Comprehension Questions
1. What are the three main types of rocks?
- Igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic
2. How are igneous rocks formed?
- Formed from magma or lava that cools and hardens
3. How are sedimentary rocks formed?
- Formed from sediment deposited by wind, water, or ice over a long period of time
4. How are metamorphic rocks formed?
- Formed from existing igneous, sedimentary, or metamorphic rocks that have been changed by heat, pressure, or chemical reactions
5. What is the difference between a mineral and a rock?
- Mineral: a naturally occurring, inorganic solid with a definite chemical composition and a crystalline structure.
- Rock: a solid, coherent aggregate of one or more minerals or mineral-like substances.
6. What are some of the most common minerals?
- Quartz, calcite, feldspar, mica, amphibole, olivine, pyroxene, and garnet
7. What are some of the most common rocks?
- Granite, sandstone, limestone, shale, metamorphic rocks
8. What is the rock cycle?
- Refers to the transformation of rocks from one type into the next and to the return of such materials to the starting phase.
Vocabulary
1. Define: Igneous rock
- A rock formed from the cooling and solidification of magma or lava
2. Define: Sedimentary rock
- A rock formed from the accumulation and cementation of sediment
3. Define: Metamorphic rock
- A rock that has been altered by heat, pressure, or chemical reactions in the Earth's crust
4. Define: Mineral
- A naturally occurring, inorganic solid with a definite chemical composition and a crystalline structure
5. Define: Rock
- A solid, coherent aggregate of one or more minerals or mineral-like substances
6. Define: Rock cycle
- The process by which rocks are formed, destroyed, and reformed over time