Name ____________________________________________________________
Study Guide: Mineral and Rocks (p. 312-323)
1. A naturally occurring material of Earth’s surface is called a mineral.
2. This describes the way light reflects off a mineral (the type of shine): luster
3. Give some examples of words used to describe the type of shine.
glassy dull earthy oily
pearly
waxy silky metallic
4. The way some rocks break with flat surfaces is called cleavage.
5. You can perform this test to find out a mineral’s hardness: Scratch test
6. You can perform this test to find out a mineral’s streak color: Streak test
7. What are the three minerals found in granite?
quartz, feldspar and mica
8. What does the Mohs’ scale tell about a mineral? hardness
9. Rocks with a number 2 on the Mohs’ scale would be considered soft.
10. Rocks with a number 9 on the Mohs’ scale would be considered hard.
11. Which mineral is the hardest on the Mohs’ scale? diamond
12. List the steps in doing the Scratch Test.
a. See if any powder from the rock rubs off on your fingers.
b. See if you can scratch the rock with your fingernail.
c. See if you can scratch the rock with a penny.
d. See if you can scratch the rock with a steel nail.
e. See if the rock will scratch glass.
13. Can you always tell a mineral’s streak color just by looking at the mineral? Give an
example.
You cannot always tell a mineral’s streak color just by looking at the mineral. For
example, iron pyrite looks gold but its streak color is greenish black.
14. How are igneous rocks formed? Igneous rock forms when melted rock cools and
hardens into a solid.
15. There are two types of igneous rocks.
Igneous rocks that form from magma and cool slowly underground are called
intrusive.
Igneous rocks that form from lava that cools quickly are called extrusive.
16. How are sedimentary rocks formed? Sedimentary rock forms when small pieces of
rocks, minerals, and shells are deposited, buried, and then squeezed and cemented
together.
17. How are metamorphic rocks formed? Metamorphic rock forms when other rocks
have been changed by heat, pressure, or chemical reaction.
18. Name 6 properties used to identify minerals and rocks.
color
streak color
luster
texture hardness crystal shape
cleavage
19.-26. Write each rock in the correct group:
sandstone
obsidian
limestone
marble
gneiss
granite
pumice
slate
Igneous
obsidian
granite
pumice
Sedimentary
sandstone
limestone
Metamorphic
marble
gneiss
slate
27. Which process continually changes rock from one kind to another over long periods
of time? The rock cycle
28. Complete this sentence: All rock comes from other rock.
(See p. 322 in your book if you are stumped.)
*Each student will meet individually with Mrs. Wade. I will ask you to identify ten rocks
of your choice from the tray containing rocks that we have worked with in class.
Possible rocks include:
Gray or pink granite
Quartz
Feldspar
Mica
Chalk
Shale
Sandstone
Limestone
Galena
Sulfur
Iron pyrite (Fool’s Gold)
Hematite
Obsidian
Pumice
Basalt
Gneiss
Slate
Marble
I may also ask students to…
-point to a “soft” rock/ a “hard” rock
-point to a rock with luster (you describe the luster)
-point to a sedimentary rock
-point to an igneous rock
-describe how to do the streak test and tell why it is useful
*Students should also be able to use a Properties of Minerals chart like the one in your
packet to find the name of a given rock based on the properties given.