Period: ___________

Name Date

R O CK S T
A

AR
BE

!
PART 1
Identify the rocks described below. Then explain how you know.

igneous metamorphic sedimentary

1. When coal is exposed to extremely high temperatures, it changes into a hard rock called
anthracite without melting.

Anthracite is most likely a(n) rock. I know this because

2. On a trip to the Southwest, Mario went on a nature walk. He found a rock that looked like
it was made of grains of sand. There were layers of different color in the rock in shades of
red and orange.

Marios rock is most likely a(n) rock. I know this because

page 1
 Period: ___________
Name Date

3. Greywacke is a rock commonly found in New Zealand. Muddy sand breaks into sediment
that is eroded by rivers. After it is deposited in deep water, that sediment is compressed
and sticks together, forming the gray rock known as Greywacke.

Greywacke is most likely a(n) rock. I know this because

4. Rhyolite is a rock that can form from magma that cools. The rock can have large and small
crystals. Rhyolite forms more often from continental, or land-based, volcanic eruptions
than from eruptions in the ocean.

Rhyolite is most likely a(n) rock. I know this because

5. Mudstone and shale belong to the same rock type. They are formed from eroded ancient
mud. These rocks are made of small particles of silt and/or clay. Many shales can contain
fossils.

Mudstone and shale are most likely rocks. I know this because

6. Gabbro is found on the crust of the ocean. It forms at mid-ocean ridges or in ancient
mountains where magma cooled slowly.

Gabbro is most likely a(n) rock. I know this because

page 2
 Period: ___________
Name Date

PART 2
Choose one of the three types of rocks and write from that rocks point of view!

Describe the following:

How you formed Where you formed

What youre made of What you look like

When youre done, you can share your rock story with a partner or group. See if you can identify
the rock types by their descriptions! You can even put your stories together by adding descriptions
of the processes in the rock cycle that would make one of your rock types become the other!

page 3
 Period: ___________
Name Date

Part I. Mineral or not?

Read each description below, and use what you know about minerals to decide if each
substance is a mineral or not. Then explain your reasoning.

1. Chrysoberyl is a h ard, inorganic solid. It is a naturall y occurring gemstone and h as a

hardness of 8.5. Its chemical formula is BeAl2O4. Chrysoberyl has a crystalline structure.

Is chrysoberyl a mineral or not?

How do you know?

2. Charcoal is a light black substance that contains carbon. It can form from burning
tree bark.

Is charcoal a mineral or not?

How do you know?

page 1
 Period: ___________
Name Date

3. Bakelite was one of the first plastics. It was developed by a chemist in 1907. It is
formed from a reaction of phenol and formaldehyde and is a brown solid.

Is bakelite a mineral or not?

How do you know?

4. Obsidian is a black substance formed when magma cools and hardens. It has a hard-
ness of 5-6 and a glassy luster. Obsidian contains SiO2 and other minerals. Its composi-
tion varies. Obsidian does not have a crystalline structure.

Is obsidian a mineral or not?

How do you know?

Part 2. Pick the Property

Identify the physical property being described for each mineral below. Match the prop-
erties on the right to the descriptions on the left by writing the appropriate letter. Prop-
erties can be used more than once

Description: Properties:

1. Beryl is 7.5 to 8 on Mohs scale. A. Color

2. Sulfur is bright yellow. B. Luster
3. Talc reflects light like a pearl does. C. Hardness
4. Calcite can be scratched by diamond. D. Streak
5. Gypsum breaks into an even, flat surface in one direction. E. Cleavage
6. Dolomites powder is white. F. Fracture
7. Copper shines light off of its surface.
8. When magnetite breaks, it forms only uneven surfaces.
page 2
 Period: ___________
Name Date

Part 3. Dont Be Fooled

Gold and pyrite, or Fools Gold, share many physical properties, but they are two different
minerals. Look at the charts below. Describe how you would test a mineral to determine
if it is gold or pyrite. You should use at least two properties of the mineral to identify it.

Gold Properties Pyrite Properties

Color Golden Yellow Color Yellowish to gray

Luster Metallic Luster Metallic

Hardness 2.5-3 Hardness 6-6.5

Streak Golden Yellow Streak Black with green

Cleavage None Cleavage None

page 3