Rocks and Minerals

Mrs. Ayers found a mineral. What could she use to identify it?

• weight, luster, color

• luster, weight, hardness

• color, hardness, luster

• color, hardness, weight

Which is not a way to identify a rock?

• weight

• texture

• hardness

• color

Which question would you ask about a rock’s hardness?

• Is it made out of more than one mineral?

• Can it scratch another rock?

• Is the rock big or small?

• Is it rough or smooth?

Which question would you ask about a rock’s luster?

• Can it scratch another rock?

• Is it rough or smooth?

• Is it shiny or dull?

• How big is the rock?

Which question would you ask about a rock’s texture?

• Is it shiny or dull?

• How does it reflect light?

• How much does it weigh?

• Is it rough or smooth?

A student found a rock in his backyard and wants to figure out whether it is a rock or a mineral. Which is NOT a question that we can ask to identify if the sample is a rock or mineral?

• Is it made of one material?

• Is it all one color?

• How big is it?

• Is it smooth or rough?

What are rocks made of?

• Minerals

• Fossils

• Sand

• Weathering

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS3-1

A student was outside rock collecting and found a specimen on the ground. What question should they ask to determine if it is a rock or a mineral?

• How heavy is the specimen?

• Is the specimen made of the same material throughout?

• How big is the specimen?

• Is the specimen hard or soft?

John rubs together a soft mineral and a hard mineral. What will most likely happen when the minerals are rubbed against each other?

• The harder mineral will scratch the softer mineral.

• The minerals will both leave scratches on the other

• The minerals will not leave any scratches on each other.

• The softer mineral will scratch the harder mineral

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-1

There are several examples of rocks and minerals on a lab table. Josh chooses a sample that is gray, with black layers. When he uses a hand lens, he observes small crystals throughout the sample. The sample weighs about 12 grams and it breaks very easily. What questions could Josh ask that would help him determine if the sample is a rock or a mineral?

• How many materials make up the sample? How many grams does the sample weigh?

• Is the sample easy to break open? What is the color of the sample?

• Does the sample have crystals? How much does the sample weigh?

• Is the sample made out of only one material?