NAME ___________________________________________ PERIOD _____________ DATE ____________________
Rock Cycle, 3 Classes of Rocks and Soil Test Study Guide (86)
answer key
1. Igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks follow _________________ pathways in the rock cycle.
(multiple, one, no)
2. What is a rock made up of? Minerals and other materials
3. What type of rocks can change into metamorphic rocks? Any type of rock
4. Put an X next to stages of the rock cycle.
__x___ heat and pressure
_____ smelting
__x___ melting
__x___ volcanic activity
__x___ erosion
_____freezing
5. Define extrusive rock – igneous rock formed at the surface
6. Define intrusive rock – igneous rock formed deep in the earth
7. Define porphyritic texture – has both fine and coarse grained texture due to cooling deep in the earth and then at the
surface
8. Put the texture of each rock in the blank. (Coarse, fine, porphyritic, glassy)
______fine__________ basalt
_________coarse________ granite
_glassy________ obsidian
_________glassy__________ pumice
9. Define felsic – silicon and oxygen rich magma, light colored, usually high in silica
10. Define mafic – magnesium and iron rich magma, dark colored, usually lower in silica
11. An example of a felsic rock is _______granite_______. An example of a mafic rock is ______basalt________.
12. What is the difference between magma and lava? Magma is below the surface and lava at the surface
13. An example of a coarse grained rock is ______granite_____. It is _______light__________ colored so it has
(light or dark)
_________lots of_______________ silica and is a ________felsic__________ rock.
(lots of or not much)
(felsic or mafic)
14. An example of a fine grained rock is ______basalt_______. It is _______dark__________ colored so it has
(light or dark)
_________not much_______________ silica and is a ______mafic____________ rock.
(lots of or not much)
(felsic or mafic)
15. Choose the correct igneous rock for each description below.
Rock choices:
Basalt
Granite
Obsidian
Pumice
_______basalt__________________ a dark, dense rock with a fine-grained texture, found in ocean crust, a common
extrusive rock
_________pumice________________ a light, less dense rock that floats on water, has no grains/crystals
________granite_________________ a usually light colored rock, coarse-grained, found in continental crust, a common
intrusive rock
__________obsidian_______________ a shiny dark colored rock, has no grains/crystals, sometimes called volcanic glass
16. Rocks that cool very, very, very quickly will have __________no_______________ grains/crystals.
(large, small, no)
17. Rocks that cool quickly will have ________small_________________ grains/crystals.
(large, small, no)
16. Rocks that cool slowly will have ________large_________________ grains/crystals.
(large, small, no)
17. The most abundant intrusive igneous rock is ___________granite_______________.
18. The most abundant extrusive igneous rock is __________basalt________________.
19.. Arrange the steps to the formation of sedimentary rock in order from first(#1) to last (#5). Then define each.
___5__ cementation – The formation of crystals that glue the rock together
___2__erosion – The movement of Sediment
___1__ weathering – The breaking up of a rock into sediment
___4__ compaction – The pressing together of sediment under its own weight
___3__ deposition – Where sediment comes to rest, or is deposited
20. Define chemical weathering – occurs when there are changes in the chemical compositions of the rock or minerals
from exposure to the environment. Chemical weathering includes chemical changes that may decompose, dissolve or
break down various parts of the rock or other landform. These changes are a result of other minerals and chemicals that
seep into rocks, usually in rain water or as gases. Acid rain is a prime cause of chemical weathering.
21. Define mechanical (physical) weathering – when rocks and other landforms are broken down by physical factors in the
environment. These physical factors include wind, water, sun, ice and temperature changes. This type of weathering does
not change the chemical composition of the rock or minerals. An example would be waves crashing against a rocky
shoreline, slowly breaking apart the rocks into smaller pieces.
22 . Name the three types of sedimentary rocks and define them.
1.clastic – made of fragments of rock
2. organic – made of living sediments or were once living
3. chemical – made from sediments and minerals that precipitate out of solution
23. Name the two types of metamorphic rocks and define them.
1. foliated – layered or banded texture
2. non-foliated – texture is random
24. Which of the following is NOT a clastic rock (circle it).
Sandstone
breccias
granite
shale
25. What kind of sedimentary rock is chalk? ______________organic_______________________
26. Where does the heat that changes a rock into a metamorphic one come from? ____________mantle________
27. Geologists classify metamorphic rocks according to their
___________________texture______________________________.
28. Heat and pressure beneath the Earth’s surface can change any rock into a metamorphic____ rock.
29. Define foliated – layered or banded texture
30. Define nonfoliated – texture of grains is random
31. Draw a picture of 4 layers of rock and label the oldest and youngest. Youngest layer is at the top and oldest at the
bottom.
32.
Which layer represents an igneous rock? _____1_____________
Which layer represents a sedimentary rock? ______2____________
Which layer represents a metamorphic rock? _________3______________
Which layer represents cloud?  __________4________________
34. What is the formula for density? _______D=M/V______________________
38. What energy transfer would occur when transferring heat through a rock?
_________conduction_____________________
39. Define abrasion – The process of wearing away a surface by friction. A rock undergoes abrasion when
particles of sand or small pieces of rock are carried across its surface by a glacier, stream, or the wind.
40. Describe “ice wedging.” An ice wedge is a crack in the ground formed by a narrow or thin piece of ice that
measures up to 3–4 meters in length at ground level and extends downwards into the ground up to several
meters. During the winter months, the water in the ground freezes and expands.
41. Rock that is porous and as a result permeable weathers easily because it has spaces between particle for water to
flow through.
42. Which soil particle is largest? ________gravel_______________ Smallest? ____________clay_______________
43. Describe A horizon. Top most layer, top soil, dark in color due to humus, most decayed organics, decomposers live
here, high amount of weathering, most developed
44. Describe B horizon. Sub soil, not as rich in organics, leaching takes place here, and reddish, brownish color
45. Describe C horizon. Least-developed soil horizon, largest rock fragments and usually no organic material
46. What is bedrock? Parent rock, solid rock
47. Define soil – loose mixture of small rock fragments, organic material, water and air that can support the growth of
vegetation
48. Define porosity – is a measure of the amount of space between the solid particles in the soil
49. Define humus – decayed organic matter
50. Define permeability - is a measure of how easily and quickly water moves through soil