Rocks & Minerals Web Quest
Rocks and Minerals Web Quest
Rock Cycle
1. What are the three main types of rocks? Igneous rocks, metamorphic rocks, and sedimentary rocks.
2. How does a sedimentary rock turn into a metamorphic rock? Pressure and heat are added to morph this rock into a metamorphic rock.
3. How does an igneous rock turn into a metamorphic rock? Much like sedimentary rocks, igneous rocks also use heat and pressure.
4. How do metamorphic rocks change into sedimentary rocks? First, the metamorphic rocks break down- or erode- into small sediments. These small sediments are then compacted tightly, cementing together, creating sedimentary rocks.
5. How do igneous rocks change into sedimentary rocks? This process is also similar to metamorphic rocks changing into sedimentary ones.
6. What is the beginning of the rock cycle? The end? There is no beginning to this cycle, as well as an ending. The rock cycle does not- and will not have an end. It is a continuous cycle.
View this Rock Cycle animation
7. Quick cooling forms many small what? The outcome of quick cooling is the formation of small crystals.
8. When you look at the desert monuments, what eroded away? The sandstone surrounding the monument in Utah eroded away.
9. The microscopic view of sandstone contains what two components?
10. What two things are needed to turn igneous rock into metamorphic rock? Heat and pressure.
Rocks
11. List and define the 6 key characteristics that can help you identify rocks within the three main classes.
a. Crystals
b. Sand/pebbles
c. Glassy surface
d. Gas bubbles
e. Fossils
f. Ribbon-like layers
Rock Identification Key
12. For igneous rock, when magma cools slowly the crystals… are large enough to see.
13. For igneous rock, when magma cools quickly, the crystals… forms black glass that are too small to see with the naked eye. A microscope is needed to see them!
14. Of the types of igneous rock formed underground, which one is most familiar?
15. When looking at sedimentary particle size, which material type has the largest particles and which has the smallest particles? Sand is the material with the largest size, while clay is the smallest in size.
16. Which metamorphic rock forms under the highest temperature and highest pressure? Gneiss.
Mystery Rocks
17. How much of earth’s surface is made of sedimentary rock? The Earth is three-fourths of sedimentary rock!
18. Give 4 examples of sediment that might eventually become sedimentary rock.
1) Mud located at the bottom of lakes, streams, etc.
2) Sand at the beach
3)Dust found on furniture
4) Little rocks or pebbles at the bottom of rivers
19. What caused the appearance in the sedimentary rock in picture B?
Mohs Scale
20. What is Mohs Scale used for? To compare the hardness of minerals to others.
21. What mineral is a 10 on Mohs Scale? Diamond is the hardest mineral.
22. Give an example of a mineral with a hardness of 7 (according to Mohs Scale). Tell me about that mineral. Quartz is ranked 7 on the Mohs scale, commonly found inside the Earth's crust. Its absolute hardness is 100, with 6 sides, made up of crystallized silica.
23. If a mineral can scratch a penny, what number is it on Mohs Scale?
Streak
24. Sometimes the color and the streak of a mineral are very different. Which of the examples shows a difference between color and streak?
Rock Cycle
1. What are the three main types of rocks? Igneous rocks, metamorphic rocks, and sedimentary rocks.
2. How does a sedimentary rock turn into a metamorphic rock? Pressure and heat are added to morph this rock into a metamorphic rock.
3. How does an igneous rock turn into a metamorphic rock? Much like sedimentary rocks, igneous rocks also use heat and pressure.
4. How do metamorphic rocks change into sedimentary rocks? First, the metamorphic rocks break down- or erode- into small sediments. These small sediments are then compacted tightly, cementing together, creating sedimentary rocks.
5. How do igneous rocks change into sedimentary rocks? This process is also similar to metamorphic rocks changing into sedimentary ones.
6. What is the beginning of the rock cycle? The end? There is no beginning to this cycle, as well as an ending. The rock cycle does not- and will not have an end. It is a continuous cycle.
View this Rock Cycle animation
7. Quick cooling forms many small what? The outcome of quick cooling is the formation of small crystals.
8. When you look at the desert monuments, what eroded away? The sandstone surrounding the monument in Utah eroded away.
9. The microscopic view of sandstone contains what two components?
10. What two things are needed to turn igneous rock into metamorphic rock? Heat and pressure.
Rocks
11. List and define the 6 key characteristics that can help you identify rocks within the three main classes.
a. Crystals
b. Sand/pebbles
c. Glassy surface
d. Gas bubbles
e. Fossils
f. Ribbon-like layers
Rock Identification Key
12. For igneous rock, when magma cools slowly the crystals… are large enough to see.
13. For igneous rock, when magma cools quickly, the crystals… forms black glass that are too small to see with the naked eye. A microscope is needed to see them!
14. Of the types of igneous rock formed underground, which one is most familiar?
15. When looking at sedimentary particle size, which material type has the largest particles and which has the smallest particles? Sand is the material with the largest size, while clay is the smallest in size.
16. Which metamorphic rock forms under the highest temperature and highest pressure? Gneiss.
Mystery Rocks
17. How much of earth’s surface is made of sedimentary rock? The Earth is three-fourths of sedimentary rock!
18. Give 4 examples of sediment that might eventually become sedimentary rock.
1) Mud located at the bottom of lakes, streams, etc.
2) Sand at the beach
3)Dust found on furniture
4) Little rocks or pebbles at the bottom of rivers
19. What caused the appearance in the sedimentary rock in picture B?
Mohs Scale
20. What is Mohs Scale used for? To compare the hardness of minerals to others.
21. What mineral is a 10 on Mohs Scale? Diamond is the hardest mineral.
22. Give an example of a mineral with a hardness of 7 (according to Mohs Scale). Tell me about that mineral. Quartz is ranked 7 on the Mohs scale, commonly found inside the Earth's crust. Its absolute hardness is 100, with 6 sides, made up of crystallized silica.
23. If a mineral can scratch a penny, what number is it on Mohs Scale?
Streak
24. Sometimes the color and the streak of a mineral are very different. Which of the examples shows a difference between color and streak?