Rock Identification
Igneous Rocks
Work through the activities in either of the following links before you attempt the exercises
below.
http://www.classzone.com/books/earth_science/terc/content/investigations/es0603/es0603page01.cfm
Or
http://www.open2.net/geologytoolkit/rockanalyser.swf
Examine the digital samples of igneous rocks by clicking on the name of each rock. Use your
observations to complete the table below:
Rock sample
Colour light or dark
Crystal size - large,
small or invisible
Cooling rate - slow,
fast or very fast
Intrusive or extrusive
Andesite
Basalt
Diabase
Diorite
Dolerite
Gabbro
Granite
Obsidian
Rhyolite
Scoria
© State of New South Wales through the
NSW Department of Education and Training, 2007.
http://www.curriculumsupport.education.nsw.gov.au/index.htm
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Rock Identification
Metamorphic Rocks
Work through the activities in either of the following links before you attempt the exercise
below.
http://www.childrensmuseum.org/geomysteries/faq1.html
In this activity you will compare the original rocks with their altered (metamorphic) form.
Compare each pair of rocks listed below and note similarities and differences between each
pair.
Metamorphic Rock
Similarities
Differences
Original Rock
Sandstone
(sedimentary)
Quartzite
Shale
(sedimentary)
Slate
Limestone
(sedimentary)
Marble
Granite (igneous)
Gneiss
© State of New South Wales through the
NSW Department of Education and Training, 2007.
http://www.curriculumsupport.education.nsw.gov.au/index.htm
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Rock Identification
Sedimentary Rocks
Read the information about the different classes of rocks by clicking on the class of each rock.
Use your understanding to complete the table below.
Click on each numbered sample and use the information provided in the table to identify each
sample.
Rock 1
Rock 2
Rock 3
Rock 4
Rock 5
Rock 6
Rock 7
Rock 8
Rock 9
Rock 10
Class of rock
Features
Name
Sample
Number
Clastic
Chemical
Organic
Made up of rounded
pebbles in a silt and clay
matrix
Made up of sharp
fragments of pebble size in
a silt and clay matrix
Made up of compacted and
cemented sand in layers
Made of compacted and
cemented silt
Made of compacted and
cemented silt and clay in
layers
Grey rock made of
microscopic crystals
White rock made up of
cube-shaped crystals
Black shiny rock that can
burn
White rock made of coral
skeletons or shells of sea
animals
White powdery rock made
of microscopic animal
shells
Conglomerate
Breccia
Sandstone
Siltstone
Shale
Limestone
Rock salt
Coal
Shelly limestone
Chalk
© State of New South Wales through the
NSW Department of Education and Training, 2007.
http://www.curriculumsupport.education.nsw.gov.au/index.htm
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Rock Identification
Syllabus Links
SCIENCE K-10 syllabus
Outcome
 describes the dynamic nature of models, theories and laws in developing scientific understanding
of the Earth and solar system SC4-12ES
Content
ES1 Sedimentary, igneous and metamorphic rocks contain minerals and are formed by processes that
occur within Earth over a variety of timescales. (ACSSU153)
Students:
d. identify that sedimentary, igneous and metamorphic rocks contain minerals
© State of New South Wales through the
NSW Department of Education and Training, 2007.
http://www.curriculumsupport.education.nsw.gov.au/index.htm
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