Rock Identification
Name a physical property of rocks.
Possible answers: color, texture, observations from photos.
This is a V-shaped valley with steep sides eroded by a stream.
Canyon
A scientist who studies Earth.
Geologist
In which direction is the Colorado River flowing?
West
Name a chemical property of rocks.
Acid test.
A piece of land surrounded by water.
Island
A natural feature of Earth's surface with a characteristic shape.
Landform
Suppose you were in a boat on the river at Mile 20 and you could drill down into the rock under the river. What rock layer would you expect to find?
Redwall limestone, then Muav limestone
This rock was tan or redish in color, has a rough texture, and did not fizz in acid.
Sandstone
Delta
CaCO3
Calcite
Suppose you stopped at Mile 36 along the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon. Which rock layer would you expect to see at river level?
Redwall limestone
This rock fizzed in acid. Its contains the mineral calcite.
Limestone
A curve or loop in a river or stream.
Meander
The process of matching up rock layers from different locations.
Correlation
Suppose you were at Mile 7. What rock would you expect to see at river level?
Any rock above Supai Sandstone.
This was the only rock we observed with a fossil in it.
Shale
Describe a plateau.
A nearly level uplifted area composed of horizontal layers of rock.
Write the chemical equation for the chemical reaction seen when calcite fizzes in acid.
2 HCl + CaCO3 -> CO2 + H2O + CaCl2
In a million years, what rock might be visible at Mile 20?
Redwall or Muav limestone, due to the river cutting through rock layers