Rocks and Minerals ATS

Minerals are non-living substances found on the Earth’s surface and deep inside the crust.  Minerals make up all of Earth’s rocks, sands, and soils.  There are thousands of different minerals on Earth. Rocks are non-living substances that are made from one or more minerals.  Rocks can be as small as a grain of sand or as big as a mountain. There are many different kinds of rocks in the world. 

What is a rock?

• There are thousands of different minerals on Earth.

• non-living substances that are made from one or more minerals

• Minerals are non-living substances found on the Earth’s surface and deep inside the crust. 

Minerals are non-living substances found on the Earth’s surface and deep inside the crust.  Minerals make up all of Earth’s rocks, sands, and soils.  There are thousands of different minerals on Earth. Rocks are non-living substances that are made from one or more minerals.  Rocks can be as small as a grain of sand or as big as a mountain. There are many different kinds of rocks in the world. 

What is mineral?

• There are thousands of different minerals on Earth.

• non-living substances that are made from one or more minerals

• non-living substances found on the Earth’s surface and deep inside the crust. 

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-1

Scientists compare the similarities and differences of rocks and minerals by observing physical attributes and performing simple tests to determine color, texture, luster and hardness.

What are the physical attributes of rocks and minerals?

• smell, size, color

• taste, touch, smell, hear, see

• color, texture, luster and hardness

Using a hand lens, the color(s) present in a rock or mineral can be observed. Most rocks and minerals tend to be neutral in color (black, white, gray, and brown), but some rocks have distinct colors that can quickly reveal their identity.

Most rocks and minerals are _______?

• black, white, gray, and brown

• red, white, and blue

• rainbow colored

The texture of a substance describes how it feels.  The surface of a rock or mineral could feel smooth and glassy like obsidian or rough and gritty like sandstone. 

Texture is ____________.

• The way a rock or mineral shines.

• The way a rock or mineral feels to touch.

• How easily the rock or mineral is scratched.

• The color of the rock or minera.

Luster describes how shiny a mineral is when it is dry.  Diamonds can be described as having a glassy luster, whereas pyrite is an example of a mineral with a metallic, or metal-like, luster.

Luster is ____________.

• The way a rock or mineral shines.

• The way a rock or mineral feels to touch.

• How easily the rock or mineral is scratched.

• The color of the rock or minera.

To determine the hardness of minerals, scientists use a tool called the Mohs Hardness Scale.  Each mineral on the scale is given a number based on a simple scratch test. The higher the number, the harder the mineral is to scratch.  The softest mineral on the scale, talc, can be scratched with a fingernail, and is rated as a 1.  Quartz has a hardness of 7 and can be scratched by glass.  Diamond is the hardest mineral and is rated as a 10 on the Mohs Hardness Scale.

Hardness is ___________.

• The way a rock or mineral shines.

• The way a rock or mineral feels to touch.

• How easily the rock or mineral is scratched.

• The color of the rock or minera.

To determine the hardness of minerals, scientists use a tool called the Mohs Hardness Scale.  The higher the number, the harder the mineral is to scratch.  The softest mineral on the scale, talc, can be scratched with a fingernail, and is rated as a 1.  Quartz has a hardness of 7 and can be scratched by glass.  Diamond is the hardest mineral and is rated as a 10 on the Mohs Hardness Scale.

The hardest mineral is _____________.

• Talc

• Quartz

• Diamond

To determine the hardness of minerals, scientists use a tool called the Mohs Hardness Scale.  The higher the number, the harder the mineral is to scratch.  The softest mineral on the scale, talc, can be scratched with a fingernail, and is rated as a 1.  Quartz has a hardness of 7 and can be scratched by glass.  Diamond is the hardest mineral and is rated as a 10 on the Mohs Hardness Scale.

The softest mineral is _____________.

• Talc

• Quartz

• Diamond