Earth Science

Chapter 3
 W h a t is a R o c k ?
• Naturally-occurring mixtures
of minerals, mineraloids, glass
or organic matter.
 What is a Rock?
• Rocks are divided into 3
groups based on how they
were formed:

• IGNEOUS
• SEDIMENTARY
• METAMORPHIC
What is the difference between a
rock and a mineral?
• Rocks are made up of ONE or
MORE minerals.
Once a rock is formed, does it
stay the same rock forever?
• NO!
• Rocks are continually changed by
many processes, such as
weathering, erosion, compaction,
cementation, melting, and cooling

• Rocks can change to and from the

three types
 What is the process through
which rocks change?
• The Rock Cycle—earth materials
change back and forth among the
different types of rocks
 How are rocks redistributed?
• The core, mantle, & crust are one giant
rock recycling machine
1. What do igneous rocks form from?
2. What kind of rock is sandstone?
3. What are metamorphic rocks formed by?
• “Ignis” = Latin for “fire”

• Formed from the cooling of either

magma or lava
• The most abundant type of rock
• Classified according to their origin and
chemical composition.
 ORIGIN— Where rocks are formed
• Below ground = from magma (intrusive
igneous rock)
• Usually have LARGE crystal grains
(they cooled slowly)
Some have large & small crystals
(called porphyritic)
• Above ground = from lava (extrusive
igneous rock)
• Usually have SMALL or NO crystals (they
cooled too quickly)
Peridotite: Intrusive or
Extrusive? Why?
Granite: Intrusive or
Extrusive? Why?
Porphyry: Intrusive or
Extrusive? Why?
Obsidian: Intrusive or
Extrusive? Why?
COMPOSITION— What kind of
substances the rocks are made of
Basaltic Igneous Rocks —made
from lava/magma that is low in silica,
rich in iron and magnesium. Rocks are
dark-colored.
Granitic Igneous Rocks—made
from magma/lava high in
silica and oxygen. Rocks are
light-colored.
Andesitic Igneous Rocks—
have a composition between
basaltic and granitic.
Diorite
Basalt
Granite
• Formed from sediments
(rock fragments,
mineral grains, animal &
plant remains) that are
pressed or cemented
together or when
sediments precipitate
out of a solution.
• These sediments are moved by wind,
water, ice or gravity.
• Sedimentary rocks represent 7% of
the Earth’s crust, but they cover 70%
of the Earth’s surface.

• Sedimentary rocks are fossil-carrying

rocks.
What turns sediments into solid rock?

• Water or wind breaks down and

deposits sediment (erosion &
deposition)
• The heavy sediments press down on
the layers beneath (compaction)
• Dissolved minerals flow between the
particles and cement them together
(cementation)
How can sedimentary layers help us
understand the age of fossils?
• As sedimentary rocks
are deposited, they
form horizontal
layers
• Scientists know that
the layers on top
(and the fossils in
the top layer) are
YOUNGER than the
fossils in lower
 3 Types of Sedimentary
Rocks:
• Clastic (also called Detrial)—made of
broken pieces of other rocks
 3 Types of Sedimentary
Rocks:
Organic—remains of plants and animals
are deposited in thick layers
• Examples
• Fossil rich limestone is made from the
shells of ocean animals; used to make
chalk
 3 Types of Sedimentary Rocks:

• Chemical—minerals dissolved in
lakes, seas, or underground water

Mineral crystals are made as the shallow water that has

flooded the bottom of Death Valley evaporates.
Click on image for full size (66K JPG)
Courtesy of Martin Miller, University of Oregon
Examples
• Limestone
made when
calcite
mineral
precipitates
from sea
water

• Rock Salt—
made from
evaporation
of sea
waters
• Rocks that have changed due to
intense temperature and pressure
• “Meta” means “change” and morphosis
means “form” in Greek
• Igneous, sedimentary and other
metamorphic rocks can change to
become metamorphic rocks
 What occurs in the Earth to
change these rocks?
• Pressure from overlying rock layers
• High heat, but not enough to melt the rock
• Rocks may be flattened or bent or atoms may be
exchanged to form new minerals.
• *You can think of metamorphic rocks
as a squished peanut butter & jelly
sandwich in your lunch.
How are metamorphic rocks classified?

• Foliated—mineral grains are flattened and

line up in parallel bands

• Example: gneiss formed from

rearrangement of minerals in granite into
bands
 How are metamorphic rocks classified?

• Non-Foliated—No bands are formed

• Example: marble formed from limestone

 Where do metamorphic rocks
usually form?
• Where magma intrudes relatively cool rock
• Near colliding plates (near mountain
ranges)
• Places that are covered miles thick with other
rock causing pressure
• When hot water intrudes rock
• Where a meteorite strikes
Earth (rare)
• Where lightning bolts strike
 Chapter 4
Earth's Resources
 Earth's Resources
A resource is something we can use to make our lives
better.
The Earth has many resources that benefit us. We call
them "Natural Resources."
Some of the resources we get from the Earth are:

water
air
sunlight
soil
plants
animals
rocks and minerals
fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas)
Renewable vs. Non-Renewable

Some natural resources can be replaced within a few

years or within a human lifetime. These are called
renewable resources. Trees, sun, wind, and water are
examples of renewable resources. They are resources we
most likely will not run out of.

Non-renewable resources cannot be replaced at the rate

they are being used up. They take hundreds, thousands,
and even millions of years to be made. Once they are
used up, they are gone! Some examples of non-
renewable resources are the fossil fuels oil, natural gas,
and coal.
 Earth's Resources Interactive
Click on the landscape below to learn more about Earth's resources.
 Non-Renewable Resources
Fossil Fuels:
Click on the word to see a short video about each.
Coal

Natural Gas

Oil/ Petroleum
Why are Earth's resources
important to us?
Earth materials are very
useful to us. We use
them to make our lives
better.
How do we use Earth materials?
 Earth Materials Used for Fuel
Fuel is a material that stores energy for future use.
(potential energy).You can kind of think of it like
“power.”

Coal- to make electricity or heat our homes

Wood- an inefficient way to make heat or light
Natural Gas- to make electricity or heat our
homes
Oil- to make electricity, heat our homes, or
power our vehicles
 Alternative Ways to Make Energy
Without Using Fossil Fuels

Solar Power Wind Power

Hydropower
Earth Materials Used for Building
Structures

Iron- bridges and fences

Iron is used to make steel which is then
used for buildings
such as skyscrapers.
Stone- houses, fences
Brick- (made from clay) houses, buildings
Concrete- skyscrapers
Wood- houses
 Earth Materials Used for
Enhancing Transportation

Aluminum- airplanes, cars, bicycles

Titanium- airplanes, cars, bicycles
Sand and Gravel- making roads
Clay- cement and concrete for
driveways
Steel (from iron)- bicycles, cars, trains,
ships
 Earth Materials Used for Making
Products
Oil- plastic products like your cell phone
and Playstation
Wood- paper, furniture
Plants- medicine, food, clothing (cotton)
Soil- crops for food
Animals- food for humans, clothing
(leather)
Clay- plates, bowls, cups, flower pots,
statues
Copper- inside cords to conduct electricity
Discovery Education Resources
(Videos)

“Learning About Natural Resources”

“Geologist’s Notebook: The Biggest

Treasure Chest: Our Natural Resources”
END