Minerals and Rocks

A mineral is...

• solid material made from many different kinds of rocks

• a solid matter formed in nature and found in earth materials (rocks)

• made from layers of sediment

• formed from heat of magma

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS3-1

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-ESS2-1

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-PS1-2