Rocks and Minerals Study Guide

Questions 1-5

100

Question 1:

Compare and contrast minerals and rocks

Minerals form naturally, inorganic materials, solid, crystal structure, and definite chemical composition. 

Rocks form naturally, solids, made out of minerals and organic matter.

200

Question 2:

What is the difference between organic and inorganic 

Organic means having once been alive or is alive while inorganic means never having been alive.

300

Question 3:

Coal contains plant parts. Is it classified as a mineral or a rock? Why? 

Rock (sedimentary) because it's organic and made of carbon-rich plants. 

400

Question 4:

How are rocks classified?

Based on how they form

500

Question 5:

What determines a mineral's crystal structure?

Atoms in a mineral are arranged in an orderly, repeating pattern. The arrangement of minerals determines all characteristics of minerals. 

Questions 6-12

100

Question 6:

List the 4 kinds of grains that make up rock.

minerals, smaller rock fragments, organic matter, or glass

200

Question 7:

How is an igneous rock formed?

When molten rock (magma or lava) cools

300

Question 8:

Compare AND contrast lava and magma 

Both are molten rock, but lava is molten rock above the surface and magma is molten rock below the surface.

400

Question 9:

How and where are coarse-grained minerals formed?

Question 10:

Coarse-grained minerals indicate what type of igenous rock?

Question 9: When magma cools below Earth's surface, it cools slower allowing more time for mineral growth.

Question 10: Intrusive 

500

Question 11:

How and where are fine-grained minerals formed?

Question 12:

Fine-grained minerals indicate what type of igneous rock?

Question 11: When lava cools above Earth's surface, it cools faster and so it does NOT allow for large mineral growth. 

Question 12: Extrusive 

Question 13-17

100

Question 13:

What processes break the rock down into sediments?

weathering and erosion

200

Question 14:

List at least 4 types of materials that make up sedimentary rock.

dirt, rocks, plants, animals remains, minerals

300

Question 15:

What 2 processes turn sediment into rock?

Compaction (layers apply pressure downward) and cementation (dissolved minerals hold the rock together)

400

Question 16:

The 2 processes listed on question 15 can be grouped together into 1 vocabulary word. What is that one word that encompasses both processes involved in the formation of sedimentary rock?

lithification

500

Question 17:

How does metamorphic rock form?

Squeezing (pressure), heat, or exposure to hot fluids

Questions 18-22

100

Question 18:

Explain how metamorphism and recrystallization are involved in the formation of metamorphic rock.

Heat and pressure cause smaller grains to combine, forming larger ones and becoming more visible.

200

Question 19:

What type of rocks show foliation?

metamorphic 

300

Question 20:

Define foliation.

The layered appearance of metamorphic rocks due to uneven pressures causing flat materials to line up and give a layered look.

400

Question 21:

What rocks can become metamorphic rocks?

igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic 

500

Question 22:

Think about your answer to question 21. Based on that and how metamorphic rocks form, what is a "parent" rock?

The rock from which another rock comes from.

Questions 23-28 (skip 24)

100

Question 23:

Based on how rocks form, which type of rock is the most common on Earth's SURFACE?

sedimentary

200

Question 25:

Define the rock cycle.

Series of processes that continually change one rock type into another

300

Question 26:

What vocabulary word refers to large amounts of rock being pushed up to the surface or to higher elevations. (It is a process driven by tectonic activity and is associated with mountain building.)

uplift

400

Question 27:

List the forces on Earth's surface that can change rocks.

weathering and erosion

500

Question 28:

When rocks are cemented together, what acts like the "glue"?

dissolved minerals when they crystallize