Rocks and Minerals

Class V Science

Solid as a Rock!
You will probably use 2,000,000 pounds of rocks and minerals in your lifetime.

We see rocks and minerals every day. We drive on them, build with them, clean with
them, and even eat them! Minerals and igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks
are part of our lives every day.

Igneous rocks such as pumice, granite and basalt form when magma cools. Pumice can
be used to rub dry skin off our elbows. Granite is used to make monuments.

How do we use rocks that form in layers made up of sand, silt, dead plants and animal
skeletons? Limestone is a sedimentary rock. We use limestone when we use chalk. Did
you know it’s in toothpaste, lipstick and ink too?

How do we use the metamorphic rocks that are formed by heat and/or pressure?
Marble, which was once limestone, is often used for statues. It is soft and easy to carve.

I. Read the passage and answer the following questions :

a. Pumice is used to rub the dry skin off our elbow. Explain.

Ans- Using a pumice stone is a great way to get rid of the dry, rough, and
dead skin.  Pumice stones are light and abrasive, but also soft and hygienic,
making it perfect for use on the body.

b. Which type of rocks are formed in layers? Why these are the only type of
rocks that contain fossils?

Ans- Sedimentary rocks are formed from layers of sand, silt, dead plants, and
animal skeletons. These rocks are the only type which can contain
fossils because these rocks are formed on the Earth surface, under the water,
at very low temperatures and pressures.

II. Choose the correct answer:

i. Almost 95% of the Earth’s crust is made up of:
a. Sedimentary rocks
b. Metamorphic rocks
c. Igneous rocks
ii. It’s a kind of igneous rock that is formed from frothy lava with lots of air
in it:
a. Pumice
b. Obsidian
 c. Granite
iii. The process of physical or chemical breakdown of rocks and minerals
into tiny particles to form soil is known as:
a. Erosion
b. Forecast
c. Weathering
iv. The monument in the given picture is situated in Punjab. It is made up
of:

a. Conglomerate
b. Shale
c. Marble
III. State True/False:
i. Quartz is used to make pencil leads. False
ii. Obsidian is used to make jewelries and ornaments. True
iii. Human beings are directly dependent on soil. False
iv. Halite is also known as ‘Road Salt’. True

IV.  Answer the following questions:

i. Continuous heating and cooling breaks even a hard rock into small pieces
of sand. What should we learn from this process?
ii. What is the difference between magma and lava?
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