Earth MaterialsEarth MaterialsSGI Lesson 4

By: Mrs. Bochert 2011

Word WallWord Wall

Hardness: mineral property that refers to the resistance of a mineral to being scratched.

Mineral: basic earth materials that make up rocks and cannot be physically broken down further.

Rock: earth material made of two or more minerals

ScenarioScenario

The geologist was very pleased with the way you conducted the tests and identified the 7 minerals.

He also collects rocks and believes some of the ingredients that make up the rocks looked like the minerals we identified.

He thinks some of the rocks are made up of more than three minerals but is not sure. He knows about our previous investigations so far and he is making an exhibit at North Carolina State University on rocks and minerals.

He would like us to prepare a report of the minerals found in the rocks and how the rocks formed for the exhibit.”

What is the problem here?

Focus Question:Focus Question:

Question: How can we determine which minerals make up the rocks and how they formed?

Geologists know that minerals are made up of only one type of ingredient.

What are rocks made of?

Are made up of MINERALS!

Rocks

PredictionPrediction

I think that if we …

Class Prediction:Class Prediction:

I think we should first observe the rocks, then scratch them to test for hardness, see if they are magnetic, and see if they fizzle in vinegar. The results could help us find out if they have calcite, quartz, hornblende or any of the other minerals, because we know geologists have to do several test to identify a mineral.

How Will You Record Your How Will You Record Your Findings/Data?Findings/Data?

The collection consists of 5 rocks. How will you organize your data and test

each rock?What observations will you record?” color, shape, texture, weight,

grain size

IDENTIFYING ROCK PROPERTIESIDENTIFYING ROCK PROPERTIESROCK OBSERVATIONS MAGNET

TESTStreak Test

HARDNESS TEST

VINEGAR TEST

1

2

3

4

5

Record your observations

first!

Predicting which rocks will have Predicting which rocks will have calcitecalcite

What did you learn today about the differences in rocks? Discuss and record it in your notebooks. Predict which rocks will have calcite and record it in your charts.

Streak TestStreak Test

Next, you will test the rocks to identify the minerals they have.

You will do the vinegar test last, so you are able to check on any scratch mark as well as the streak color.

Use the notes on the characteristics of the minerals from the previous investigation to help you identify them.

IDENTIFYING ROCK PROPERTIESIDENTIFYING ROCK PROPERTIESROCK OBSERV-

ATIONSMAGNET

TESTStreak Test

HARDNESS TEST

VINEGAR TEST

1 basalt

2. Limestone

3. granite

4. sandstone

5. marble

Let’s Read!Let’s Read!

Read about rocks, where they come from, and how they form in Written in Stone on pages 1-7.

After Reading DiscussionAfter Reading Discussion

1. In what way is Aunt Rita’s job for the US Geological Survey similar to what we did with the rocks and minerals?

She records the height, width and length

of rock formations, and observes and describes rocks according to color, texture and shape.

2. According to the reading what formed Ship Rock Mountain in New Mexico? How is this similar to Devil’s Tower?

From cooled volcanic magma and both

originated from a volcano.

More After Reading DiscussionMore After Reading Discussion3. What is common about Sugar Loaf

Mountain in Brazil and Half Dome in California?

They are similar in their shape and they are made of granite.

4. Ayers rock in Australia is filled with caves and interesting shapes, how is this possible?

This is possible because Ayers rock is made of sandstone which is a soft kind of rock.

Rock CycleRock Cycle

http://www.mineralogy4kids.org/

Let’s Read!Let’s Read!

Read pgs. 12-13 in Mining for Minerals and complete the chart in your science notebook.

Use these words to fill in chart:

sandstone, granite, volcanoes, sedimentary, fossils, basalt, hornblende, mica, feldspar, quartz

Discuss these questions with your Discuss these questions with your table. Do not write anything down table. Do not write anything down at this time.)at this time.)

How does the data help explain that rocks are made up of minerals?

What claim can you make about how to mine for minerals?

Here are some claims. Can you write Here are some claims. Can you write the evidences?the evidences?

Claims Evidence

Ex.) I claim that…I know that…

Ex.) I claim this because…I know this because…

1. I claim that granite is made up of more than one mineral .

2. I claim that Gypsum is a soft mineral.

3. Limestone and Marble contain calcite.

Now write some claims and evidence of your own!

Here are some claims. Can you write Here are some claims. Can you write the evidences?the evidences?

Claims Evidence

Ex.) I claim that…I know that…

Ex.) I claim this because…I know this because…

1. I claim that granite is made up of more than one mineral .

I claim this because we observed mica with the hand lenses, and the hornblende with the magnet, it had the hardness and color for feldspar.

2. I claim that Gypsum is a soft mineral.

I claim this because when we tested it for hardness the fingernail left a scratch mark.

3. Limestone and Marble contain calcite.

I claim this because when we tested each of them with vinegar they fizzed and made bubbles. They also left a white residue in the liquid.

Now write some claims and evidence of your own!

ConclusionConclusion

1. Change your focus question into a declarative sentence.

Instead of : How can we determine which minerals make up the rocks and how they formed?

Take out the word “how” and it will begin like: We can determine which minerals make up the

rocks and how they formed by…

2. Next, state if your prediction was correct or incorrect and why.

Next Questions:Next Questions:

This is where you think about the questions you still have after today’s lesson.

What if…?What about…?I wonder… ?I want to know more about…?A new question I have now is… ?

Make a tri-fold flipbookMake a tri-fold flipbook

Assessment RubricAssessment Rubric

Click on the link to take you to the rubric. You will have to scroll down to pg. 11.

How thorough were you with your science journal?