1. Rocks and Minerals 6th Grade Science
Chapter 9
Rocks and Minerals
6th Grade Science

2. Minerals
___________ - a natural, non-living solid with a definite chemical structure.
Earth’s crust contains more than _________ minerals – only two dozen are common.
Examples: diamond, quartz, emerald copper
Minerals are made up of ______.
Particles of _______ are arranged in a particular repeating pattern.
Mineral
4,000 kinds
crystals
crystals

3. Crystals _______ form when minerals are made in nature
Each type of mineral has its own unique chemical __________.
Differences in minerals result from the way that particles are arranged.
Brass – Copper + Zinc –____________because it does not occur naturally
Mineral
structure
Not a mineral

4. Identifying Minerals _________ ____________ __________ ___________
hardness
Streak color
Shape of crystals
cleavage
Luster

5. Identifying Minerals Minerals are identified by their ____________
_______________ - a scale to measure hardness of a mineral
The range of the harness scale is from 1 (_______) to 10 (______)
Talc has a harness of __ / diamond is a _____
________ - refers to how difficult it is to scratch its surface
characteristics
Moh’s hardness scale
Softest
Hardest 1 10
hardness

6. Other Mineral Characteristics
_______ - a mineral may have different crystals depending on the kinds of materials that make up its ______.
The color of a mineral can be seen in its ______.
A mineral can also be identified by the ______ of its crystals.
_______ - minerals show particular patterns when they are broken along flat planes.
Color
crystals
streak
shape
Cleavage

7. Luster ______ - the appearance of a mineral in reflected light.
A mineral may appear:
__________
Luster
Metallic
Nonmetallic
Greasy
Glassy
Waxy

8. Value of Minerals
Some minerals are ____ which makes them very valuable
Some minerals are valuable because they are ______________ - scientists have tried to find ways to reuse minerals or replace them with less expensive materials.
Aluminum and tin can be ________
Synthetic forms of gemstones = cubic zirconia
rare
Natural Resources
recycled

9. Assessment
Page 249 questions 1 and 2

10. Rocks
_____ - a solid, natural material made up of one or more minerals
___________ - as time passes, rock break down, and the minerals in them are recycled – pattern of change
The rock cycle takes place over ________ of years.
There are three types of rocks: __________, __________, and __________
rock
Rock cycle
millions
sedimentary
igneous
metamorphic

11. Sedimentary Rock
______________ - made from pieces of rocks and minerals
Sedimentary rock forms in ________ - the oldest rock at the bottom and the newest rock on top.
Sedimentary rock is like a “_________” - past events captured in each layer.
_____ - remains of once living animals or plants
Sedimentary rock
layers
History book
fossils

12. Sedimentary Rock Continued
Fossils are ONLY found in _____________
Example of sedimentary rock = ________
Limestone is made from _________________
or from dissolved __________ that settle out of seawater.
Sedimentary rock
limestone
Shells of tiny sea animals
minerals

13. Igneous Rock
__________ - forms from magma – molten rock inside of the earth that cools and hardens
Some igneous rock forms ______________ and is only exposed after rocks above have worn away
Other igneous rocks form when _____ cools at the Earth’s surface
When lava cools fast - _______________
When lava cools slowly - _______________
Igneous rock
Below Earth’s surface
lava
Fine-ground rocks form
Coarse-grained rock

14. Metamorphic Rock
_____________ - forms when heat, pressure, or chemical reactions change one type of rock into another type of rock.
Metamorphic rock is made from ___________ or _________.
Example: ______ is a metamorphic rock made from________ (sedimentary rock)
Metamorphic rock
Sedimentary rock
Igneous rock
marble
limestone

15. Compare and Contrast
How are the three types of rocks similar and different?

16. Clues to the Past
Scientists can tell a great deal about Earth’s history by looking at _____.
______________ - scientists look at the layers of sedimentary rock and learn about the relative age of each layer and the minerals found in it.
Relative dating allows scientists to place past events in ____________
rocks
Relative dating
Sequential order

17. Fossils
________ - can form when an organisms is buried in soft mud or when parts of the organisms do not rot away.
Burrows and footprints can also be fossilized
Many fossils were made by animals that are now _____ - helps scientists determine the rocks age.
__________ - a fossil of marine animals known as corals
fossils
extinct
Peoskey Stone

18. Assessment How can rocks help scientists learn about the past?
What are trilobites and when were they on Earth?

19. Soil
____ - made of weathered rock, air, water, and the remains of living things.
__________ - process of breaking down rocks through physical factors such as _____, _________, _______ or__________________.
________ = non-living parts of the soil
As rock breaks down small pieces collect on the surface
soil
weathering
frost
drought
rainwater
Changes in temperature
inorganic

20. Soil Formation
_______ and _______ are plants that help break down rock.
When rocks are broken down _______are released
___________ - dead or decaying matter such as bacteria, fungi, animals and plants.
______ dark colored organic matter formed from decayed plant and animal remains- _______________________
mosses
lichens
minerals
Organic matter
humus
Rich in nutrients needed by plants

21. Layers of Soil Soils form in _____ layers
_________- a vertical cross section of the soil and rock underneath
________ - first layer of soil, mixture of small rock pieces, humus, and other organic matter
Most living things are found in the _______
Loose _____________ often covers the topsoil
Rainwater carries minerals from the topsoil to the 2nd layer of soil.
three
Soil profile
topsoil
topsoil
Organic matter

22. Subsoil / Parent Rock Layers
_______ - less organic matter than topsoil, lighter in color.
_________ penetrate the subsoil through rainwater and accumulate
_________ - third layer, very little organic matter found in this layer
subsoil
mineral
Parent rock

23. Kinds of Soils
________ - fine grained and hold water – these soils can become waterlogged
_________ - medium sized grains – better drainage than clay soils
__________ - large-grained, do not retain water
Most soils are a mixture
______ - silt and sand in roughly _____ parts
Clay soils
Silt soils
Sandy soils
loam
equal

24. Factors That Affect Soil
________ - most important factor that determines the type of soil that is formed
Climate affects _________ - increased rainfall, warm temperatures, frost-thaw etc.
__________ - minerals in the rocks affect the characteristics of the soil – example: reddish colored soil indicates iron-rich minerals
__________ - mix the soil and breakdown organic matter
climate
weathering
Kinds of rock
earthworms

25. Soils Continued
Soil color is affected by the amount of __________ in the soil.
Soils with more organic matter are ______
___________ - affects soil formation because of slope and erosion
Mountains have thin layers of ______
Land that is flat has a _________ of topsoil because of minimal erosion
Organic matter
darker
Shape of land
topsoil
Thick layer

26. Assessment
Write an advertisement for an ideal soil for growing plants.