Chapter 2
Earth Materials and Features
Chapter Outline:
I.
Rocks and Minerals
a. Elements, Ions and Atomic Bonds
b. Isotopes
II.
Common Rock-Forming Minerals
III. The Rock Cycle
IV. Types of Rocks
a. Igneous Rocks and Processes
b. Sedimentary Rocks and Processes
c. Metamorphic Rocks and Processes
Key Terms:
rock
minerals
crystal
biomineralization
silicate minerals
carbonate minerals
rock cycle
igneous rocks
magma
sediment
sedimentary rock
metamorphic rocks
intrusive (or plutonic) rocks
extrusive (or volcanic) rocks
lithifaction
evaporite
bedding
lamination
regional metamorphism
contact metamorphism
In-Class Activities:
Instructor Notes for In-Class Activity 1
Title:
Minerals: The building blocks of rocks
Time:
5-10 minutes prep; 45– 60 minutes in class (or can assign research
between class periods)
Materials:
Internet required. Print instruction sheets as handouts. For 30 students the
instructor should have 10 hand samples of each of the following 14
minerals: quartz, orthoclase, plagioclase, biotite, muscovite, augite,
hornblende, olivine, calcite, magnetite, biotite, talc, gypsum and
dolomite. These samples can be purchased from sites such as
http://wardsci.com/category.asp_Q_c_E_812/ for less than $250. These
samples should last for up to 5-10 years. Have a roll of paper towels
available so that students can clean the minerals after the completion of
this exercise.
Handouts:
First print out the rock and minerals laboratory exercises on:
http://facstaff.gpc.edu/~pgore/geology/historical_lab/Rocks_and_Mineral
s.pdf/
The students will work in groups of 3-4 and answer the questions as
outlined by the instructor.
In addition to the above handout, the students can use sites such as the
following as references.
http://flexiblelearning.auckland.ac.nz/rocks_minerals/minerals/common.h
tml
http://geology.about.com/library/bl/blquickmineral_id.htm/
Procedures:
The instructor should separate students into groups of 3-4. Each group
will be given two copies of the handout. Each group will submit one
completed handout for grading. Each group will be provided with one
hand sample of the minerals quartz, orthoclase, plagioclase, biotite,
muscovite, augite, hornblende, olivine, calcite, magnetite, biotite, talc,
gypsum and dolomite. The instructor will place these samples on index
cards listed 1,2,3, …..14. The instructor should make note of which
samples are placed on which cards for future grading of this lab. First,
have the students answer questions 1-5 in the pre-lab exercises section of
the handout so that they will become familiar with some commonly
studied mineral properties visible in mineral hand samples.
http://facstaff.gpc.edu/~pgore/geology/historical_lab/Rocks_and_Mineral
s.pdf/
Next, have the students identify the 14 minerals, and study the mineral
properties by filling out the lab exercise #1 table in the hand out
http://facstaff.gpc.edu/~pgore/geology/historical_lab/Rocks_and_Mineral
s.pdf/
Note, that there are only enough columns for 10 mineral samples. The
students should write the answers for minerals 11-14 in table format on
the back of their answer sheet.
After answering these questions, the instructor should visit each group
and ask the students to try and remember three attributes for each mineral
sample, in that they will have a quiz the following week.
Student
Instructions: See above.
Specific
Suggestions:
Objectives:
The next week the instructor should have the graded exercises returned to
each group. The students should be encouraged to make copies for
individual study. The mineral samples should be placed on a table with
the correct answers. Students should be encouraged to determine what
errors were made, and to take a second look at all of the minerals. The
next week, the instructor should quiz the students to test their ability to
recognize mineral attributes, and to identify minerals.
Students should be able to:
Identify the 14 provided common rock-forming minerals.
Students should be able to recognize the following mineral attributes:
color, cleavage, hardness, luster, reaction to acid, magnetism, and others.
In-Class Activity 1: Handout
Throughout the course of this semester you will be studying rocks to study Earth History.
Minerals are the building blocks of rocks and therefore we will study them first. There are more
than 3000 known minerals. However, the 14 minerals that you will study today, are found in the
great majority of rocks, and are thus referred to as “rock-forming minerals”. Your instructor has
provided you with a printed copy of :
http://facstaff.gpc.edu/~pgore/geology/historical_lab/Rocks_and_Minerals.pdf/
Your group will first complete pre-lab exercise questions 1-5 to become familiar with mineral
properties. Your instructor will provide you with a piece of glass, a small magnet, a streak plate,
a small bottle of dilute HCL acid (be careful with this if you get some on your skin wash it off
with water in a sink immediately). You can use these materials to study the mineral properties.
For mineral hardness you can also use a penny and your fingernail. Next, your instructor will
provide you with 14 minerals placed on 14 index cards. The 14 minerals include the common
rock forming minerals quartz, orthoclase, plagioclase, biotite, muscovite, augite, hornblende,
olivine, calcite, magnetite, biotite, talc, gypsum and dolomite. First fill out the attributes of color,
hardness, luster etc for minerals 1-10 in the included chart (Lab exercise 1). Do the same for
minerals 11-14, write your answers on the back of your answer sheet or on a separate piece of
paper (that you will hand in with this lab). Next identify the 14 provided minerals. Try and
remember 3 attributes for each of the provided minerals. This exercise will be graded, and you
will have a chance to see these minerals again prior to having a quiz on this material.
Feel free to use online resources to complete these exercises. Two excellent websites can be
found at:
http://flexiblelearning.auckland.ac.nz/rocks_minerals/minerals/common.html
http://geology.about.com/library/bl/blquickmineral_id.htm/
Instructor Notes for In-Class Activity 2
Title:
Rocks: The materials that contain clues to the geologic past.
Time:
5 – 10 Minutes prep; 50 – 60 minutes in class (or can assign research
between class periods)
Materials:
Internet required. Print instruction sheets as handouts. For 30 students the
instructor should have 10 hand samples each of the following 15 rocks:
Igneous rocks (5)-Granite, Basalt, Gabbro, Obsidian, Andesite
Sedimentary rocks (5)-Quartz sandstone, Arkose, Greywacke, Shale,
Limestone
Metamorphic rocks (5)-Marble, Schist, Slate, Quartzite and Phyllite
These samples can be purchased from sites such as
http://wardsci.com/category.asp_Q_c_E_812/ for less than $250. These
samples should last for up to 5-10 years. Have a roll of paper towels
available so that students can clean the minerals after the completion of
this exercise.
Handouts:
First print out the rock and minerals laboratory exercises on:
http://facstaff.gpc.edu/~pgore/geology/historical_lab/Rocks_and_Mineral
s.pdf/
The students will work in groups of 3-4 and answer the questions as
outlined by the instructor.
In addition to the above handout, the students can use sites such as the
following as references.
http://www.newarkcampus.org/professional/osu/faculty/jstjohn/Common
%20rocks.htm/
http://geology.about.com/library/bl/images/blrockindex.htm/
Procedures:
The instructor should separate students into groups of 3-4. Each group
will be given two copies of the handout. Each group will submit one
completed handout for grading. Each group will be provided with one
hand sample of the following rocks.
Igneous rocks (5)-Granite, Basalt, Gabbro, Obsidian, Andesite
Sedimentary rocks (5)-Quartz sandstone, Arkose, Greywacke, Shale,
Limestone
Metamorphic rocks (5)-Marble, Schist, Slate, Quartzite and Phyllite
The instructor will randomly place the 15 rocks on 15 separate index
cards, labeled from 1 to 15.
The instructor will list the 15 available rocks randomly on a chalk board
or white board. The students will fill in tables 2-4 in the lab exercises
portion of their handout with the rock names and other listed attributes.
The students can use their textbook, the handout and the following
websites as references.
http://www.newarkcampus.org/professional/osu/faculty/jstjohn/Common
%20rocks.htm/
http://geology.about.com/library/bl/images/blrockindex.htm/
Time permitting, have the students complete pre-questions 6-12 using the
above websites and the textbook as references. The students should turn
in their handout with the answers to the above questions for grading. The
students will be quizzed on the material covered in this lab exercise
during some future date.
Student
Instructions: See above
Specific
Suggestions:
Objectives:
The next week the instructor should have the graded exercises returned to
each group. The students should be encouraged to make copies for
individual study. The rock samples should be placed on a table with the
correct answers. Students should be encouraged to determine what errors
were made, and to take a second look at all of the rock samples. The next
week, the instructor should quiz the students to test their ability to
recognize rock attributes, and to identify the rocks.
Students should be able to:
Identify the 15 provided common rock types.
Differentiate between igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks.
Get a fundamental understanding of rates of cooling and mineralogy for
igneous rocks.
Explain the difference between shale and claystone.
List the three types of sandstone, and tell the dominant mineral in each.
Determine whether or not a metamorphic rock contains foliation.
In-Class Activity 2: Handout
Last week, we studied minerals the building blocks of rocks. This week we are going to study
and identify 15 common rocks, study their attributes, differentiate between the three main rock
types (igneous, metamorphic, sedimentary), and look at the minerals contained within each rock.
Your instructor has graded the answer from last weeks exercise in your handout.
http://facstaff.gpc.edu/~pgore/geology/historical_lab/Rocks_and_Minerals.pdf/ You will now
complete all of the answers that were not completed last week including first lab exercises 2-4,
and then pre-lab exercise 6-12. For lab exercises 2-4 you will identify the 15 common rocks that
are placed on the 15 index cards numbered 1-15 in front of you. There are 15 rocks to be
identified these are:
Igneous rocks (5)-Granite, Basalt, Gabbro, Obsidian, Andesite
Sedimentary rocks (5)-Quartz sandstone, Arkose, Greywacke, Shale, Limestone
Metamorphic rocks (5)-Marble, Schist, Slate, Quartzite and Phyllite
Once again your instructor has provided you with a piece of glass, a small magnet, a streak plate,
a small bottle of dilute HCL acid (be careful with this if you get some on your skin wash it off
with water in a sink immediately) to study and identify the rocks.
Try and remember 3 attributes for each of the provided rocks. This exercise will be graded, and
you will have a chance to see these minerals again prior to having a quiz on this material.
Feel free to use online resources to complete these exercises. Two excellent websites can be
found at:
http://www.newarkcampus.org/professional/osu/faculty/jstjohn/Common%20rocks.htm/
http://geology.about.com/library/bl/images/blrockindex.htm/
1.