Rocks and Minerals Earth Science Regents (2021)

The image is a geologic cross section. Location A is within the metamorphic rock. Click the image to enlarge.

The metamorphic rock at location A is most likely

• marble

• quartzite

• slate

• phyllite

Answer explanation

this rock is formed through contact metamorphism of SANDSTONE.

so your two clues are

1. the contact metamorphism

2. sandstone is being transformed

Which texture best describes an igneous rock that formed deep underground?

• glassy

• vesicular

• fine grained

• coarse grained

Answer explanation

remember for rocks, coarse does not mean the rock is rough, it means that the rock has larger crystals.

The diagrams below show the crystals of four different rocks viewed through the same hand lens. Which crystals most likely formed from molten material that cooled and solidified most rapidly?

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Answer explanation

the faster a rock cools, the smaller the crystals!

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-1

The rock shown has a foliated texture and contains the minerals amphibole, quartz, and feldspar arranged in coarse-grained bands.

• slate

• dunite

• gneiss

• quartzite

Answer explanation

gneiss is the only metamorphic rock in the ESRT that shows banding!

The diagrams represents the same rock material at five stages of development. The graph shows the temperature and depth of burial at which stages A through D develop Stage E has intentionally been omitted from the graph.

Which graph correctly shows where magma would begin to crystallize into granite (stage E)?

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Answer explanation

Granite is an igneous rock. Igneous rocks form from MELTING and then RE-SOLIDIFYING.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS3-4

The rocks in stages C and D are both

• noncrystalline

• foliated

• clastic

• glassy

Answer explanation

schist and gneiss are both metamorphic rocks. they are both found in the FOLIATION part of the data table in the ESRT.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

In the simple rock-cycle diagram, which processes along path X would change the schist (stage C) directly into a pile of sediments (stage A)? 

• uplift, weathering, and erosion of the schist

• cementing of sediment grains followed by compaction

• melting of the schist followed by cooling

• heat and/or pressure applied to the schist

Answer explanation

Path X leads to sediments. Sediments form through weathering, deposition, and uplift (you answered this on the Rocks of the Earth Science Reference Table) packet.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-1

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

Clayey Sandstone will form into gneiss if the

• Temperature and pressure both decrease 

• Temperature and pressure both increase

•  temperature decreases and the pressure increases

• temperature increases and the pressure decreases

Answer explanation

The Clayey Sandstone is forming into Schist due to heat and pressure, when schist experiences more intense heat and pressure it will form into Gneiss. If Gneiss were to heated to the point that it melts, it could re-solidify into Granite.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-1

According to the graph, gneiss is formed at a depth of approximately

click the image to enlarge

• 10

• 7

• 3

• 0

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-1

The geologic cross section below shows limestone that was intruded. Part of the limestone (zone A) was heated intensely but was not melted.

• gneiss

• slate

• marble

• obsidian

Answer explanation

Intense heating but not melting means it is likely a metamorphic rock!

Limestone that undergoes metamorphic conditions becomes Marble!

An igneous intrusion is molten materials that INTRUDES or flows into the surrounding rock.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2