Rocks and Minerals
A mineral is a naturally occurring,
inorganic, solid physical substance. They
may be an element or a chemical
compound.
Rocks vs.
Minerals A rock is a naturally There are 3
formed inorganic object main types of
rocks:
composed of one or sedimentary,
more minerals found in igneous, and
the Earth’s crust. metamorphic
• Minerals have diagnostic properties that we can
use to identify an unknown mineral. These include:
• Color
Mineral • Luster
• Streak
Properties • Hardness
• Cleavage
• Fracture
• Specific Gravity
Color can be helpful in
determining what mineral you
have but it is not the
determining factor
Color
Color may indicate the chemical
composition of a mineral
Luster refers to how shiny or dull
a mineral is
Minerals that have a metallic
Luster appearance are opaque (not
transparent)
Nonmetallic minerals absorb light
and do not appear to sparkle or
be shiny
Streak refers to the color of a
mineral in its powder form
This is similar to a minerals color
Streak but differs in the way that it is
determined
Streak is found by rubbing a
mineral sample on a piece of tile
or unglaze porcelain
Hardness refers to the minerals ability
or inability to be scratched
Hardness
Hardness is quantified on the Mohs
scale on a 10-number scale
The softest (1) The hardest
is talc (10) is diamond
Mineral Groups
Minerals can be divided into subgroups based on their
chemical composition
The groups are:
Native Elements
– a single Halides – F, F2, Carbonates – Phosphates – Silicates – Si and
chemical Sulfides – S or S2 Oxides – O or O2 Sulfates – SO4 O compound
Cl, and Cl2 CO3 PO4
element
How do rocks form?
There are three types of rocks that we
classify:
Igneous Sedimentary Metamorphic
Types of
Rocks
Within these three types of rocks, we can
further break them down into smaller
categories of rocks with similar
properties.
How are all rocks
related?
Igneous rocks can be formed
from sedimentary, metamorphic,
or other igneous rocks
Igneous
Rocks Rocks that are pushed under the
Earth’s surface are melted into
magma when exposed to high
temperatures
Textures of Igneous Rocks
• Intrusive igneous rocks – magma is
cooled within the Earth over a long
period of time to form coarse-grained
textures
• Examples: Diabase, Diorite, Gabbro,
Granite, Pegmatite, Peridotite
Textures of Igneous Rocks
• Phaneritic – composed of crystals large
enough to see with the eye but smaller
than a Pegmatitic texture
Textures of Igneous Rocks
• Pegmatitic – very large crystal structure
(> 2 or 3 cm)
Pegmatite
Granite
Diorite
Gabbro
Textures of Igneous Rocks
• Extrusive igneous rocks – these occur
when magma rises to the surface due to
volcanic processes and cooled to form
grainy, extrusive rocks
• Examples: Andesite, Basalt,
Obsidian, Pumice, Rhyolite
Textures of Igneous Rocks
• Aphanitic– fine grained texture but the
crystals are too small to see
Textures of Igneous Rocks
• Porphyritic – texture composed of
crystals of two different sizes
Textures of Igneous Rocks
• Glassy – looks like glass, if any solid
crystals are present, they are visible
Textures of Igneous Rocks
• Vesicular – formed when lava solidifies
before gases are able to escape
Textures of Igneous Rocks
• Pyroclastic – composed of volcanic
fragments
Rhyolite
Andesite
Basalt
Rhyolite
Porphyry
Andesite
Porphyry
Basalt
Porphyry
Obsidian
Pumice
Vesicular
Basalt
Volcanic
Tuff
Composition of igneous rocks is determined by the
content of SiO4
Felsic - light in color, rich in Potassium (K), Sodium
(Na), and SiO4
Compositio Intermediate – between mafic and felsic
composition
n
Mafic – dark to black in color, rich in Iron (Fe),
Magnesium (Mg), and Calcium (Ca), poor in SiO4
Ultramafic – black to olive green, rich in Magnesium
(Mg) and Iron (Fe), low in Potassium (K) and SiO4
Sedimentary Rocks
Sedimentary rocks can be They are collected and
formed when rocks compacted/concreted over
exposed at the Earth’s time to create a solidified
surface experience rock. This process is called
weathering and erosion. lithification.
Grain Size
Formation of Sedimentary Rocks
• Clastic – formed from fragments of
other rocks
• Example: Breccia, Conglomerate,
Sandstone, Siltstone, and Shale
Breccia
Conglomerate
Sandstone
Siltstone
Shale
Formation of Sedimentary Rocks
• Chemical – formed from chemical
reactions that results in a precipitate
from a solution
• Example: Chert, Flint, Iron Ore,
Limestones, and Rock Salt
Chert
Flint
Iron Ore
Limestone
Rock Salt
Formation of Sedimentary Rocks
• Organic/Biological – formed from the
remains of plants or animals
• Example: Chalk, Coal, and Diatomite
Chalk
Coal
Diatomite
Metamorphic rocks are igneous or
sedimentary rocks that have
morphed into another kind of rock.
Metamorphic
Rocks High temperatures and levels of
pressure change preexisting rocks
physically and/or chemically, this
produces a different species of
rock.
Types of Metamorphism
• Contact – changes occur in a rock is in contact with magma. This change
occurs because of extreme heat.
• Forms non-foliated rocks
• Regional – changes in large quantities of rock over a wide area caused by
extreme pressure or compression from overlying rock. This buries rock
deep within the Earth’s surface and exposes the rock to high temperatures.
• Forms foliated rocks
Texture of Metamorphic Rocks
• Foliated – these types have a layered or
banded appearance that is produced by
exposed to heat and direct pressure.
• Example: Gneiss, Phyllite, Schist,
and Slate
Gneiss
Phyllite
Schist
Slate
Texture of Metamorphic Rocks
• Non-Foliated – these types do not have
a layered or banded appearance.
• Example: Hornfels, Marble,
Novaculite, Quartzite, and Skarn
Hornfels
Marble
Novaculite
Quartzite
Skarn
• In your notes there is T chart with
characteristics of rocks and minerals at the
In class activity bottom. Sort them based on if they are a
rock or mineral.
On the last page of your notes please answer the
following questions:
1. What is something you already knew about
Exit ticket rocks and/or minerals?
2. What is something you learned about rocks
and minerals?
3. What is something you still want to know
about rocks and minerals?
