Chapter 4: Rocks
Lesson 1: Rocks and the Rock Cycle
Rocks
1. A rock is made up of __________, which can be mineral crystals or other solid
____________.
2. Geologist benefit from studying rocks because they better understand the way rocks ______
and the ancient _________________ in which they formed.
Texture
3. Scientist use observations about _________________ and __________________ to
classify rocks.
4. A rock’s ____________ is determined by the __________ of its _________ and the way
the grains fit together.
Composition
5. Geologist conduct fieldwork to help them ____________ rocks and the conditions under
which they ___________.
6. Rocks are classified by their _______________ and _______________.
Three Major Rock Types
7. Scientists classify rocks according to how they __________.
8. The three major rock types are _______________, _______________, and
_______________.
Ingneous Rocks
9. Igneous rocks forms when _________ or ________ cools and _______________.
Sedimentary Rocks
10. Rocks are subjected to the forces of wind, __________ _________, ice, and
___________.
11. Sedimentary rocks are made mainly of _____________.
12. _____________ is the smaller pieces of rock that result when other rocks are __________
down.
Metamorphic Rocks
13. Rocks exposed to extreme _________ and ____________ can change to
________________ rock.
14. _____________ _______ can also cause rocks to become metamorphic rocks.
15. The rocks mineral ______________ and texture change.
The Rock Cycle
16. The changes that occur in the _______ _______ happen slowly, over long periods of time.
17. The rock cycle is a series of ___________ that _________ one type of ______ to another
type of rock.
Rocks in Action
18. _______ can cool and ______________ to form ___________ rock. Igneous rock can be
deformed under intense _________ and ____________ to form a _____________
rock.
19. The _______ _______ represents all the active ___________ on Earth that continue to
change rocks form one form to another.
Lesson 2: Igneous Rocks
Igneous Rock Formation
20. ___________ ______ form from the cooling and __________________ of __________
rock above or below the Earth’s _____________.
Extrusive Rock
21. ___________ rock forms when ________ and other materials erupt and _________ on
Earth’s surface.
22. _________ in igneous rock form as _________ escape from the molten mixture during an
_____________.
Intrusive Rocks
23. ___________ _______ forms underground as magma ________.
Igneous Rock Identification
Texture
24. The texture of an igneous rock is made up of the _______ and ________________ of the
rock’s ___________.
Composition
25. Quartz, and feldspar have a high __________ content, while olivine and pyroxene have a
high ______ and ________________ content.
26. ___________ rocks result from the cooling and crystallization _______ ground.
Lesson 3: Sedimentary Rocks
Sedimentary Rock Formation
27. The process that squeezes particles together is __________________.
28. _______________ is the process that glues them in place.
Sedimentary Rock Identification
29. Igneous and sedimentary rock are classified according to how they _______.
30. Sedimentary rocks can form when sediment or other fragments are _____________,
_______________, and _________________ together. They can also form when minerals
________________ out of water.
Clastic Sedimentary Rocks
31. _______ are broken pieces of minerals or rock fragments.
32. Sediment size alone can’t be used to identify a sedimentary rock environment because the
same rock environment can produce rocks with a variety of sediment _______.
33. The _______ of sediment offer clues about the rocks ___________________.
Chemical Sedimentary Rocks
34. Water can ________ some of the rock’s minerals and carry them away.
35. _____________ _______ form when water becomes saturated with dissolved solids. As
the water ________________, the solids _______________ out of solution.
Biochemical Sedimentary Rocks
36. Biochemical sedimentary rock forms from the ________ of organisms or their _________.
37. _____________ sedimentary rock forms directly from __________.
Lesson 4: Metamorphic Rocks
Metamorphic Rock Formation
38. Metamorphism is any process that affects the _______________ or _______________
of a rock in a solid state as a result of changes in __________________, pressure, or the addition of
____________ fluids.
Temperature and Pressure
39. ______________ rocks can form due to changes in ______________ and
_______________.
40. Plastic deformation permanently changes the _______ of the rock by ___________ or
____________.
Metamorphic Rock Identification
41. The layers of metamorphic rock are made up of different kinds of ___________
____________.
Foliated Rocks
42. ___________ metamorphic rocks have layers.
Nonfoliated Rocks
43. The mineral grains of nonfoliated metamorphic rocks have no obvious _____________.
They are ________ and equal in _______.
Contact and Regional Metamorphism
44. Contact metamorphism occurs where magma comes in contact with __________ rock.
45. _______________ metamorphism occurs over a much larger area and results from
increases in temperature, pressure and chemical fluids.
Chapter 4: Rocks
Lesson 1: Rocks and the Rock Cycle
Rocks
1. A rock is made up of grains, which can be mineral crystals or other solid fragments.
2. Geologist benefit from studying rocks because they better understand the way rocks form
and the ancient environments in which they formed.
Texture
3. Scientist use observations about composition and texture to classify rocks.
4. A rock’s texture is determined by the size of its grains and the way the grains fit together.
Composition
5. Geologist conduct fieldwork to help them classify rocks and the conditions under which they
form.
6. Rocks are classified by their texture and composition.
Three Major Rock Types
7. Scientists classify rocks according to how they form.
8. The three major rock types are igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic.
Ingneous Rocks
9. Igneous rocks forms when magma or lava cools and crystallizes.
Sedimentary Rocks
10. Rocks are subjected to the forces of wind, running water, ice, and gravity.
11. Sedimentary rocks are made mainly of sediment.
12. Sediment is the smaller pieces of rock that result when other rocks are broken down.
Metamorphic Rocks
13. Rocks exposed to extreme heat and pressure can change to metamorphic rock.
14. Chemical fluids can also cause rocks to become metamorphic rocks.
15. The rocks mineral composition and texture change.
The Rock Cycle
16. The changes that occur in the rock cycle happen slowly, over long periods of time.
17. The rock cycle is a series of processes that change one type of rock to another type of rock.
Rocks in Action
18. Magma can cool and crystallize to form igneous rock. Igneous rock can be deformed under
intense heat and pressure to form a metamorphic rock.
19. The rock cycle represents all the active processes on Earth that continue to change rocks
form one form to another.
Lesson 2: Igneous Rocks
Igneous Rock Formation
20. Igneous rocks form from the cooling and crystallization of molten rock above or below the
Earth’s surface.
Extrusive Rock
21. Extrusive rock forms when magma and other materials erupt and solidify on Earth’s surface.
22. Holes in igneous rock form as gases escape from the molten mixture during an eruption.
Intrusive Rocks
23. Intrusive rocks forms underground as magma cools.
Igneous Rock Identification
Texture
24. The texture of an igneous rock is made up of the sizes and arrangements of the rock’s
crystals.
Composition
25. Quartz, and feldspar have a high silica content, while olivine and pyroxene have a high iron
and magnesium content.
26. Extrusive rocks result from the cooling and crystallization above ground.
Lesson 3: Sedimentary Rocks
Sedimentary Rock Formation
27. The process that squeezes particles together is compaction.
28. Cementation is the process that glues them in place.
Sedimentary Rock Identification
29. Igneous and sedimentary rock are classified according to how they form.
30. Sedimentary rocks can form when sediment or other fragments are deposited, compacted,
and cemented together. They can also form when minerals crystalize out of water.
Clastic Sedimentary Rocks
31. Clasts are broken pieces of minerals or rock fragments.
32. Sediment size alone can’t be used to identify a sedimentary rock environment because the
same rock environment can produce rocks with a variety of sediment sizes.
33. The shape of sediment offer clues about the rocks environment.
Chemical Sedimentary Rocks
34. Water can dissolve some of the rock’s minerals and carry them away.
35. Chemical rocks form when water becomes saturated with dissolved solids. As the water
evaporates, the solids crystallize out of solution.
Biochemical Sedimentary Rocks
36. Biochemical sedimentary rock forms from the action of organisms or their remains.
37. Chemical sedimentary rock forms directly from water.
Lesson 4: Metamorphic Rocks
Metamorphic Rock Formation
38. Metamorphism is any process that affects the structure and composition of a rock in a solid
state as a result of changes in temperature, pressure, or the addition of chemical fluids.
Temperature and Pressure
39. Metamorphic rocks can form due to changes in temperature and pressure.
40. Plastic deformation permanently changes the shape of the rock by bending or folding.
Metamorphic Rock Identification
41. The layers of metamorphic rock are made up of different kinds of mineral crystals.
Foliated Rocks
42. Foliated metamorphic rocks have layers.
Nonfoliated Rocks
43. The mineral grains of nonfoliated metamorphic rocks have no obvious alignment. They are
blocky and equal in size.
Contact and Regional Metamorphism
44. Contact metamorphism occurs where magma comes in contact with parent rock.
45. Regional metamorphism occurs over a much larger area and results from increases in
temperature, pressure and chemical fluids.