Rock, Minerals and Soils
1) Draw a labelled diagram to show the internal structure of the earth as we know it today!
crust
mantle
outer core
inner core
2) Which two metals are found in the area in the center of the earth? Nickel & Iron
3) Inner core is solid & outer core is molten
4) What is the scientific term for someone who studies rocks? Geologist
5) What is the difference between rocks and minerals?
a) Rocks are solid materials that are made for one or more minerals
b) Minerals are solid natural made objects that have never been alive, it can be rock-like or
metals.
6) Humus: all materials that comes from living things
7) Soil: made from rocks, minerals, humus, bacteria, fungi & small animal
8) The particles in soil: sandy particles (large) & clay particles (small)
9) Look at the diagram of a volcano!
a) Lava from the volcano cools down to make rock.
b) Which type of rock is made when lava cools down? Igneous rocks
c) Rock that forms lava does not contain fossils. Explain why! igneous rocks are
formed directly from lava or magma, not sediment. Fossils are
only found in sedimentary rocks,
d) What is the name of the outer layer of the earth? Crust
Complete the sentences using words from the list! You may use each word once, more than once or
not at all.
Crystals, fossils, grains, granite, heat, igneous, limestone, magma, marble, metamorphic, more
quickly, particles, porous, pressure, sedimentary
10) Igneous Rocks
Rocks that are formed when molten………… (a) cools are called…………..(b) rocks…………(c)can
often be seen in these rocks.
Rocks with small crystals cooled……………(d) than rocks with larger crystals. If the magma cools
very quickly then no…………..(e) are formed. An example of an igneous rocks is………………(f)
a) magma
b) igneous
c) particles
d) more quickly
e) crystals
f) granite
11) Sedimentary Rocks
Rocks formed from layers of…………..(a) settling on top of one another and being……………(b)
down are called…………….(c) rocks. Small……………(d) can be seen in the rock.
These rocks often contain fossils and are……………(e). An example of this type of rock is………..(f).
a) fossils
b) grains
c) sedimentary
d) particles
e) porous
f) limestone
12) Metamorphic Rocks
Metamorphic rocks are formed from other type of rocks that are subjected to a lot of……………(a)
and……………(b) underground. Metamorphic rocks are harder than…………….(c) rocks. An example
of a metamorphic rock is………………(d)
a) heat
b) pressure
c) sedimentary
d) marble
13) 4 ways to identify rocks: texture, color, size, hardness
14) Differences between Rocks and Mineral
Minerals Rocks
Usually very pretty Not pretty
Has a shape No shape
May contain crystals No crystals
Will not contain fossils May contain fossils
Color is mostly the same May have many colors
15) Types of soil: clay soil, sandy soil, potting soil, loam
16) Clay Soil:
a) smooth when dry and sticky when wet
b) can hold a lot of nutrients
c) doesn’t let air & water through it well
17) Sandy Soil:
a) feels rough
b) has sharp edges
c) doesn’t hold many nutrients
18) Loam Soil:
a) mixture of different types of soils
b) feels smooth & spongy when rolled into a ball
19) Potting Soil:
a) use in garden & potted plants
b) should be loose & light
20) Fossils: remains of living organism that have changed to rocks
21) Types of Fossils:
a) mold => impression made in a substance. It is not the actual living organism but a impression.
The picture is a mold fossil of a leaf.
b) cast => fossil is formed when a mold fossil is filled in. The fossil can be of anything that once
lived (plants, animals, insects).
c) trace => impressions like mold fossils but are not the actual living organism- just evidence of
them.
Examples: nests, burrows, and footprints.
d) true-form => the actual once living animal or organism.
Example: Animal bones
22) - Fossils are formed from dead organisms that become part of a rock
- Fossils tell us how some rocks were formed
- Fossils tell us about life on earth millions of years ago