Regents Earth Science
Sedimentary Rocks
Time ______
Name ___________________
Date Started ________________
Due date _________ Period ___
Sedimentary Rock Lab
Equipment: sedimentary rock collection #13-24, hand lens, ESRT, text book
Objective: to practice classifying, identifying and describing various environments of formation
Environment of formation: example: rock salt is formed when halite dissolved in water is
precipitated or evaporated. This evaporation could occur in a hot-dry area such as Rock Salt
Flat at Bonneville, Utah.
Procedure:
Observe each of the rocks with a hand lens. Note grain size, presence of shells or other
characteristics in which to give a clue to the origin of formation. Show your notes below:
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Questions: Please answer all questions in complete sentences. Use the index of the text to
find out about particular rocks, as well as the ESRT. Use on-line resources. Example Google
the terms “dolomite formation”…all kinds of great information will be revealed!
1. Chert is composed of “chemically–precipitated silica”. Describe why Stone Age humans
used this rock. ______________________________________________________________
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2. What is the range of sizes of quartz that composes siltstone (ESRT p.7)?
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3. Describe the texture of coquina (from the ESRT p.7).
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4. Describe the environment for the formation of a conglomerate. _____________________
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5. Sample #17 and #18 are both sandstones. Which sample probably originated closest to the
mouth of a river? Explain your reasoning. ________________________________________
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6. Describe the environment for the formation of argillaceous shale.
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7. Describe the environment for the formation of bituminous shale.
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8. Dolomitic limestone and dolostone are common rocks in the Pittsford area. Describe the
environment of formation for dolostone. ________________________________________
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9. Travertine and gypsum are both chemically formed sedimentary rocks. Which one will
bubble with dilute HCL? Explain your reasoning _________________________________
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