Download Rock Types and the Rock Cycle Worksheet KEY

Name
4.1 Act 2
Date
Core
Rock Types and the Rock Cycle
Directions: Observe each type of rock and record characteristics that each type has.
1st Rock Type
2nd Rock Type
3rd Rock Type
___Sedimentary___ Rocks
_____Metamorphic_____ Rocks
___Igneous____ Rocks
 Can see grains
 Grains can be
different sizes
 Has layers
 Grains come off if
you rub it





No grains
Have crystals
Many colors
Very hard
Swirly patterns
 No grains
 Some have crystals
 Some have lots of
holes
 Uniform texture
and pattern
throughout rock
 No layers or swirls
Part 2: Exploring How These 3 Rocks Form
(Crayons are going to represent rocks)
1) The students are creating sand/dirt (sediment). They unwrap the crayons and then create a pile of
crayon shavings on the piece of aluminum foil by scraping the crayon with the knife.
2) Now foil is placed on top of the sediment pile. Then the pile is pressed down as hard as possible.
The crayons are gently unwrapped. The rock will be fragile but should hold together in a packed
layer.
Describe the process just completed to
create this kind of rock.
What are the similarities between the
sedimentary crayon rock and the real
sedimentary rocks observed earlier?
3) Additional pressure is placed on the sediments by the books and pressing. Energy in the form of
heat from the hot plate transfers to the crayon causing it to melt.
4) When the foil is removed the wax is soft to the touch and the colors have swirled together but not
so much that the colors are indistinguishable. The wax is left to cool and harden.
Describe the process just completed to
create this kind of rock.
What are the similarities between the
metamorphic crayon rock and the real
metamorphic rocks observed earlier?
5) Additional heat is added to the wax until it melts again. More and more heat continues to be
applied.
6) Over time the wax becomes a pool of smooth liquid “rock”. It is removed from heat and spends
time cooling until it becomes a solid again..
Describe the process you just completed to
create this first kind of rock.
What are the similarities between the
igneous crayon rock and the real igneous
rocks observed earlier?
7) Next to each arrow in the diagram below add the processes needed to change from one type of rock
to the next. Include words and a drawing.
Sedimentary
Heat and
Pressure
Igneous
Melting
and Cooling
Metamorphic
8) What would you need to happen to the igneous rock to get it to become a sedimentary rock?
The igneous rock would need to undergo weathering, erosion,
sedimentation, compaction, and cementation.
9)
Could a metamorphic rock be turned directly into sedimentary rock? How?
Yes, it would need to undergo the same processes as in #8.