Cornell Notes
Topic/Objective:
S6E5. Students will investigate the scientific view
of how the earth’s surface is formed.
b. Investigate the contribution of minerals to rock
composition.
c. Classify rocks by their process of formation.
d. Describe processes that change rocks and the
surface of the earth.
Essential Question: What are rocks and how are they formed?
Questions:
Name: Mrs. Esserwein
Class/Period: Periods 1-3
Date:
Notes:
Define rock: *Combinations of various minerals
Ex: Granite~quartz, feldspar & mica
*Can also be made of organic material.
*Ex: Coal—composed of plant material
*Ex: Limestone---shells & skeletons of sea creatures
*Broken down rock creates soil
Uses of rocks: *Building materials (granite, limestone,
sandstone, slate & marble)
*Creates coal & limestone
*Food~halite = table salt
*Treasure~some minerals are gemstones
*Ex: diamonds, emeralds, rubies
*Metals: gold, silver, iron, copper, uranium & thorium used
by industry
Rocks and Earth’s History: *Tells the story of the origin & history of
Earth!
*Millions of years!
*Giant explosions, rising mountains, invading seas,
blankets of ice
*Geologists~scientists who “read” the story
Summary: Rocks are combinations of various minerals as well as organic material. Soil is
created when rocks break down. Rocks have many uses including building materials, containing
precious gems and industrial uses. Rocks tell the story of the origin and history of the Earth.
Questions:
Notes:
Igneous Rocks: *Comes from Latin ignis “fire”.
*Form from molten material (magma/lava)
*Magma~hot, doughy material; mixture of gases & steam
*Intrusive: magma solidifies underground; cool slowly;
minerals form large crystals; Ex: granite
*Extrusive: volcanic action/lava; cools quickly; sometimes
No crystals form; Ex: obsidian
*Texture: glassy, fragmental, fine-grain; coarse-grain
Sedimentary Rocks: *Created by sediment settling; building
layer by layer.
*Overlying weigh squeeze material close together
(compaction)
*Dissolved minerals cements material together.
(cementation)
*2 features: (1) Made of materials that once were part of
older formations, aka “other rocks” (2) lie in layers
(strata)
*Ex: sandstone, shale, conglomerate, limestone
*Fossils found here
Metamorphic Rocks: Greek, “change of form”
*Can form from all rock types
*Forces that create them: (1) heat & pressure (2) H2o,
Dissolving/redepositing minerals (3) hot magma on old
rocks
*Ex: gneiss (formerly granite); schist (formerly shale)
Rock Cycle: Continual cycle of new rocks forming from
old rock material
Summary: There are three types of rocks: igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic. Igneous
rock comes from magma or lava while sedimentary rock is created by sediment settling,
compacting and cementing together. Metamorphic rock forms by changing one type of rock into
another with intense heat and pressure deep within the Earth. Last the rock cycle is the
formation of new rocks from old over millions of years.