Identification of Rocks and Minerals

Material that forms the essential part of the Earth’s solid crust

Rock

What are the three types of rock?

Igneous

Metamorphic

Sedimentary

Naturally occurring inorganic substances with definite and predictable chemical composition and physical properties

Mineral

Igneous is Latin for ____

Fire

How are igneous rocks formed?

They are formed from the cooling and solidification of magma

Examples of extrusive igneous rocks

Basalt

Rhyolite

Obsidian

Examples of intrusive igneous rocks

Granite

Diorite

Gabbro

How are sedimentary rocks formed?

Formed from materials deposited from suspension or precipitated from solution and usually consolidated

Examples of sedimentary rocks

Sandstones

Shale

Limestone

Conglomerates

Sedimentary rocks cover approximately ____ of Earth’s land surface

75%

How are metamorphic rocks formed?

Greatly altered from previous conditions due to pressure and heat

What do igneous rocks turn into under intense heat and pressure?

Schist or Gneiss

What does limestone turn into under immense heat and pressure?

Marble

What does shale turn into under immense heat and pressure?

Slate

What are the characteristics of minerals?

• naturally occurring

• solid at room temperature

• represented by a chemical formula

• distinct physical/chemical properties

What are some examples of physical and chemical properties of minerals?

color

hardness

specific gravity

Tendency of crystalline materials to split along structural planes

Cleavage

Shape and texture of the surface formed when a mineral is fractured

Fracture

The color of a mineral in powdered form

Streak

Bubbles or fizzles in a liquid

Effervescence

The way light reacts with the surface (shiny or dull)

Luster

What is the ideal soil composition?

Mineral: 45%

Organic Matter: 5%

Air: 20-30%

Water: 20-30%

What is included in the soil solids?

Minerals and organic matter

What is included in the pore space?

Air and water

What are the macronutrients essential for plants?

Carbon

Hydrogen

Oxygen

Phosphorous

Potassium

Nitrogen

Sulfur

Calcium

Magnesium

What are the micronutrients essential for plants?

Iron

Boron

Manganese

Copper

Zinc

Molybdenum

Chlorine

Nickel

Sodium

What is the acronym for the essential plant nutrients?

C HOPKNS CaFe Mg B Mn CuZn MoCl NiNa