock formations.
Know how extrusive igneous rock formations are made.
Be able to describe how sedimentary rock forms. Be sure to know the terms
weathering, erosion, deposition, compaction, cementation.
Know and be able to describe how the three types of sedimentary rock form.
Know at what depths and temperatures metamorphism can occur.
Be able to explain the difference between contact metamorphism and regional
metamorphism.
Know why minerals change to other minerals during the metamorphic process,
and how scientists use this information to their advantage.
Know the two types of metamorphic rock based on texture.
Know five examples each of igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rock.