1. LEQ: What characteristics do geologists observe to classify, group, and identify rocks?
Key Terms: rock, petrology, color, texture, grain, coarse grain, fine grain, rounded, angular, spherical, igneous rock, sedimentary rock, metamorphic rock

2. Rocks Stop : Please turn to page 45 in your textbook.
Rocks are not minerals because they do not have all of the characteristics of a mineral.
Rocks are mixtures made of
Minerals
Other materials (pieces of other rocks or organic material).
Geologists collect and study samples of rock in order to classify and group them.
Stop :
Complete Classifying Rocks Power Point Notes Page 1 Part A
(Before Continuing)

3. Petrology
Petrology is the study of the:
Origin (how did the rock form) of the rock.
Genesis (after forming how did the rock change through time) of the rock.
Petrology is done through the:
Description of the rock.
Analysis of the rock.
Classification of the rock.
Where they occur.
Theories of their origin.
Stop :
Complete Classifying Rocks Power Point notes page 1 Part B
Before Continuing

4. Studying The Characteristics of Rock
When studying a rock sample, geologists observe the 3 characteristics of the rock.
Color
Texture
Mineral Composition
Using these characteristics, geologists can classify a rock according to:
The rock’s origin (where it formed)
And how the rock formed.
Stop :
Complete Classifying Rocks Power Point Notes page 1 Part C
Before Continuing

5. Stop
Pick up a copy of the “Classifying Rocks Power Point Worksheet 1” before continuing.

6. 1. Color
The overall color observed when the rock is observed visually.
e.g. red-brown, grey-black, brown, grey, yellow-brown, grey-blue, etc.
Not only is the color of the rock observed, but also the shade of the color.
Dark shaded
Light shaded

8. Rock Color Activity
You will use Classifying Rocks Power Point Worksheet 1 part A for this activity.
On the following slide, link to the picture of each rock sample.
After linking to the photo, use the color chart on the previous slide. Try your best to determine the color and the number for each of the rocks observed.
Complete the chart on part A of your worksheet.

9. Complete Classifying Rocks Power Point Worksheet 1 Part A
Rock Color Activity Rock Samples (click on the sample to link to the picture).
Rock Sample 1
Rock Sample 2
Rock Sample 3
Rock Sample 4
Rock Sample 5
Stop :
Complete Classifying Rocks Power Point Worksheet 1 Part A
Before Continuing

10. Stop
Pick up a copy of the “Classifying Rocks Power Point Notes Page 2” before continuing.

11. Complete Classifying Rocks Power Point Notes Page 2 Part A
2. Texture
Open your textbook to page 46.
The look and feel of the rock’s surface.
Very useful in identifying the rock.
The texture of the rock is determined by the grains that make up the rock.
A grain is a particle of mineral or other rock.
Geologists use a number of terms based on the rock’s grains to describe the texture of the rock.
Stop :
Complete Classifying Rocks Power Point Notes Page 2 Part A
Before Continuing

12. Descriptive Grain Terms
Grain Size
What size are the grains?
Grain Shape
Do the grains have a distinct shape?
Grain Pattern
Are the grains aligned in some kind of pattern?
No visible grain
Can any grains be seen?
Stop :
Complete Classifying Rocks Power Point Notes Page 2 Part B
Before Continuing

13. Complete Classifying Rocks Power Point Notes Page 2 Part C
Grain Size
Coarse grained
Grains are large and easy to see.
Fine grained
Grains are small and can only be seen using a magnifying glass or microscope.
No Visable Grain
Grains cannot be seen even with a microscope of hand lens.
Stop :
Complete Classifying Rocks Power Point Notes Page 2 Part C
Before Continuing

14. Grain Size Wheel Chart Ex: #3 through 7: Coarse Grain Ex: #8 through 10: Fine Grain

15. Rock Grain Size Activity
You will use Classifying Rocks Power Point Worksheet 1 part B for this activity.
On the following slide, link to the picture of each rock sample.
After linking to the photo, use the grain size wheel chart on the previous slide. Try your best to determine the grain size (coarse, fine, or no visible grain) and the wheel number (if applicable) for each of the rocks observed.
Complete the chart on part B of your worksheet.

16. Complete Classifying Rocks Power Point Worksheet 1 Part B
Rock Grain Size Activity Rock Samples (click on the sample to link to the picture).
Rock Sample 1
Rock Sample 2
Rock Sample 3
Rock Sample 4
Rock Sample 5
Stop :
Complete Classifying Rocks Power Point Worksheet 1 Part B
Before Continuing

17. Complete Classifying Rocks Power Point Notes Page 2 Part D
Grain Shape
Grains vary in shape.
Shape of the mineral crystals that make up the rock.
Shape of the fragments of other rocks.
Rounded grain
Jagged (angular) grain
Stop :
Complete Classifying Rocks Power Point Notes Page 2 Part D
Before Continuing

19. Rock Grain Shape Activity
You will use Classifying Rocks Power Point Worksheet 1 part C for this activity.
On the following slide, link to the picture of each rock sample.
After linking to the photo, use the grain shape chart on the previous slide. Try your best to determine the grain shape and how spherical the grain is for each of the rocks observed.
Complete the chart on part C of your worksheet.

20. Complete Classifying Rocks Power Point Worksheet 1 Part C
Rock Grain Shape Activity Rock Samples (click on the sample to link to the picture).
Rock Sample 1
Rock Sample 2
Rock Sample 3
Rock Sample 4
Rock Sample 5
Stop :
Complete Classifying Rocks Power Point Worksheet 1 Part C
Before Continuing

21. Complete Classifying Rocks Power Point Notes Page 2 Part E
Grain Pattern
The grains in a rock often form patterns.
Flat layers (like stacks of pancakes)
Wavy swirling patterns
Banded rows of different colors
In petrology, a rock whose grains form a layering or banded pattern are known as foliated.
In contrast, some have no pattern at all and the grains occur randomly throughout the rock.
In petrology, a rock whose grains form no pattern are nonbanded and are known as non foliated.
Stop :
Complete Classifying Rocks Power Point Notes Page 2 Part E
Before Continuing

22. Rock Grain Pattern Activity
You will use Classifying Rocks Power Point Worksheet 1 part D for this activity.
On the following slide, link to the picture of each rock sample.
After linking to the photo, look to see if the grains form a pattern.
Complete the chart on part D of your worksheet.

23. Complete Classifying Rocks Power Point Worksheet 1 Part D
Rock Grain Pattern Activity Rock Samples (click on the sample to link to the picture).
Rock Sample 1
Rock Sample 2
Rock Sample 3
Rock Sample 4
Rock Sample 5
Stop :
Complete Classifying Rocks Power Point Worksheet 1 Part D
Before Continuing

24. No Visible Grains
Cannot see any grains even with the use of a magnifying glass or microscope.

25. 3. Mineral Composition
Geologists identify the minerals that make the rock.
Often done with using a small slice of the rock and viewing the slice under a microscope.
Geologists also use some of the tests that are used to identify minerals.