FOCUS QUESTION: HOW SUCCESSFULLY HAVE WE MET OUR LEARNING GOALS FOR UNIT B Unit B: Rocks and Minerals Study Guide

Unit B Learning Goals: What makes natural resources valuable? There are many reasons that natural resources are considered valuable. Some reasons are: *cost *beauty *rarity *usefulness *abundance Different people consider different criteria more or less important

Unit B Learning Goals: How are renewable and non-renewable resources both similar and different? A renewable resource can be replenished, either through earth processes or human intervention. A non-renewable resource has a limited quantity and cannot be replaced. Over time these resources become less available.

Unit B Learning Goals: What are the properties of minerals? Minerals are crystals that form naturally in the earth. Minerals have characteristic properties such as: color, hardness and crystalline shape.

Unit B Learning Goals: How do geologists identify different minerals? Geologists often compare mineral samples using a minerals physical properties. Some properties used to identify minerals are: color, transparency, luster, crystal shape, size, and hardness (Moh’s hardness scale). Some properties are more useful than others in identifying minerals.

Unit B Learning Goals: What is the composition of rocks? Rocks are made up of one or more types of minerals.

Unit B Learning Goals: How do we design investigations to test and identify minerals? Geologists can gather data through observations of a minerals properties and compare and contrast the unknown mineral’s properties to that of known minerals. Geologists use scientific practices such as: purpose, reproducible procedures, data collection, and drawing conclusions.

Unit B Learning Goals: How are rocks both similar and different from minerals? Rocks and minerals are both solids that are naturally occurring substances. Rocks can contain organic material but minerals are inorganic with a specific chemical composition and crystalline structure. Minerals give rocks their distinctive appearance.

Unit B Learning Goals: How can rocks be used to find minerals? Some minerals are found within specific rocks. Examples: Kimberlite-diamonds Basalt-native copper

Unit B Learning Goals: How are sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic rocks formed? (rock cycle) Sedimentary rocks form when sediments build up over time forming layers that harden and press together. Sedimentary rocks often contain fossils. Igneous rocks form when molten rock or magma cools and hardens either below or on the surface of the earth. Metamorphic rock is formed when other types of rocks change due to the earth’s heat and pressure.

Unit B Learning Goals: What are the characteristics of sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic rocks? Sedimentary rocks: layering, softness, crumbliness, weight, and presence of fossils Igneous rocks: size of crystals, smooth glassy appearance, dark color Metamorphic rocks: small crystals, banding, different colors, pressed appearance

Unit B Learning Goals: How do the position of rock layers determine a rock’s age? Some layers of rock are formed by the deposition of sediments and the lower layers are usually older than the upper layers which are usually younger.

Unit B Learning Goals: How do mined diamonds compare to manufactured diamonds? Mined diamonds: mined from igneous rock, non- renewable, takes millions/billions of years to form, lots of equipment which can destroy the environment and more expensive Manufactured diamonds: renewable, forms in a few days, electrical energy and less expensive Similarities: a variety of colors, transparent, brilliant, octahedron, carbon atoms and hardness of 10

Vocabulary: Natural resource: any naturally occurring substance that is useful Renewable resource: materials such as water, plants, or animals that are naturally replenished by natural resources. Non-renewable resource: material that cannot be replaced easily by natural systems such as: oil, coal, natural gas, and many minerals Crystal shape: the shape of a crystal sample of a mineral. Also known as crystal habit by mineralologists (octahedron, tetrahedron, cube, rhombohedron) Luster: the shininess of a mineral ( brilliant, glassy, dull) Mineral: a naturally occurring material that has a specific chemical composition, crystal form, and characteristic properties. Property: a characteristic or substance of a material such as color, hardness… Transparency: the amount of light that passes through an object

Vocabulary: Fluorite: an abundant mineral whose chemical formula is calcium fluoride and is an important source of fluorine Diamond: the hardest mineral and is composed of entirely carbon atoms. Acrylic: a word used to describe plastic polymers that are manufactured and can be formed into many shapes. Glass: a non-crystalline amorphous solid that is usually colorless and transparent made up of mostly silicon dioxide. Crystalline Structure: specific set of atoms arranged in a repeating pattern Geologist: scientists who study the surface, interior, and history of the earth. Rock: naturally formed solid made up of one or more types of minerals

Vocabulary: Igneous: a rock that forms from cooling magma Metamorphic: a rock that has changed due to heat and pressure Magma: molten rock found in the mantle below the earth’s crust Sedimentary: a rock made of sediments that have been cemented together Rock cycle: formation of rock types that are continually changing due to Earth’s processes Model: a representation of an idea or system and it’s parts Sediment: weathered material such as shells, rocks, and minerals Geologic Time: changes in the Earth’s surface that have happened throughout the earth’s history Mined: comes from the earth Manufactured: man-made or synthetic