Download Earth and Space Science, I NAME: Rock Lab Date: Period: ______

Earth and Space Science, I
Rock Lab
NAME: ________________________________________________
Date: _____________________________ Period: _________
Classifying & Identifying Rocks
Introduction:
Recall that a rock is a naturally occurring, solid mass of minerals or mineral-like matter. Geologists classify rocks into three
major groups based on how the rocks form. Igneous rocks form when molten material—lava or magma—cools either on Earth’s
surface or underground. Extrusive rocks form when lava cools quickly at or near Earth’s surface. Extrusive rocks have either a finegrained texture or a glassy texture. Intrusive rocks form as magma cools slowly farther beneath Earth’s surface. This slow rate of
cooling allows mineral grains to grow large, and such a rock is said to have a coarse-grained texture.
Sedimentary rocks form when pieces of rocks, minerals, or organic matter—all of which are called sediment—are compacted
and cemented. Clastic rocks are sedimentary rocks that are made of fragments of weathered Earth materials. The fragments might
be fairly large, such as pebbles; somewhat smaller, such as grains of sand; or very small, such as grains of clay. Chemical rocks are
sedimentary rocks that form when minerals settle out of solution. Biochemical rocks are sedimentary rocks that form as the result
of organic processes.
Metamorphic rocks are rocks that form when existing rocks are subjected to changes in pressure or temperature. They can
also form when they are subjected to chemical solutions. Metamorphic rocks may be foliated, which means that the components are
arranged in parallel bands, or nonfoliated, which means that the rock’s components are not arranged in bands.
In this investigation, you will observe rock texture, which is the shape, size, and arrangement of a rock’s components. You will
use rock texture and other properties to classify rocks found within the “Virtual Rock Lab.”
Procedure:
1. Answer all “pre” lab questions prior to starting the online portion.
2. Complete the Virtual Rock Lab section, by going to the following website:
http://higheredbcs.wiley.com/legacy/college/strahler/047ing1417416/interactivities/flash/mineralogy/mineralogy.htm
 Be sure to select the “Help/Hint” icon before proceeding to the next component. This will help you to acquire all of the
information about the rock.
3. It may be helpful to use the Identification Tables from within the book to correctly identify the rock samples from in each rock
group and to answer the “pre” and “post” lab questions. Igneous– pg. 129, Sedimentary– pg. 135, Metamorphic– pg. 141.
4. Complete all “post” lab questions.
IGNEOUS ROCKS (pg 135)
Pre-Lab
1. Compare and contrast the formation of intrusive and extrusive rocks.
a. Compare:
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Earth and Space Science, I
Rock Lab
b. Contrast:
NAME: ________________________________________________
Date: _____________________________ Period: _________
2. How do coarse-grained igneous rocks form?
3. How are igneous rocks classified according to composition?
4. How do fine-grained igneous rocks form?
5. How do igneous rocks with glassy textures form?
“Igneous Rock Drawer”
Samp
le
#
Color
Grain Size and Texture
Rock Type
Rock Name
1
The white mineral is usually
__________________, the black is
__________________, and
hornblende and the pink is
orthoclase __________________.
This rock may also be
_________________ (in other
words, _________________
minerals in a matrix of
_________________ minerals).
The _________________ size of the
mineral crystals indicates that
it _________________
_________________ and is
therefore _________________.
_________________ is a very rock
used for _________________
_________________ and
_________________.
Minerals present in this rock
include pyroxene plagioclase
and __________________.
This rock is ________________grained with a _________________
texture. Minerals are not
usually visible to the naked
eye.
The _________________ size of the
mineral crystals indicates that
it _________________
_________________ and is
therefore _________________.
This rock commonly displays
_________________
_________________ where as the
rock cools it shrinks and splits
2
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Earth and Space Science, I
Rock Lab
NAME: ________________________________________________
Date: _____________________________ Period: _________
into _________________
________________.
3
The _________________ texture of
this rock was produced by
_________________.
This rock is used as an
_________________
_________________ but is also
used by some to rub away
rough skin in the bathtub. It
is produced as a _____________
_______________ _______________,
hence, the vesicles.
4
This rock appears
___________________ to the eye.
The small size of the mineral
crystals indicates that it
cooled __________________ and is
therefore __________________.
This rock or _________________
_________________, forms as the
result of _________________
_________________ of
______________. Consequently,
crystals do not grow, giving
the rock its _________________________________ texture.
Post-Lab
6. Name an intrusive igneous rock from your lab.
7. Do all extrusive rocks contain crystals? Why or Why not?
a.
b.
8. Granite and obsidian are similar chemically. How are they different?
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Earth and Space Science, I
Rock Lab
NAME: ________________________________________________
Date: _____________________________ Period: _________
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS (p. 135)
Pre-Lab
9. Contrast weathering, erosion, and deposition.
a. Weathering b. Erosion c. Deposition 10. Explain how clastic sedimentary rocks are formed and list four examples.
a. Explanation:
b. Examples:
11. Explain how chemical sedimentary rocks are formed and list four examples.
a. Explanation:
b. Examples:
12. What is compaction?
“Sedimentary Rock Drawer”
Samp
Color
le
#
1
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Grain Size and Texture
Rock Type
Rock Name
4
Earth and Space Science, I
Rock Lab
Minerals present in this rock
are mostly ____________________
but may also include
__________________________,
_______________ and other
resistant minerals.
2
Minerals present in this rock
are mostly
______________________ and
___________________________
remains.
NAME: ________________________________________________
Date: _____________________________ Period: _________
Although the rock may be very The particles of this rock may This rock accumulates
hard, it can occur in softer
either be _______________________ through ________________
form where the particles can
(water deposition) or
(desert) or _____________________
be easily ________________________ _____________________________
(coastal or lake margin)
away.
(arid deposition).
_____________________________.
Although this rock is coarse, it
can range from
________________-grained to
______________ ___________________.
Although generally referred to
as a chemical rock, the
skeletal remains also have a
___________________ contribution
to make this rock.
This rock accumulates as
___________________
_______________ and /or skeletal
remains. It may include
________________________.
Post-Lab
13. What sedimentary rock can be formed two different ways?
14. What is the only sedimentary rock type that can be formed from things that were once living?
15. Table salt used to season foods is made of the mineral halite. What sedimentary rock is also made of halite?
16.
METAMORPHIC ROCKS (p. 141)
Pre-Lab
17. Where does most metamorphism take place?
18. Compare and contrast contact metamorphism and regional metamorphism.
a. Compare:
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Earth and Space Science, I
Rock Lab
NAME: ________________________________________________
Date: _____________________________ Period: _________
b. Contrast:
19. Name the (3) agents of metamorphism.
20. What are foliated rocks, and how do they form?
a.
b.
21. How are metamorphic rocks classified primarily on what two characteristics?
“Metamorphic Rock Drawer”
Samp
Color
le
#
Grain Size and Texture
Rock Type
Rock Name
1
Minerals present in this rock
are mostly __________________
and lesser amounts of
dolomite.
_______________________
_______________________ and
fossils may be preserved.
At ______________ grades of
metamorphism, minerals
may start to segregate into
____________________________
______________.
This rock is a common type
of ________________________
metamorphosed rock, which
is formed as a result of
________________________
________________________.
2
Minerals present in this rock
are mostly calcite with lesser
amounts of ___________________.
Bedding features and fossils
may be preserved.
_________ grade
metamorphism occurs where
less heat has changed the
rock therefore some features
This rock is a _______________
grade metamorphic rock
which is used for
_______________________,
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Earth and Space Science, I
Rock Lab
3
NAME: ________________________________________________
Date: _____________________________ Period: _________
may be preserved. In
_________________________, and
_______________ grade
_______________________________.
metamorphism, these
features are usually
________________________.
This rock is a ______________
grade metamorphic rock
which when split, produces
_______________
___________________ used for
________________________ or
paving.
Post-Lab
22. Name the metamorphic equivalent to the following parent rocks.
a. Shale:
b. Slate:
c. Phylite:
d. Schist:
e. Limestone:
f. Quartz sandstone:
g. Bituminous coal:
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Earth and Space Science, I
Rock Lab
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NAME: ________________________________________________
Date: _____________________________ Period: _________
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