Minerals and Rocks

Which BEST describes the rock cycle?

• New rocks form from older rocks.
• Lunar rocks change into terrestrial rocks.
• Rocks in the ocean become rocks on land.
• Layers of rock are broken by faults.

How are sedimentary rocks, such as shale and sandstone, formed?

• Particles are changed into liquids.
• Particles are compressed into layers.
• Particles are melted together by magma.
• Particles are heated by the Sun.

In order for sediments to become rock, the sediments are generally

• liquefied.
• compacted.
• returned to their origins.
• mixed with organic material.

Which of these substances is a mineral?

• sandstone
• granite
• quartz
• coal

When buried sediments are subjected to pressure, the mineral grains are squeezed together. This causes

• layers to rise to the surface
• new rock to be formed
• earthquakes
• volcanoes

Gneiss is a rock because it

• is hard and round.
• has crystals.
• is made of minerals.
• has mass.

Which statement is true about rocks?

• Magma is made of solid rock.
• Rocks are made of one or more minerals.
• Crystals are made of rocks.
• Minerals are made of one or more rocks.

Minerals are made of one or more

• minerals.
• sediments.
• elements.
• rocks.

One rock was formed from rapidly cooling lava and is smooth and glassy. The other rock was formed from slow-cooling magma, so has large crystals. Which rock property is represented by these characteristics?

• color
• texture
• fracture
• hardness

Which process causes sand grains to stick together to form sandstone?

• cementation
• abrasion
• combustion
• erosion