Earth Materials Study Guide

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. Rocks have many properties, including shape, size, color, and texture.

. Geologists use rock properties to help identify different rocks.

. We learned about two different tests that a Geologist can perform to help identify/categorize rocks and minerals. Describe these two tests.

o Scratch Test, Acid Test

. Minerals also have properties such as:

o Texture (slippery, rough) o Streak (white, gray, reddish brown) o Hardness (scratched by a penny, scratched by a nail) o Light (no light shines through, light shines through) o Luster (waxy, metallic, pearly) o Shape (cube, no special shape)

. We can measure a rock’s circumference, diameter, and depth.

o Circumference: the distance around a circular item. o Diameter: the distance across. o Depth: how thick an object is.

. Rocks are made of minerals. Minerals are made of only one ingredient. Minerals are pure.

. Some ingredients can be identified by breaking rocks apart.

. Water can be used to separate ingredients. Some break into smaller pieces, and some dissolve.

. Evaporation is a way to separate liquid and solid ingredients.

. Mineral crystals can be identified by their shape.

. A mineral is a basic material of the earth. . A mineral can not be broken into other ingredients.

. It is usually necessary to know several properties of a mineral to identify it.

. Hardness is a mineral property.

. We used a paperclip, penny, and fingernail to test the hardness of minerals.

. A hand lens helped us see if the mineral was scratched.

. Calcite is one of the most common minerals on Earth.

. Rocks with calcite will bubble from vinegar, acid rain, and weak acid.

. Calcite is the only mineral that will bubble when mixed with weak acid.

. The Rock Cycle:

o Metamorphic-heat and pressure o Sedimentary-erosion and weather o Igneous-red, hot magma

Explain how one type of rock can change into another type of rock.

Words We’ve Learned So Far:

geology geologist hand lens property circumference diameter depth meter tape hand lens rock evaporation mineral ingredients dissolve crystal fluorite gypsum quartz calcite acid basalt limestone marble sandstone hardness weak acid test igneous metamorphic sediment sedimentary circumference magma fossil rock cycle erosion