ROCKS AND MINERALS

Almost all of the Earth is made up of Rocks and Minerals.

MINERALS

 Minerals are non-living solid substances formed in the Earth. They are commonly

found in deposits called Ores.

 There many different types of minerals.

 Some minerals are very common and can be found very easily, while other

minerals are rare, very valuable, colourful and attractive.

 Clay, Sand, Chalk and Oil are examples of minerals.

 Metals such as Silver, Iron and Gold are minerals as well.

 Minerals can be found on top of the ground as well as underground. Some

minerals such as Salt, comes from the sea.

 If large amounts of minerals are found at one place, mining usually takes places.

 Minerals are used by people to make different things.

MINERALS USE
Diamond Use to make cutting tools & Jewellery
Gold Use to make Jewellery, art, coins
Silver Use to make Jewellery, Coins & Cutlery
Copper Use to make Electric wire & Utensils
Zinc Use to make coins, nails, roofing
Gypsum Use to make fertilizers, matches, ceilings,
Plaster of Paris, cement
Bauxite Use to make Cans, Airplanes, Appliances
Graphite Use to make the lead in pencils
Quartz Use to make sandpaper, glass, watches,
radios
 Some Minerals Found in the Earth and a few of their uses

 There are different kinds of minerals and many of them look alike. To help us

identify which mineral is which, there are certain physical properties that we can

look at to help us identify them.

 These Physical Properties are:

o Colour – this is the most easily observed property

o Lustre – this is the appearance of the Mineral as it reflects light from its

surface

o Hardness – how easily the mineral can be scratched

 Minerals are not only found on land, you can also find them in Water as well.

Inside the Earth is very hot, so the water that is found inside the earth gets heated

as well. When this happens, many substances including minerals are dissolved in

the water. When this happens, mineral water is formed. In some places, mineral

water (whether hot or cold) comes through cracks in the sides of mountains.

 Jamaica is famous for many Mineral Baths. These Baths or Spas are known for

relaxing as well as for their healing properties. Some well-known Mineral Baths

are:

o Bath Mineral Bath - St. Thomas

o Black River Spa – St. Elizabeth

o Milk River Spa – Clarendon

o Rockfort Spa – Kingston

  Bauxite is the most common mineral that is found in Jamaica.

o Bauxite is a red or reddish-brown clay-like substance.

o It is found in large amounts in the parishes of St. Ann, Manchester, St.

Elizabeth, Trelawney & Clarendon. In these parishes, you can find

several bauxite plants, where mining of the mineral takes place.

o Aluminium (silver-white in colour) is the name given to the finished

product after Bauxite is mined.

o Aluminium is one of the most useful metallic elements. It is strong and

light and does not corrode (rust) easily.

o Aluminium is used to build aeroplanes, cars, powerlines, soda cans, foil

wrap, pots and pans.

ROCKS

 Rocks are solid materials which come from the crust of the Earth.

 So rocks are large and some are small. Large Rocks are called Boulders, while

small rocks are called Pebbles or Stones.

 Like minerals, the main properties that are used to identify rocks are Colour,

Lustre, and Hardness. There is an additional property which is used to identify

rocks and that is Texture (how the rock feels).

  Rocks are made up of minerals as well as they are made up of elements such as

oxygen, silicon, aluminium and calcium.

Types of Rocks

 Rocks are classified according to how they are formed.

 Geologists are individuals who study rocks and help to classify them.

 There are three main type of Rocks:-

o Igneous

o Sedimentary

o Metamorphic

 Igneous Rocks

o Igneous rocks are rocks which have been formed by heat (fire). They are

formed when molten (melted) rock materials found under the Earth’s

crust cools.

o Basalt and Granite are examples of Igneous Rocks.

o Igneous rocks are formed deep in the Earth’s crust or they are formed

on the Earth’s surface when a Volcano erupts.

o A Volcano is a cone-shaped mountain with an opening in the Earth’s crust.

o The heat inside the Earth melts the minerals and rocks. This molten rock is

called Magma. When a volcano erupts, the magma comes to the surface of
 the Earth. This is called Lava. When the larva cools, it hardens to form

igneous rocks.

o A volcano many explode giving off clouds of ash and gases.

Volcano

o A Volcano can be described as :

 Extinct – the Volcano no longer erupts

 Active – the Volcanic activity is occurring

 Dormant – the Volcano has not erupted in a long time, but still

shows signs of volcanic activity.

o Jamaica is said to have been formed many many years ago as result of a

series of volcanic eruption.

o The Caribbean island of Montserrat has an active volcano.

 o Volcanoes can cause serious damages when they erupt. When they erupt,

they can:

 Change the landscape by forming new rocks

 Cause deforestation (removing of trees)

 Destroy wild life

 The ash and gases can cause pollution

 They can destroy crops and animals

o Even though Volcanoes are dangerous to life and property, volcanic soil is

usually very rich in minerals needed by plants.

o How to Protect Ourselves from Volcanoes?

 Listen to scientists who give warnings about when eruptions will be

taking place and evacuate as soon as possible.

 We should educate ourselves about volcanoes by reading about them

 Dig trenches to re-direct/divert the flow of lava.

 Do not build or farm near active volcanoes

 Wear masks or air filters during and after a volcanic eruption

 Sedimentary Rocks

o Sedimentary rocks are formed when tiny particles of sand, mud, clay

and rocks settle at the bottom of rivers, lakes and seas in layers. After a

while, the layers become cemented together forming rocks.

 o Sometimes the bodies of plants and animals may fall into rocks and become

hardened. The hardened remains of dead animals or

plants are called fossils.

o Sedimentary rocks usually have fossils.

o Limestone, Chalk and Gypsum are examples of

Sedimentary rocks.

 Metamorphic Rocks

o Metamorphic rocks are formed when heat and pressure cause igneous

and sedimentary rocks to change.

o As the rocks change, their appearance (colour) and structure changes as

well.

o For example, when Limestone is changed, it turns into Marble. Marble is an

example of a metamorphic rock.

ROCK TYPES IGNEOUS SEDIMENTARY METAMORPHIC

ROCKS ROCKS ROCKS
(rocks formed by (layered rocks) (changed rocks)
fire)
HOW THEY ARE Formed when They are formed They are formed
FORMED Molten rocks when sediments when igneous and
(melted rocks) cool settle in layers and sedimentary rocks
harden are changed by
pressure and heat

HARDNESS They are usually They are usually They are usually
 hard soft to medium hard very hard

EXAMPLES Granite and Basalt Limestone and Marble

Chalk

USEES OF ROCKS

ROCK USE
Marble Use to build counter tops

Limestone Use to make cement, windows, glass

Basalt Use to help build roads

 SOIL

Soil is one the Earth’s most important resources. Almost every part of the Earth is

covered by a layer of Soil. The type of Soil in an area will depend on where it is formed.

 Soil is made up of a mixture of living and non-living things.

o Examples of living things that can be found in Soil are earthworms,

centipedes, roots

o Examples of Non-living things that make up Soils are shells, stones, rocks.

 Soil contains Water

 Soil contains Air

 Soil contains Humus. Humus is the decayed remains of plants and animals.

Humus is very important in helping plants to grow.

Layers of Soil

 Soil is formed in three layers- Topsoil, Subsoil and Bedrock

o Topsoil is the most fertile part of the soil. It is made up mostly of humus.

o Subsoil is made up mainly of pebbles, sand and clay. It has very little

humus.

o Bedrock is made up of large rocks and boulders.

Diagram showing the different layers that make up Soil

 Types of Soils

o Not all soils are the same. There are three main types of Soil – Sandy Soil,

Clay Soil & Loam.

 Sandy Soil

 Sandy soils are made up grainy and gritty particles

 Sandy soils contains a lot of air

 Because the particles have so much space between them,

water passes through very quickly.

 Clay Soil

 Clay soil is made up of very small particles of rocks that are

tightly packed together.

 There is very little air because the particles are tightly packed

together
  Water does not pass through Clay soil easily- so the soil often

gets water-logged.

 Loam Soil

 Loam is a mixture of sand, clay and large amounts of humus

 It is the best soil for growing plants because it contains

adequate amount of air, water and nutrients.

 Loam Soil does not allow all the water to drain out. Water

passes through Loam Soil at an average speed.

 Garden Soil has a good mixture of all three types of Soil- Sand, Loam and

Clay. If you were mix some Garden Soil with water in a container and leave it to

settle, you would see the different layers.

 Weathering

o Weathering is the continuous breaking down of rocks and other

minerals.

o Weathering can be seen around us – for example, the peeling of paint from

the walls of the house, cracks in the pavement or road. All these are

examples of weathering.

o As rocks weather, they break into small pieces and are eventually broken

down to form soil.

 Soil Erosion

o Soil Erosion is the removal of top soil from the earth’s surface mainly

by wind and rain.

o Soil erosion occurs when soil particles become, which makes it easy for the

wind or water to carry the particles away.

o The main causes of Soil Erosion are:

 Wind

 Water

 Deforestation – this is when trees are removed. The roots of trees

help to hold soil together so that they are not easily blown or washed

away. When trees are cut down, burnt down, this helps to make the

soil particles loose.

 Overgrazing – allowing animals to eat plants. When overgrazing

occurs, the soil is left bare and can now be easily moved by wind

and water.

 Poor Farming practices – some farmers use the “Slash and Burn”

method to clear the land. When they do this, they cause the soil

particles to become loose.

 o Because soil erosion can be harmful, we have to ensure that we use the soil

properly and care for it. The proper use and care of the soil is known as Soil

Conservation.

o There are several methods that can be used to control and help save our

soil. These are:

 Terracing – this is where you plant trees in rows across hillsides.

 Crop Rotation – planting of different crops on the same land each

year

 Adding nutrients to the soil.

 Compost

o Plants need nutrients in the Soil to Survive and grow healthy. Some of these

nutrients can come from Compost.

o Compost is a mixture of plant and materials such as grass clippings,

dead plants, leaves, unused parts of vegetables and fruits.