EARTH SCIENCE

11
FIRST QUARTER

Module 2

ssifications of Rocks:
Processes and Significance

Most Essential Learning Competencies:

 Classify rocks into igneous, sedimentary, and

metamorphic (S11ES-Ic-6)
 Identify the minerals important to society (S11ES-Ic-7)

RAMCIE P. CABRILLAS, MAEd

Author
 To the Learners
This module is intended for Senior High Schools students. There are two lessons to be
discussed to help you understand and internalize the concepts. The instructions on how to use
this module are the following:
1. Read and analyze the directions indicated in every page of the module to fully
understand the contents and subject matter being presented;
2. Prepare a separate Science Notebook/ISN/Science Journal where you can write down
your notes about the lessons;
3. Let your parent/guardian assess your activity to ensure precautionary measures; and
4. Apply what you have learned. Enjoy learning!

Expectations
In this module, lessons were arranged accordingly to meet the needs of the students as
expected to a higher-grade level.
As a student, you are expected to meet the following specific objectives:
1. investigate the relationship between mass, volume, and density of rocks;
2. identify and differentiate igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks;
3. identify the processes involved in the formation of rocks;
4. explain the significance of minerals to society; and
5. express appreciation on the importance of rocks and minerals.

Pre-Test
Directions: Read the questions carefully and write the letter of your answer on the space
provided.
B 1. What type of rock is formed from the eruption of a volcano?
A. Carbonate C. Metamorphic
B. Igneous D. Sedimentary
2. What process is involved in the compacting of sediments under heat and pressure?
Deposition C. Lithification
A. Erosion D. Weathering
3. Which of the following sedimentary rocks contain fossils of plants and animals?
A. Chemical sedimentary C. Lithified sedimentary
B. Inorganic sedimentary D. Organic sedimentary

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 4. What type of metamorphism is caused by mountain formation?
A. Contact metamorphism C. Natural metamorphism
B. Regional metamorphism D. Organic metamorphism
5. How do minerals become useful to society?
A. It does not help the economic development C. It gives stability to all
B. It provides raw materials for survival. D. It provides nothing at all

Looking Back
Have you ever
experienced going to an
educational trip and visited a
museum? How about family
trips going to a beach or out of
town? Perhaps, along the way,
you can see different types of
rocks or rock formations that
Image Credit: commons.wikimedia.org/File:Vasquez_Rocks_formation_dllu.jpg
amaze you instantly. How do
rocks differ from one another? What are the different properties of rocks? How rock formations
shaped its magnificent curve over a million years of evolution? These are just some questions
out of curiosity that this module will reveal.

Give it a try!
What is the difference between rock and mineral?

Brief Introduction

Earth as a big rocky planet possesses spectacular beauty and wonders. Rock
formations mystify people as these unfold the blueprints of the Earth. Rocks gradually
transformed from one type to another through different processes. Some rocks are denser than
others. Most of these are found beneath the ocean floor. This supports the idea that denser rock
materials and sediments formed the oceanic crust. Moreover, the less dense rock materials
become the continental crust. Geologists classify rocks according to their color, mineral
compositions, and texture. Are you ready for further investigation? Let’s begin.

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 Activity 1
Rock Me Up!
Objective: Investigate the relationship between mass, volume, and density of rocks.
Materials Needed: Notebook and Pen
Procedure:
Part A. Calculate the density of each rock sample by dividing the mass by its volume.
Table 1: Properties of rocks in terms of mass, volume, and density
Rock Mass (g) Volume (cm3) Density (g/cm3)
Andesite 43 10
Conglomerate 58 20
Gneiss 43 10
Granite 48 20
Limestone 51 15
Marble 44 10
Quartz 46 20
Sandstone 54 15
Shale 45 15
Slate 61 15

Part B. Arrange the rock sample from densest to the least dense. (highest to lowest)
1.
2. 3. 4. 5.
6.
8. 9. 10.
Guide Questions: 7.

1. Which rock is densest? Why do you think so?

2. Which rock is least dense? Why do you think so?

3. How do you differentiate the properties of rocks in terms of mass, volume, and density?

properties. You may use pictures from the internet and paste them in sequential order. Label each picture with the name of the rock/min

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Lesson 1 Classifications of Rocks

In the preceding activity, you have discovered that rocks have different mass, volume,
and density. It only supports the idea that rocks have their own characteristics based on their
origin and composition.
There are three main classifications of rocks. These are igneous, sedimentary, and
metamorphic rocks.
A. Igneous Rocks
Igneous rock came from the Latin word “ignes” which
means fire. It came from the deep part of the Earth that cools and
solidifies. The materials originated from magma. The given
names of rocks were based upon two things: texture (how big the
Image Credit: crystals are) and composition (what they are made of).
geology.com

There are two types of igneous rocks: intrusive igneous or plutonic and extrusive
igneous also known as volcanic.
1. Intrusive Igneous/ Plutonic
These are rocks formed from magma cooled down slowly but do not reach the
surface of the Earth. They hardened deep inside the crust and usually have coarse-
grained texture. Examples of these are granite, gabbro, diorite, and andesite.
2. Extrusive Igneous/ Volcanic
When magma reached the surface of the Earth or erupted from volcanoes, lava
is extruded. Since the solidification occurred at the surface of the Earth, the rock is
called volcanic igneous or extrusive igneous. The crystal form is smaller that gives a
fine-grained texture. Examples of these rocks are basalt, obsidian, pumice, and scoria.
B. Sedimentary Rocks
When igneous rocks are exposed to heat and rainwater, the
weathering process begins to alter their physical or chemical
compositions. Weathering is the process that breaks the rock into
pieces by physical or chemical means. When rocks are
Image Credit: geology.com

fragmented into tiny bits and transported into low lying areas, they are deposited and
settled at the bottom of a lake or sea. The deposited sediments build up to form strata
over the years. This process is called sedimentation and eventually forms sedimentary
rocks. The common examples of sedimentary rocks are conglomerate, sandstone,
shale, and limestone.
There are three types of sedimentary rocks:
1. Clastic sedimentary rocks are formed from mechanical weathering. These are
accumulated as clasts, piled on top of one another, and undergo lithification.
Lithification is the process of compacting sediments under pressure to form a rock.
2. Chemical sedimentary rocks are formed when dissolved materials precipitate.
Precipitation is the process of separating a solid substance from a liquid substance.
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 3. Organic sedimentary rocks are formed when sedimentary debris is accumulated by
organic processes. These are rocks containing fossils of plants and animals trapped in
the sediments.

C. Metamorphic Rocks
Metamorphic rocks got its name from the Greek words
“meta” which means “change” and “morph” which means “form”.
Changing environmental conditions caused pre-existing rocks to
bend, pressed, and buried under intense heat and pressure. These
Image Credit: geology.com old rocks are forcefully changed into a new kind. This process is
called metamorphism. One way to tell whether the rock sample is metamorphic or not is
through crystal arrangement. The crystals are arranged in bands. Metamorphic rocks are
commonly used for building materials like quartzite and marble. Schist and slate are
used for landscape and artwork designs.

There are two types of metamorphic rocks:

1. Foliated metamorphic rocks are formed within the Earth’s interior under
extremely high temperature and pressure. The pressure causes the minerals to
rearrange crystal layers in perpendicular alignment. Examples of these rocks are slate,
serpentine, and gneiss.
2. Non-foliated metamorphic rocks are formed around igneous intrusive. When
rocks are heated by the intrusion, it results in the recrystallization of minerals. The high
temperature allows the atoms and ions to migrate in solid crystals. Examples of non-
foliated metamorphic rocks are marble and quartzite.

Types of Metamorphism:
1. Contact (thermal) Metamorphism evolves when rocks heated near an igneous
intrusive rock produces the non-foliated metamorphic rocks.
2. Regional Metamorphism (regional) is commonly due to mountain formation. It is
metamorphism of rocks over an extensive area because of a large-scale action of
heat and pressure. Foliated rocks are produced.

Feel Me…Fill Me!!

Activity 2
Objective: Classify the following rocks/minerals as to igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic.
Materials: Science Notebook and Pen
Procedure:
1. Identify the characteristics of rocks according to the mode of formation, crystal
particles, and fossil remains.
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 2. Classify the rocks/minerals samples listed inside the box. Write your answers under the
examples.
Table 2: Classification of rock-forming minerals

Characteristics Igneous Sedimentary Metamorphic

Mode of formation
(melting, weathering,
compaction,
crystallizing, cementing,
solidification, etc.)

Crystal Particles
(small or large)

Fossil remains
(present or absent)

Examples
(Indicated in the box
below, limit to 3
examples per
classification)

Granite Marble Basalt Gabbro Conglomerate

Obsidian Slate Gneiss Serpentine Sandstone
Diorite Quartzite Shale Andesite Limestone

Guide Questions:
1. Which type of rock undergoes several processes before it formed?
2. What are the processes involved in the formation of rocks?

3. Do you think the amount of rocks on Earth remains the same? Support your answer.

Lesson 2 Minerals: Its Importance to the Society

Minerals are defined as a compound of

chemical composition with a specific crystal structure.
There are two classifications of minerals: the silicate and
non-silicate minerals.
Non-silicate minerals are characterized by the
absence of a silicon-oxygen unit. It may contain oxygen
but not in a combination of silicon. Examples of these
are calcite, pyrite, magnetite, and hematite.
Silicate minerals are characterized by having a
Image Credit:
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?sea
silicon-oxygen compound. It is the most abundant
rch=Minerals%20of%20Wieliczka%20salt%20mine
&title=Special
%3ASearch&ns0=1&ns6=1&ns12=
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mineral in the Earth’s crust. Examples of these are aluminum, iron, calcium, sodium, etc. Some
of the important minerals to the society are listed below as indicated in table 3.
Table 3: Some rock-forming minerals and their uses
Classifications Minerals Uses
Platinum for medical apparatuses and fiber optics cable
Silica the raw material for glass and window
Slate for roofing and tiles
Zinc for dry cell batteries
Coal and Uranium a source of energy and fuel
Silicate Copper and Iron for construction and wiring materials
Gold and Silver for making jewelry, medals, and trophies
Gypsum and Shale for production of cement
Cobalt, Lithium, Nickel, for communication technology (e.g. smartphone,
and Tin laptops, computers, etc.)
Calcite for construction materials
Hematite for ballast and radiation shield
Non-silicate Magnetite an important ore of iron
Pyrite for manufacturing sulfuric acid
Why are minerals important to society?
Mineral resources are very important natural resources that affect the industrial and
economic development of the country. They provide raw materials among sectors of the
economy in terms of production and consumption.
Let’s try this activity.

Activity 3 Oh, Minerals I Need You!

Objective: Identify the minerals important to society
Materials: magazines, chart, or printed materials, glue, and scissors
Cut pictures of the minerals and paste it inside the arrow box. Below its arrow box,
Part A:
write its uses/function to the society. The first one is done for you.

Platinum Uranium Copper

Gold/Silver

For jewelry and

accessory
A B C 7
 Part B:
Give at least two uses
of minerals to the
following sectors:

 Agriculture

 Technology

 Medicine

 Construction

Remember
Rocks are classified into igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic. It undergoes processes that change their physica

Check Your Understanding

Direction: Identify the term that is being described in the statements below. Choose your
answers from the terms inside the box. Write only the letter on the space provided.
1. It is a type of igneous rock formed from the eruption of a volcano.
2. It is a process of rock formation by compacting sediments under pressure.
3. It is a type of sedimentary rock containing fossils of plants and animals.
4. It is a type of metamorphism due to mountain formation.
5. It is a mineral used in manufacturing sulfuric acid.

A. Pyrite C. Igneous extrusive E. Regional metamorphism

B. Lithification D. Igneous intrusive F. Organic sedimentary

Post Test
Direction: Read the questions carefully and write the letter on the space before the number.
1. What process is involved in breaking rocks into pieces by physical or chemical means?
A. cementing B. deposition C. lithification D. weathering
2. Which of the following is an example of sedimentary rock?
A. diorite B. granite C. limestone D. marble
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 3. What type of rock changes its form under intense heat and pressure?
A. igneous B. metamorphic C. sedimentary D. silicate
4. Which of the following minerals is characterized by having silicon-oxygen content?
A. calcite B. non-silicate C. pyrite D. silicate
5. Which of the following minerals is used for medical apparatus and fiber optics cable?
A. Calcite B. Cobalt C. Platinum D. Pyrite

e a man used tools and weapons out of rocks. From 1200 to 600 B.C., Iron Age began across Europe, Asia, and parts of Africa where man st
man race? Use the space below to express your thoughts. You may compose a poem, write an essay, or sketch an illustration. Make your ow

Since you have completed this module, how would you use this knowledge in the future?

Congratulations!!! 9