1. Rock Test Review

2. What is a mineral and how do we
identify them?
• A mineral is a naturally formed,
inorganic solid that has a definite
crystal structure and chemical
composition.
• Minerals are identified using their
properties – hardness, luster, color,
specific gravity, streak, crystal
structure, and cleavage/fracture

3. What is reclamation? List 3 ways
to reduce the impact of mining.
• Reclamation is reclaiming or restoring
the land to the way is was or better
than it was before it was mined.
• Reclaim, reuse/reduce, and recycle

4. What is a rock and how are they
classified?
• Naturally occurring solid formed from
one or more minerals
• They are classified on how and where
they formed

5. Describe three ways humans can
use rock and minerals.
• Many different answers
– Examples – roads, construction, make-
up, buildings, toothpaste, furniture, etc.

6. What are the two most abundant
rocks in the earth’s crust?
• Granite and Basalt

7. Describe how igneous, sedimentary,
and metamorphic rocks form and give
examples of each.
• Igneous rock – form from molten rock that has
cooled and hardened. Examples –
granite, basalt, and obsiadan
• Sedimentary rock – forms from
weathering, erosion, deposition, compaction, and
cementation of sediments. Examples –
sandstone, conglomerate, and coal
• Metamorphic rock – forms from heat, pressure
and chemical reactions. Examples –
marble, slate, and Quartzite

8. Explain the Rock Cycle.
• It is a continues process in which rocks
are changing from one type of rock to
another

9. What is the difference between
intrusive and extrusive igneous
rocks?
• Intrusive – cools slowly deep inside the
earth (magma) – large crystals
• Extrusive – cools quickly at or near the
surface of the earth (lava) – small
crystals

10. What is the most abundant
intrusive igneous rock and
common uses?
• Granite
• Uses – roads, construction, and buildings

11. How are sediments formed?
• Weathering and breaking down of rock
into small fragments or pieces

12. List the three types of
sedimentary rocks and give
examples of each.
• Clastic – sandstone and conglomerate
• Organic – coal, and chalk
• Chemical - Halite

13. Where are metamorphic rocks
formed?
• They are formed deep within the
earth’s crust.

14. What process do rocks undergo
to become metamorphic rocks?
• They undergo heat and pressure

15. How do geologists classify
metamorphic rocks?
• They are classified as foliated (banded
or layered) or nonfoliated (not banded
or layered)

16. What is the difference between
foliated and nonfoliated?
• Foliated – banded or layered
• Nonfoliated – not banded or layered

17. What is the difference between
weathering and erosion?
• Weathering – breaking down of rock
into sediments
• Erosion – movement of sediments from
one location to another

18. What is deposition?
• The laying down of sediments

19. What type of rock formation is
Stone Mountain?
• Intrusive igneous rock

20. What is an ore?
• Large deposit of an economically
valuable mineral can be mined for profit.