Essential Question:What is the
composition of rocks and how are
they formed?Standards:S6E5b. Investigate the contribution of
minerals to rock composition.
S6E5c. Classify rocks by their process of formation.
S6E5d. Describe processes that change rocks and the surface of the earth.
As you noticed with the three images, rocks can look very different from
each other.
Over the next few days, we will examine rocks
and how they are formed.
Rocks are made up of minerals
A mineral is a naturally occurring, inorganic solid with a definite chemical composition and an orderly arrangement of atoms.
Composition of Rocks
Mineral: Naturally Occurring
Formed by natural processes that occur
on or inside the Earth without input
from humans
What would be some of the natural processes on or inside the Earth that
you have already learned about?
Heat and Pressure are two processes you have learned, but there are many others we will
examine as well.
Look at the images on the next few slides. Determine which are
minerals and which are not minerals. Be able to justify your
answer.
Mineral or Not? Activity
Is it non-living material?Is it a solid?Is it formed in nature?Are its atoms arranged in a pattern that is repeated over and over?
Questions to ask yourself when determining if an item is a mineral or not:
And the answers are…Minerals
Gold Topaz Quartz Talc Iceberg* Diamond
s
Non-Minerals
Wood - once living Fossils – once living Bone - living
material Granite - rock Pearls – made by
oysters Coal - rock Rock Salt – rock
*According to IMA – ice is listed as a mineral
Common Objects Made
of Minerals
Minerals in your House
How we use minerals