Rocks and Minerals

What is a rock?

• A rock is a hard, solid substance that forms parts of the Earth’s crust or top layer.

Rocks can be broken down into smaller pieces.

• Rocks are made up of dirt, minerals, and sand.

• Minerals cannot be broken down.

• However, some minerals are so small, they look like dust. When you add them to water, and the water evaporates (disappears), so does the mineral!

What is a mineral?

• A mineral is solid substance that is not living (inorganic), has a chemical composition (it had to have a chemical process such as heat to form), and a crystalline form (it is shiny, and looks like a crystal).

What chemical process do minerals go through?

• Minerals are chemically changed by the heat and pressure inside the Earth.

• The Earth is made up of layers, and the deeper you go into the Earth, the hotter it is, and the more pressure.

If a mineral has to look like a crystal, what is a crystal?

• A crystal is a solid shape that has specific patterns. There are 7 basic crystal patterns.

Where are minerals found?

• In rocks!

Wow, I really like learning about the Earth! If I want to study the Earth what would I be studying?

• Geology• The people that study the Earth, andits materials arecalled geologists.

Geologists use many tools to dig, and investigate rocks, and minerals.

• Picks

• Measuring Tape

• Brushes

• Hand Lens

What do they measure?

• Geologists measure how big around a rock is, or the distance around a circular object. That is called the circumference of the rock.

What do they measure?

• Geologists measure how wide a rock is, or the distance across a circular object. That is called the diameter of the rock.

What do they measure?

• Geologists measure how thick a rock is from top to bottom. That is called the depth of the rock.

• You might think of this one, as you think of the thickness of a book.

How do geologists know what kind of rock, or mineral they have found?

• They measure the rocks, and put them into groups by their properties.

• Properties are things you can see, or observe. Examples are the size, color, shape, and texture.

Next time you look at a rock, see if you can also find

the minerals inside it!