Schools Science Clips - Rocks and soils

The rock cycle The Earth is an active planet. Earthquakes shake and volcanoes erupt. Sections of the crust are on the move. Mountains push up and wear down. These and many other processes contribute to the rock cycle, which makes and changes rocks on or below the Earth’s surface. The Earth is 4.6 billion years old, but you won’t find rocks that old because they have been recycled into younger rocks. Rocks are made of minerals, which are made of specific chemical elements. There are three main types of rock – igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic. Igneous rocks Magma is a hot mix of melted minerals, and igneous rocks are formed when it cools. Sedimentary rocks On the surface of the Earth, the processes of weathering and erosion can break down any rock into small pieces called sediments. Not all sedimentary rocks are made from broken pieces of other rocks. Metamorphic rocks The Earth’s crust is constantly, but slowly, on the move. Interacting cycles

Rock and Mineral Prospecting Primitive Technology and Native Arts Continued from Page 1 Rock and Mineral Prospecting Any long-term survival training should include techniques for mining and collecting ores and other useful minerals. A mineral is composed of either a single element (like gold) or compound of elements (like sodium chlorine - aka table salt). As a rule, minerals have a solid, crystalline form. Rocks are created initially by magma (below the surface) or lava flowing above the surface of the earth. Igneous - born directly from volcanic output, like granite and basalt Metamorphic - existing rocks that were reshaped after extreme pressure and heat, like slate Sedimentary - rocks composed of layers of clays, silts, fossils and other sediments eroded and washed away from mountains, like limestone and shale Minerals large enough to be visible to the naked eye were produced (in most cases)from magma that solidified below the Earth's surface. Rock Charts, Photos and Identification Sulfur Mineral Identification

Rock Cycle The Rock Cycle Written for the KidsKnowIt Network by: Brandon Guymon There are three main types of rocks: igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic. Each of these types of rocks are formed in different ways and each type of rock can be changed into each of the other types of rock. Geologists call this process the Rock Cycle. Essentially the rock cycle is the process that makes and recycles rocks. Most rocks on earth began as igneous rocks. Roll your mouse over the image to highlight the parts of the rock cycle. Our igneous rock has turned into a sedimentary rock. Metamorphic rocks can also be weathered and eroded and eventually changed into sedimentary rocks. An example of metamorphic rock. So let's take the process from the beginning, and find out how it works. When the plates crash into each other, geologists call this type of plate boundary a convergent boundary. In short, the rock cycle is the name for the processes that forms and recycles the different types or rocks on our planet.

Common Misconceptions About Rocks and Minerals — Rocks and Minerals Although the research base for geologic misconceptions is not as extensive as that of other disciplines within earth and space science, it is clear that students and teachers alike hold a wide range of incorrect ideas about rocks, minerals, and the rock cycle. To promote accurate scientific instruction, it is important that teachers are cognizant of their own understanding and seek to continually improve their content knowledge. Formative assessment can provide a great deal of insight into student thinking before, during, and after instruction. Geologic Misconceptions Geologic misconceptions can take many forms – the language used to define and describe specimens, relevant properties for classification, the rock cycle, and geologic time. Communication Breakdown A major source of geologic misconceptions is the discrepancy between the use of geologic terms in everyday language versus scientific communication. Other words, such as mineral and crystal, are also misused in everyday language.

Collecting Rocks by Rachel M. Barker Rocks Tell the Story of the Earth The Earth is made of rock, from the tallest mountains to the floor of the deepest ocean. Thousands of different types of rocks and minerals have been found on Earth. Rocks are continually changing. Types of Rocks Geologists classify rocks in three groups, according to the major Earth processes that formed them. Igneous rocks are formed from melted rock that has cooled and solidified. Sedimentary rocks are formed at the surface of the Earth, either in water or on land. Sometimes sedimentary and igneous rocks are subjected to pressures so intense or heat so high that they are completely changed. Rock-forming and rock-destroying processes have been active for billions of years. Starting a Collection A good rock collection consists of selected, representative, properly labeled specimens. Identifying Rocks Many books about geology explain the identification and classification of rocks and describe the underlying geologic principles.

Mineral Properties, Uses and Descriptions Diamond Diopside Dolomite Enstatite Epidote Fluorite Fuchsite Galena Garnet Glauconite Gold Graphite Gypsum