Rocks and Minerals

Front

What are rocks?

Back

Rocks are solid materials made up of one or more minerals or mineraloids.

Front

What are minerals?

Back

Minerals are naturally occurring, inorganic substances with a definite chemical composition and crystalline structure.

Front

How do sedimentary rocks form?

Back

Sedimentary rocks form when pieces of rock and other materials squeeze together.

Front

What is the process of metamorphism?

Back

Metamorphism is the process by which existing rocks are changed into metamorphic rocks due to heat and pressure.

Front

What is cleavage in minerals?

Back

Cleavage is the property of a mineral that allows it to break along flat surfaces.

Front

What is hardness in minerals?

Back

Hardness is a measure of how easily a mineral can be scratched.

Front

What is the Mohs scale?

Back

The Mohs scale is a scale that ranks minerals based on their hardness from 1 (softest) to 10 (hardest).

Front

What are igneous rocks?

Back

Igneous rocks are formed from the cooling and solidification of molten rock (magma or lava).

Front

What is the difference between intrusive and extrusive igneous rocks?

Back

Intrusive igneous rocks form from magma that cools slowly beneath the Earth's surface, while extrusive igneous rocks form from lava that cools quickly on the surface.

Front

What is a rock cycle?

Back

The rock cycle is the continuous process of rock formation, breakdown, and reformation.