Earth's Rocks

Unit 3 Earth's Rocks

Matter, Minerals, Igneous, Sedimentary, Metamorphic, and The Rock Cycle

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Unit 1 Atmosphere	Unit 2 Landmasses	Unit 3 Earth's Rocks

Matter:

Facts:
	The Atom
		•The smallest unit of matter and still be matter is the atom.
		•The atom is divided into two parts:
		•Part 1 Nucleus
			-the nucleus represents the mass of an atom
			-the nucleus is composed of two parts the proton and neutron
		•Part 2 Electron Cloud
			-the electron cloud represent the volume of an atom
			-the electron cloud is composed of electrons
			-electrons occupy energy levels, 2,8,18,...
			-valance electrons represent the outer level of electron and determine the chemical behavior of an element.
	Parts of an Atom (P.E.N.)
		•The Proton
			-has a charge of +1 (positive)
			-has a mass of 1 AMU (atomic mass unit)
		•The Electron
			-has a charge of -1 (negative)
			-has a mass of 1/1836 AMU
		•The Neutron
			-has a no charge (neutral)
			-has a mass of 1 AMU
	Elements
		•An element is matter in which all atoms have the same number of protons.
		•An isotope is an element with different number of neutrons.
	Periodic Table
		•An organized arrangement of elements with similar properties.
			-left hand side is the metals
			-right hand side is the non-metals
			-a zig zag line that separates the metals and non-metals is the metalloids
		•Atomic Number: represents the number of protons and electrons for a neutral atom.
		•Atomic Symbol: a shorthand way of using an elements name.
		•Atomic Mass: the average mass of all atoms for a given element.
	Working with Elements/Molecules/Compounds
		•Mass number: for one atom represents the mass of an atom can be used to determine the number of neutrons in conjunction with atomic number.
		•A molecule is two or more atoms combined together to form a compound.
		•An ion is an atom that has gained or lost electrons.
		•An oxidation number represents how many electrons are gained or lost.
		•A subscript tells you how many atoms of an element are in a compound.
		•The net ionic charge of a compound is typically zero.
		•Polyatomic ions are groups of elements that have a charge associated with them.
	States of Matter
		•Solid: A state of matter with a closed pack atomic structure.
			-shape is constant
			-volume is constant
			-atoms/molecules are vibrating.
		•Liquid: A state of matter with a loosely packed atomic structure.
			-shape is not constant
			-volume is constant
			-atoms/molecules are moving freely past each other.
		•Gas: A state of matter with no atomic structure.
			-shape is not constant
			-volume is not constant
			-atoms/molecules are moving very rapidly and are bouncing of the container walls.
		•Phase Changes
			-melting/freezing: when matter changes from solid to liquid or liquid to solid by the addition or removal of heat energy.
			-boiling(evaporating)/condensation: when matter changes from liquid to gas or gas to liquid by the addition or removal of heat energy.
			-sublimation: when matter changes form solid to gas by the addition of heat energy.
	Vocabulary
		•Noble gas is a monatomic element that does not form compounds under normal conditions.
		•Alkali metal a special group of elements with an oxidation of +1.
		•Alkaline Earth a special group of elements with an oxidation of +2.
		•Transition metals group of common metals.
		•Halogens a special group of elements with an oxidation of -1.
		•A Period represents one row of the periodic table and a is a transition from metal to non-metal form left to right.
		•Group or Family represents a column on the periodic table and elements typically have the same number of valance electrons so they behave chemically the same.
		•Diatomic is a molecule composed of two atoms.
		•Polar Molecules are molecules with a positive and negative end.
		•Hydrocarbons are complex molecules made up of carbon and hydrogen.

Minerals:

Facts:
	Definition:
		•A mineral is a natural occurring material (inorganic).
		•A mineral is a solid.
		•A mineral has a characteristic chemical composition.
		•A mineral has a crystalline structure with a repeating atomic pattern.
		•Approximately there are 3000 different minerals .
	Earth's Crust:
		•46.6% of Earth's crust is oxygen
		•27.7% of Earth's crust is silicon
		•8.1% is aluminum
		•5.0% is iron
	The Universe:
		•93.5% of the universe is hydrogen
		•6.3% is helium
	Mineral Formation:
		•From the crystallization of magma.
		•From the evaporation or precipitation of a solution.
	Mineral Groups:
		•Silicates
			-mineral made from the combination of silicon and oxygen
			-make up 96.6% of the known minerals
			-example: olivine Mg₂SiO₄
		•Carbonates
			-are metals combined with the CO₃ polyatomic ion
			-example: calcite CaCO₃
		•Oxides
			-are metals combined with oxygen
			-example: hematite Fe₂O₃
	Mineral Identification
		•Color-can be used to separate different minerals.
		•Luster-is how shiny or reflective a mineral is.
		•Texture-is how a mineral feels to the touch or site.
		•Streak-is a text of a minerals hardness and some minerals leave a different color streak then there natural color.
		•Hardness-minerals are grouped relative to ten minerals (Mohs Hardness Scale)
			-1Talc (softest)
			-2 Gypsum
			-3 Calcite
			-4 Fluorite
			-5 Apatite
			-6 Feldspar
			-7 Quartz
			-8 Topaz
			-9 Corundum
			-10 Diamond (hardest)
		•Cleavage/Fracture-how a mineral breaks.
		•Density-how heavy or light a mineral feels.
	Uses of Minerals
		•Civilization and the modern world is built on the use of minerals.
		•Ores-are mineral mined for profit.
		•Gems-are minerals that are prized for their rarity and beauty.

Igneous Rock
	Definition:
		•Igneous-means from fire, so igneous rocks are formed from the cooling of liquid rock.
	Grouping:
		•Extrusive-rocks are formed from lava.
			-cool quickly so no crystals to small crystals.
			-fine grained rocks.
		•Intrusive-rocks are formed from magma.
			-cool slowly so crystals are allowed to grow.
			-coarse grained rocks.
	Formation:
		•Partial Melting
			-as rock becomes magma the lowest melting point minerals melt first.
		•Fractional Crystallization is when rocks form in the reverse of when they melted.
			-depending on rate of cooling determines crystal size.
			-crystal separation: minerals can layered in groups due to fractional crystallization.
			-veins of metals can form in igneous intrusions such as gold or silver.
	Classification:
		•Mineral Composition-types of elements determine type of rock.
		•Grain Size-the cooling rate of rocks determine the crystal size.
		•Texture-the shape of and composition of crystals.
	Vocabulary:
		•Felsic
		•Intermediate
		•Mafic
		•Ultramafic
		•Porphyritic
		•Pegamatites
		•Kimberlites

Sedimentary Rock
	Definition:
		•A rock composed of smaller rock that has been cemented together.
	Grouping/Classification:
		•Clastic
			-rock classified by the size of particles cemented together.
		•Organic
			-the accumulation of once living material that solidifies into rock.
		•Chemical
			-rock formed by the precipitation or evaporation from a solution.
	Formation:
		•Weathering: rocks that are broken down into smaller pieces.
		•Erosion and Transportation: rocks that are moved to a new location.
		•Deposition: when rocks are laid down flat and are no longer subject to erosion and transportation.
		•Burial: when rocks are covered over so lithification can occur.
		•Lithification: a process of cemenation were minerals are allowed to grow together forming new rock or when a mineral grows in between the spaces of rock to form a new rock.
	Features:
		•Geological History-Layers of rock provide a snapshot of the past history.
		•Fossil Record-Most fossilized remains are found in sedimentary rocks.
		•Sedimentary rocks provide resources such as coal, oil, and gas.
	Vocabulary:
		•Porosity

Metamorphic Rock
	Definition:
		•A rock that has undergone a change from one type of rock to a new rock through heat and pressure.
	Grouping:
		•Foliated-rock grains in one direction.
		•Nonfoliated-rocks with the mineral grains are not in one direction.
	Formation:
		•Heat
			-as the temperature of rocks increases the more malleable they become. If rocks are exposed to great heat along with pressure as long as the rock doesn't melt it may under go metamorphisms and change into a new rock type.
		•Pressure
			-as the pressure increases the minerals in rocks may under go a metamorphisms and change into different minerals or new mineral structures.
		•Type
			-contact metamorphism occurs near an igneous intrusion.
			-regional metamorphism occurs over a large region.
			-hydrothermal metamorphism occurs when superheated water changes the rock composition.
	Classification:
		•Texture-
			-foliated and nonfoliated.
			-degree of metamorphisim. (low, medium, and high grade)
		•Mineral Composition-
			-source material for metamorphisim
	Vocabulary:
		•Porphyroblast

The Rock Cycle
	Definition:
		•The rock cycle-Is a process in which rocks are formed and then continually change into new forms.
			-The rock cycle can take millions of years in most cases in some rare cases maybe a very short time.
			For example an igneous rocks tend to be very strong and resist weathering but over time will eventually weather creating sediments. (A long time) The sediments can go through a process of erosion, transportation, burial, and lithification to become a sedimentary rock. (A long time) If the sedimentary rock is buried deep enough and comes into contact with extreme heat it metamorphasise into a new rock completing one cycle of the rock cycle. (The exposure to heat could be over a short time but the finding of such a rock may take a long time) To see an interactive video click here.
			-The rock cycle is divided into two zones above ground and underground.
			The formation of igneous rocks occurs mostly underground with the exception of lava as it cools on the surface of the Earth. Metamorphic rocks are rocks that almost melt into igneous but don't actually melt which occurs only deep underground. Sedimentary rocks are formed from materials that are created on the surface of the Earth either in the form of the breaking of rocks, the evaporation of lakes, or the burial of living material.
			-The rock cycle has three outside forces or influences.
			The Formation of Magma due to extreme heat and pressure. Heat and Pressure which can change rocks. Weathering and Erosion which can break rocks to form sediments.
			-In order for rocks to change they need to be moved around in order to be exposed to different environments.
			Uplift due to Earthquakes, the movement of plates, and volcanic activity. The burial of rocks due to landslides, flooding, Earthquakes, movement of plates, and volcanic activity.
	Image:

Applets and Assignments:

	Rock Cycle In this video you will see how rocks can be part of the rock cycle from erupting lava to the formattion of sediments to the creation of metamorphic rocks and back to magma which can then become igneous rocks.
	Kinetic Energy Potential Energy Skate Park In this applet you will be able to manipulate the design of the shape, the mass of the skater, the location (Earth, space, Jupiter) and map out how values are changing graphically.

Back to Rocks Igneous, Sedimentary, Metamorphic

Back to Rock Cycle

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January 3, 2009