1. Rocks: How to identify them

2. Classifying Rocks When we look at rocks we use the following things to help us classify them Mineral Composition Color Texture

3. Composition Composition refers to what minerals are in the rock. These are referred to as “grains.” If rocks were cookies and candies, the minerals or grains would be the ingredients.

4. Color Color on its own is not enough to help us identify a rock, but it can help us tell what minerals the grains are.

5. Texture Texture is the look and feel of the rock. Geologist use grain size, shape and pattern to help them distinguish one type of rock from another.

6. Grain Size Grain size come in fine, coarse, and non- visible. Fine grain Coarse grain Non-visible

7. Grain Shape Grain shape comes in either Rounded or Jagged. rounded Jagged

8. Grain Pattern The grains of minerals in rocks can form patterns. They can have straight lines, bends swirls or just a random pattern. The two main types are Banded and Non- banded. Random pattern Banded