Rocks and Minerals Study Guide
Know the three types of rock and how they are formed
Be able
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1.
Sedimentary – Rock formed from bits of layers of rock that have been
cemented together.
2.
Igneous – rock formed from melted rock material – Rock that has melted
and hardened.
3.
Metamorphic – rock that has been changed by heat and/or pressure
to identify properties of minerals
streak plate
hardness (scratch test)
luster (how shiny or dull it is)
cleavage (splitting along flat surfaces)
Be able to give uses of rocks/minerals. Some examples are below:
Granite-building
Pumice-soaps and cleansers
Limestone-chalk
Shale-bricks and pottery
Shale and limestone together-cement
Marble-flooring, monuments, statues
Diamond-jewelry
Topaz-jewelry
Know definitions of the following:
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13.
Permeability – The rate at which water can pass through a porous material
Nonrenewable resources – materials that cannot be recycled
Renewable resources – Items that can be recycled and used in different forms
Earthquake – Movement or vibrations in the Earth
Humus – Decomposed plant and animal matter
Amber – Hardened tree sap
Fossil – Any trace, mark or remains of an organism at least 10,000 years old;
often found in sedimentary rock
Sediment – Deposited rock particles an other material that settle in liquid
Relative Age – The age of something compared to the age of another thing
Weathering – the process where rocks are broken into smaller pieces
Delta – a flat plain formed by deposits of sediment where a river empties into
the ocean
Erosion – when rock particles and soil are carried away by moving water, wind, or
ice
Magma- molten rock material deep within the Earth
14.
Lava- melted rock material that reaches the earth’s surface
Know the four layers of Earth in order
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2.
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Crust – This is the Earth’s outermost layer. It is where we live.
Mantle - A layer of rock below the crust
Outer Core – Liquid layer below mantle, probably made of melted iron
Inner Core – Sphere of solid material at Earth’s center
The surface of the Earth changes, sometimes slowly (weathering and erosion) and
sometimes rapidly. Three ways that the Earth changes rapidly is through landslides,
volcanoes, and earthquakes.
Soil is made up mostly of weathered rock and can take in water from its surroundings
There are three layers of soil; topsoil, subsoil, and layer of rock. Topsoil is the richest
layer of soil. It is also where most organisms live and most plants grow.
Be able to explain how streams help to make soil
As the water runs over the rock, it breaks it down into smaller pieces. Over time
this break into even smaller pieces of rock and make soil.
Be able to list the five ingredients found in soil
1.
2.
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5.
Humus
Rock particles
Water
Air
Minerals