Essential Question: What is the composition of rocks and how are they formed? Standards: S6E5b. Investigate the contribution of minerals to rock composition. S6E5c. Classify rocks by their process of formation. S6E5d. Describe processes that change rocks and the surface of the earth.

Describe the differences in the three rocks below.

Over the next few days, we will examine rocks and how they are formed. As you noticed with the three images, rocks can look very different from each other. Over the next few days, we will examine rocks and how they are formed.

Use the Graphic Organizer to take Notes

Rocks are mixtures of minerals, rock fragments, organic matter, or other natural materials.

A Brief Introduction to Minerals [10:21] Minerals Song

How many different substances can you find in the rock below?

Let’s examine the composition of rocks in more detail.

Composition of Rocks Rocks are made up of minerals A mineral is a naturally occurring, inorganic solid with a definite chemical composition and an orderly arrangement of atoms.

Minerals can be identified by physical properties: Color and Appearance Hardness The way it reflects light (Luster) The color of a mineral in powdered form (Streak) The way a mineral breaks (Cleavage and Fracture) Other Properties

Common Objects Made of Minerals Minerals in your House How we use minerals

Sample Testing for Mineral Identification

Mineral: Naturally Occurring Formed by natural processes that occur on or inside the Earth without input from humans

What would be some of the natural processes on or inside the Earth that you have already learned about? Heat and Pressure are two processes you have learned, but there are many others we will examine as well.

Does not consist of living matter Mineral: Inorganic Does not consist of living matter

Mineral: Solid with definite chemical composition and orderly arrangement of atoms

Designing Minerals with Legos Demonstration

Mineral or Not? Activity With a partner, look at the images on the next few slides. Determine which are minerals and which are not minerals. Be able to justify your answer.

Questions to ask yourself when determining if an item is a mineral or not: Is it non-living material? Is it a solid? Is it formed in nature? Are its atoms arranged in a pattern that is repeated over and over?

Wood

Gold

Fossil

Topaz

Bones

Granite

Quartz

Pearls

Talc

Iceberg

Diamond

Coal

Rock Salt

And the answers are… Minerals Non-Minerals Gold Topaz Quartz Talc Iceberg* Diamonds Non-Minerals Wood - once living Fossils – once living Bone - living material Granite - rock Pearls – made by oysters Coal - rock Rock Salt – rock *According to IMA – ice is listed as a mineral

How is a mineral similar to and different from a cake? http://www.oum.ox.ac.uk/thezone/minerals/define/cake.htm

Mineral Web Search Activity