Essential Question:What is the

composition of rocks and how are

they formed?Standards:S6E5b. Investigate the contribution of

minerals to rock composition.

S6E5c. Classify rocks by their process of formation.

S6E5d. Describe processes that change rocks and the surface of the earth.

With a partner, describe the differences in the three rocks

below.

As you noticed with the three images, rocks can look very different from

each other.

Over the next few days, we will examine rocks

and how they are formed.

Use the Graphic Organizer

to take Notes

MINERALSTypesUses

Identification

Rocks are mixtures of minerals, rock

fragments, organic matter, or other

natural materials.

How many different substances can you find

in the rock below?

Let’s examine the composition of rocks in more

detail.

Rocks are made up of minerals

A mineral is a naturally occurring, inorganic solid with a definite chemical composition and an orderly arrangement of atoms.

Composition of Rocks

Mineral: Naturally Occurring

Formed by natural processes that occur

on or inside the Earth without input

from humans

What would be some of the natural processes on or inside the Earth that

you have already learned about?

Heat and Pressure are two processes you have learned, but there are many others we will

examine as well.

Mineral: Inorganic

Does not consist of living matter

Mineral: Solid with definite

chemical composition and orderly

arrangement of atoms

Look at the images on the next few slides. Determine which are

minerals and which are not minerals. Be able to justify your

answer.

Mineral or Not? Activity

Is it non-living material?Is it a solid?Is it formed in nature?Are its atoms arranged in a pattern that is repeated over and over?

Questions to ask yourself when determining if an item is a mineral or not:

Wood

Gold

Fossil

Topaz

Bones

Granite

Quartz

Pearls

Talc

Iceberg

Diamond

Coal

Rock Salt

And the answers are…Minerals

Gold Topaz Quartz Talc Iceberg* Diamond

s

Non-Minerals

Wood - once living Fossils – once living Bone - living

material Granite - rock Pearls – made by

oysters Coal - rock Rock Salt – rock

*According to IMA – ice is listed as a mineral

Common Objects Made

of Minerals

Minerals in your House

How we use minerals