c

learning earth science by doing

PEBBLE GUIDE
LEARNING ROCK NAMES

Louise Leslie
 c
learning earth science by doing

PEBBLE GUIDE
LEARNING ROCK NAMES

Louise Leslie
 Copyright © by Louise Leslie 2022, GeoLearns
Two Islands, Nova Scotia, Canada. All rights reserved

ISBN 978-1-7387809-0-7

print versions are available at [Link]

Acknowledgements

Louise would like to thank her friends, family members, and fellow earth
science colleagues for their encouragement and feedback in making this
guide a reality. Especially to her husband David; colleagues Amy Tizzard,
David Piper and Georgia Pe-Piper; business mentor Wendy Canavan; and
graphic designer Rick Tisi. She is forever grateful for the financial support
received from the Nova Scotia Mineral Resources Development Fund by way
of an Education, Outreach and Engagement grant.

i
CONTENTS

CONTENTS
About this Guide. . .......................................... 1

The Planet Earth. . .......................................... 2

Earth’s Interior.............................................. 3

The Rock Cycle. . ............................................ 6

3 Ps Make a Rock.......................................... 7

Rocks and Minerals.. ...................................... 8

Igneous Rocks............................................... 9

Sedimentary Rocks.......................................13

Metamorphic Rocks......................................17

Field Trip Planning........................................19

Rock Identification Form & Table ����������������� 21

Glossary..................................................... 25

Notes . . ........................................................ 27

ii
ABOUT THIS GUIDE
Mostly everyone likes
to collect pebbles as
they stroll on the beach.
What you might not
know is what stories
these pebbles tell.
This guide has everything you’ll need to go
on your next pebble collecting adventure
at a beach. You will learn facts about the
composition of the Earth, some of the
Earth’s processes that take place and
characteristics about the three different
rock types. Most of the pebble photos you’ll
see in this guide were collected along the
northern shore of the Minas Basin in Nova
Scotia, Canada.

Important information to help you identify

your pebbles and to understand the stories
they tell is included in this handy guide.
Identifying pebbles is a skill that anyone
can learn, if you take time to train your eyes
to observe geologically. I’m sure you will
come up with really amazing stories to tell
about the pebbles you collect!

1
 THE PLANET EARTH
All living things are able consists of continental and oceanic crusts
and the upper part of the mantle. Under this
to live on our planet layer is the asthenosphere which behaves
Earth because of its four like a plastic and allows the lithosphere to

interdependent systems. move continuously as several bodies called

tectonic plates. Movement of the tectonic
The four systems of our planet Earth are plates and processes in the rock cycle
the atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere that form and transform rocks are what
and geosphere. The outermost layer of create continuous changes in the Earth’s
the geosphere is a solid lithosphere, which continents and oceans.

ATMOSPHERE HYDROSPHERE
provides oxygen to breathe provides water to live

BIOSPHERE GEOSPHERE
provides food to grow provides nutrients for plants

2
 EARTH’S INTERIOR
The Earth’s Interior percent of the Earth’s interior. Between the
upper and lower parts of the mantle is a
is made up of layers layer called the asthenosphere. For many
defined by physical and years scientists have debated about its

chemical properties. properties but most believe it behaves like

a plastic which helps to create magma,
Knowing what makes up the Earth’s interior the origin of igneous rock. The outermost
helps us understand the origin of rocks and layer of the Earth is the solid lithosphere.
also how they are formed and transformed. This layer rests on the asthenosphere and
Scientists use special tools to interpret contains the crust and the upper part of
what they believe are different layers in the the mantle. The crust, which is the upper
Earth’s interior. More than 6000 kilometres part of the lithosphere, is where all rocks
deep, at the centre of the Earth, is the core. are formed. It is divided into oceanic and
It is composed mostly of iron and has a continental crusts The rocks we can see
solid inner layer and a liquid outer layer. in the mountain ranges and in cliffs along
Around the core is the mantle. It is by far coastlines are only a very teeny-tiny fraction
the thickest layer making up more than 80 of the rocks that make up the Earth’s crust.

3
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE EARTH’S INTERIOR

EARTH’S INTERIOR
Continental Crust Lithosphere Oceanic Crust
• forms continents • includes Crust & Upper Mantle • found under the oceans
• solid rock with lighter minerals • solid rock cool zone • solid rock with darker minerals
• 30 - 40 km thick • 80 - 100 km thick • 5 -10 km thick

Upper Mantle Asthenosphere

• includes Asthenosphere • behaves like a plastic
• upper part is solid rock • hot zone that creates magma
• 600-700 km thick • 600 km thick

depth below
Earth’s surface
Continental Crust Oceanic Crust

Lithosphere
Upper Mantle
100 km
Asthenosphere
700 km

• mostly solid rock

Lower Mantle • composed of iron and magnesium
• Upper & Lower Mantle make up 80%
of the Earth’s Interior
• 2100 km thick

2900 km

• molten rock
Outer Core • composed of liquid iron
• 2300 km thick

5200 km
• solid rock composed of dense iron
Inner Core • 5000° C to 6000° C
Earth’s centre • 1200 km thick
6400 km

4
 THE ROCK CYCLE
IGNEOUS ROCKS SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
rocks formed from magma rocks formed from bits of rock, dead plants and animals
ABOVE EARTH’S SURFACE

volcanic
ashes
lava mountains
WEATHERING
RAPID COOLING &
CRYSTALLIZATION glaciers
EROSION
volcanoes
DEPOSITION
lakes oceans
rivers

dykes

BURIAL & LITHIFICATION

SLOW COOLING &
plutons CRYSTALLIZATION UPLIFT

DEEP BURIAL
EARTH’S CRUST

DEEP BURIAL
magma

HEAT PRESSURE

MELTING METAMORPHIC ROCKS

rocks formed from changed rocks

VERY DEEP BURIAL

EARTH’S MANTLE

5
 THE ROCK CYCLE
The Rock Cycle SEDIMENTARY rocks begin to form by
the process of uplift. This is created by
represents how movements in the lithosphere that push
materials in the Earth’s rocks upward. Once rocks are uplifted

crust are continuously above the Earth’s surface they become

exposed to the processes of weathering,
recycled to form and erosion and deposition to produce
transform rocks. clastic sediments. In bodies of water, like
lakes and oceans, mineral matter can be
The formation of different rocks are
precipitated into solutions to produce
categorized into three types: IGNEOUS,
chemical sediments. These sediments
SEDIMENTARY and METAMORPHIC.
will then come to rest by a process called
deposition. This is then followed by the
IGNEOUS rocks begin to form in the
processes of burial and lithification where
Earth’s crust by very deep burial. The
layers of sediment at shallow depths in
temperatures are so hot that solid rock is
the Earth’s crust form into CLASTIC and
transformed by melting which then creates
CHEMICAL SEDIMENTARY rocks.
magma. As magma rises upwards, solid
rock is formed by the processes of cooling
All rocks that become buried deep in
and crystallization. Slow cooling and
the Earth’s crust are transformed by
crystallization takes place when magma
processes of heat and pressure to
gets trapped in plutons and intrusions
form METAMORPHIC rocks. Even a
such as dykes, to form INTRUSIVE
metamorphic rock can be transformed into
IGNEOUS rocks. Rapid cooling and
another metamorphic rock. When rocks are
crystallization takes place when magma
buried very deep in the Earth’s crust they
transforms into lava as it rises close to the
will melt completely to create magma and
Earth’s surface and erupts from a volcano
then the rock cycle begins all over again.
to form EXTRUSIVE IGNEOUS rocks.

6
 3 Ps MAKE A ROCK
All rocks have two PLACE tells us where the rock has travelled.
Some examples of places above the Earth’s
stories to tell, where surface can be mountains, rivers, lakes and
they have travelled oceans. Places below the Earth’s surface

(place) and how they can be described as shallow, deep and very
deep in the Earth’s crust. PROCESS tells us
formed (process). how the rock is formed by understanding
the mechanisms that happened, such as
Rock characteristics, such as texture and
melting; cooling and crystallization; uplift;
patterns, are important clues that tell the
erosion; and heat and pressure. The two
stories hidden in the rocks. An easy way to
stories together will then lead you to the
unravel the stories in the rocks is by relating
type of rock (Igneous, Sedimentary and
the clues to the “three Ps”.
Metamorphic) which is the PRODUCT.
PLACE + PROCESS = PRODUCT

THE 3 P S FOR ROCK NAMES

PLACE + PROCESS = PRODUCT

Above the Earth’s surface RAPID COOLING and CRYSTALLIZATION

IGNEOUS ROCKS
Shallow in the Earth’s crust SLOW COOLING and CRYSTALLIZATION

Geographic locations such as

UPLIFT followed by EROSION, WEATHERING,
mountains, rivers, lakes, and
and DEPOSITION of sediments
oceans
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
BURIAL & LITHIFICATION of sediments
Shallow in the Earth’s crust

Deep in the Earth’s crust HEAT and PRESSURE that changes rocks METAMORPHIC ROCKS

Very deep in the Earth’s crust MELTING to form magma origin of IGNEOUS ROCKS

7
 ROCKS and MINERALS
Minerals are the crystals. They each have specific chemical
compositions that determine their physical
ingredients that characteristic properties. So far, scientists
make up a rock. have discovered over 2,000 minerals.

To tell your stories it’s important to identify Rocks can be composed of one or more
the characters in the story, such as the of three materials: minerals, fragments of
rocks and minerals. Minerals are non-living rock and organic material such as fossils.
substances that occur naturally to form Below are four common minerals in rocks.

Plagioclase
Feldspar (P)
P Q Quartz (Q)

Orthoclase
O B Biotite (B)
Feldspar (O)

This is a close up
of a polished rock
containing four
common minerals

8
 IGNEOUS ROCKS
The word “igneous” PROCESS: One of the main processes in
igneous rocks is how much time it takes
comes from the Latin magma to cool and transform into a solid
word “ignis”, meaning rock. Magma that transforms below the

“fire” which is known Earth’s surface will cool slowly to form

an intrusive (or Plutonic) igneous rock.
as molten (or melted) Slow cooling allows time for crystals to
rock called magma. form large enough for the naked eye to
see. Magma that continues upwards will
PLACE: The origin of all igneous rocks transform into lava. When this lava erupts
is from magma. It is formed beneath the from a volcano it transforms into a solid
surface at very deep depths in the Earth’s rock by rapid cooling to form an extrusive
crust. This is where temperatures and (or Volcanic) igneous rock. Rapid cooling
pressures are hot enough to transform solid forms very tiny crystals that can only be
rock into liquid or molten rock. Magma will seen through a microscope. Crystallization
rise upwards and form igneous rocks both also happens as the magma cools to form
below and above the Earth’s surface. crystals that interlock together so there are
no spaces between the crystals.

PRODUCT: Classification of igneous rocks

is based on the composition of the rock
and size of the crystals. A GRANITE and
RHYOLITE have similar compositions,
but have different crystal sizes because
of their different rates of cooling and
crystallization. The table on the next page
explains important igneous rock properties.

9
 IGNEOUS ROCKS
rocks formed from magma

ABOVE EARTH’S SURFACE

volcanic
ashes
lava

RAPID COOLING &

CRYSTALLIZATION
volcanoes

dykes

SLOW COOLING &

CRYSTALLIZATION
EARTH’S CRUST

plutons

magma

MELTING VERY DEEP BURIAL

EARTH’S
MANTLE

CHARACTERISTICS OF IGNEOUS ROCKS

PROPERTY INTRUSIVE ROCKS EXTRUSIVE ROCKS
rate of cooling and crystallization slow rapid

crystal sizes visible with the naked eye not visible with the naked eye

composed of light-coloured minerals GRANITE RHYOLITE

composed of dark-coloured minerals GABBRO BASALT

10
EXTRUSIVE (VOLCANIC) IGNEOUS ROCKS
RHYOLITE (RYE - o - LIGHT)

Each one of the bands in this rhyolite

represents a separate lava flow which
cooled very rapidly. The different colours in
the bands represent different compositions
in the lava. Not all rhyolites have bands like
this one, some have no pattern and contain
some crystals that are big enough to see.

BASALT (bah - SALT)

A unique characteristic found only in a

basalt rock are vesicles. These rounded
holes were formed by trapped gas bubbles
in the lava when the rock was cooling. The
vesicles often have minerals inside them,
like this one. Vesicles are only found in
igneous extrusive rocks.

11
INTRUSIVE (PLUTONIC) IGNEOUS ROCKS

GRANITE (gran - IT)

Granite is composed mostly of feldspar

(orange crystals in this sample), quartz
(grey crystals) and biotite (black crystals).
Feldspar has shiny, flat, repeating surfaces
with square corners. Quartz looks like
melted glass and biotite is a flaky mineral.
Feldspars can also be white coloured.

DIORITE (DIE - o - RIGHT)

Diorite often has a salt-and-pepper texture

made up of mostly hornblende (black
crystals) and plagioclase (white crystals).
There is always a bit more darker minerals
than lighter minerals, which includes a tiny
amount of quartz (grey crystals).

GABBRO (GAB - ROW)

Gabbro is composed mostly of darker

coloured minerals and can have a tiny
amount of quartz (grey crystals). The pits
in this pebble are not vesicles, but holes
formed where crystals were removed by
processes of weathering and erosion.

12
 SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
This rock type gets into a solid by chemical processes. Burial
and lithification are the final processes. This
its name from the is when sediments are laid down in layers,
word “sediment”. or beds, buried and then glued together by

There are two types of a cement to form a solid rock.

Sedimentary Rocks - PRODUCT: Clastic sedimentary rocks

Clastic and Chemical. are classified based on the size of their

sediments. A CONGLOMERATE has
PLACE: The origin of all sedimentary a mixture of large and small rounded
rocks is from sediments formed on the sediments. A rock with sand-size sediments
Earth’s surface in places such as lakes, is a SANDSTONE and mud-size sediments
rivers, oceans, deserts, mountain sides is a MUDSTONE. Common chemical
and even next to glaciers. Sediments sedimentary rocks are LIMESTONE,
form from “bits”, or fragments, of rock formed from shells of sea animals, and
(non-living material), preserved plants and GYPSUM, formed from a solution.
animals (organic material), and precipitated
solutions in oceans and lakes. At shallow
depths in the Earth’s surface the sediments
are transformed into clastic and chemical
sedimentary rocks.

PROCESS: The processes for clastic

sedimentary rocks are weathering, erosion
and deposition. These are explained in
the table on the next page. Chemical
sedimentary rocks come from organic
material and solutions that are transformed

13
 SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
rocks formed from bits of rock, dead plants and animals

ABOVE EARTH’S SURFACE

mountains
WEATHERING

glaciers
EROSION
DEPOSITION
lakes oceans
rivers

BURIAL & LITHIFICATION

EARTH’S CRUST

UPLIFT

PROCESSES OF CLASTIC SEDIMENTARY ROCKS

PROCESS DEFINITION DESCRIPTION (WITH EXAMPLES)
types of weathering
“breaks rock”
physical (freeze-thaw and sand blasting)
WEATHERING process of rock breaking chemical (reaction to acid)
into smaller fragments biological (plant roots & microorganisms)

physical agents or methods of erosion

“removes rock” by water (rain, waterfalls, rivers and waves)
EROSION process of fragments being picked by wind
up and moved to a different place by ice (glaciers and ice sheets)
by gravity (landslides and rockfalls)

places where deposition takes place

“dumps rock”
in water (rivers, ponds, lakes and oceans)
DEPOSITION process of fragments being layed on land (deserts, coasts, cliffs and slopes)
down and coming to rest in a place near a glacier (in, under, next to, on top and in front)

Sedimentary rocks form after the deposited sediments are buried and then compacted by
BURIAL and the weight of more sediments being deposited on top of them. The temperature present
LITHIFICATION at and near the Earth’s surface also helps the sediments form into a solid rock.

14
CLASTIC SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
CONGLOMERATE (CON-glom-er-AT)

These rocks contain a mixture of many

different sizes and types of rounded
“bits” of rocks. In this example there are
different pebble sizes within the rock. Most
conglomerates have no pattern (all jumbled
up), like this one.

SANDSTONE (SAND - STONE)

This type of pattern with many layers, is

called bedding. All the sediments in a layer
are the same size. The bedding pattern is
formed because each layer represents a
different size of sediments. The very thin,
darker layers, shown here, may be clay (or
mud) mixed with organic material.

MUDSTONE (MUD - STONE)

These rocks are composed of silt (or

mud) size sediments that can’t be seen by
the naked eye. Sedimentary bedding can
sometimes be distinguished by darker,
usually thinner, black layers that might
contain preserved organic material, such
as decomposed plants.

15
 CHEMICAL SEDIMENTARY ROCKS

Chemical sedimentary rocks are NOT usually found as beach pebbles in most locations
because they break down quickly into smaller bits from weathering and erosion.
LIMESTONE (LIME - STONE)

Many limestones have shell fossils, like the

tiny dark patches in this rock. Add a small
drop of vinegar and you might be able to
see tiny bubbles form on the rock surface.
This is the rock dissolving with acid.

GYPSUM ROCK (JIP - SUM)

Gypsum is formed from a salt solution

when water is evaporated out of it. It usually
has a sugary appearance and it can be
scratched with the blade of a pocket knife.
It’s easily weathered and eroded because
it is very soft, so they are not usually
preserved as a beach pebble.

16
 METAMORPHIC ROCKS

METAMORPHIC ROCKS
rocks formed from changed rocks
DEEP BURIAL DEEP BURIAL
EARTH’S CRUST

HEAT PRESSURE
EARTH’S
MANTLE

This rock type gets its PROCESS: The main processes that
determine the type of metamorphic rock
name from the prefix that is formed are heat and pressure. The
“meta” meaning change greater the amount of heat and pressure,

or transformation. the greater the amount of change occurs.

PRODUCT: The different amounts of

PLACE: All metamorphic rocks are formed
heat and pressure, in combination with
deep below the surface of the Earth where
its composition determine the type of
heat and pressure causes the rock to
metamorphic rock that is formed. Common
change. The depth that these rocks are
rock names listed in order from small to
formed is deeper than sedimentary rocks
big changes, are SLATE , PHYLLITE and
but not so deep that the rock will be melted
GNEISS.
into magma.

17
METAMORPHIC ROCKS
SLATE (sl - ATE)

Slate usually has thin and slightly wavy layers

which represent preserved sedimentary
layers (bedding) that have been slightly
changed by heat and pressure. It is brittle,
making a sharp pinging noise when you hit
it on a hard surface.

PHYLLITE (FILL - ite)

Phyllite usually has thinner and wavier layers

indicating there was slightly more heat and
pressure that changed the sedimentary
layers when compared to slate. The surface
sometimes feels soapy and you might see
glittery specks of mica (flaky) minerals.

GNEISS (NICE)

Gneiss rocks have patterns that range

from flat to slightly wavy bands that have
dark and light colours and also usually
have different thicknesses. The different
colours represent different minerals that
have formed from different compositions
and different amounts of heat and pressure
that transformed this rock.

18
 FIELD TRIP PLANNING
Now it’s time to plan for the area you will be visiting as they are
different from one place to another.
your field trip, collect
some pebbles and DANGEROUS SURFACES: The best places
to collect pebbles are along the rocky
test your knowledge! beaches so you will need good, sturdy

Protected Sites footwear to walk safely. Avoid slippery rocks

covered with seaweed, green algae or mud.
In most cases it is okay to collect loose Walk carefully on rocks near cliff faces as
materials from the beach, such as pebbles, these usually have very sharp edges. It is
but it is not permitted to collect fossils. A best to leave your beach sandals at home.
permit is required to remove material from
the cliff face and to collect fossils from the CLIFFS: Do not walk close to the cliff face.
beach. Rocks and debris may fall down from the
cliff without notice. A safe distance away
Safety from the cliff is about 10 metres (the length
of a school bus).
TIDES: One of the most important safety
concerns is being aware of the tides, SAFETY KIT: It’s a good idea to carry a small
especially in the Bay of Fundy and the Minas safety kit and a whistle in your backpack. If
Basin. The rising tide may cut off your you get injured, an adult will be able to use
beach access and leave you stranded with this kit to provide first aid for minor cuts or
no route to return back safely. The general injury. The whistle can be used to call for
rule of thumb is to start your hike when the help or warn others of dangers.
tide is falling (going out) and return at least
two hours before the high tide time. WEATHER: Weather can change very
quickly if you are not paying attention. You
Make sure that you check the tide schedule should bring extra clothing for cold and wet

19
 FIELD TRIP PLANNING
weather, and also have a hat and sunscreen GeoLearns Pebble Kit
for a hot, sunny day.
In addition to the Pebble Guide, the Pebble
Personal Equipment Kit includes some useful field tools to help
you with your rock identification while you
Along with your Pebble Kit, you might also
are on your field trip. It will have a hand
want to pack a small snack, water bottle
lens, ruler, pencil, eraser, marker, notebook,
and cell phone in your backpack for your
binder and sample bags to hold each of the
trip to the beach just in case there is an
pebbles you collect. The small notebook
emergency. A cell phone will also be handy
will allow you to draw more sketches and
to take photos of all the interesting things
journal your adventure to the beach.
you’ll discover on your hike along the beach.

20
 ROCK IDENTIFICATION FORM & TABLE
Whenever a geologist to describe as many details as possible.

does field work they It’s important to include labels and a scale

have a form to help on your sketch. Draw a line from each

label to the place on your pebble where
them record their you observed the features you describe. A
observations. scale is drawn next to the sketch to show
dimensions of your pebble sample.
One rock identification form is filled out
for each pebble sample you collect. Start To help you determine the rock name and
with writing your name (Collector), date, the rock type, match your observations to
sample number you’ve assigned to your the descriptions in the Rock Identification
pebble and information about your location Table, on the next pages.
in the upper part of the form.

The lower part is the Pebble Observations

section. This is where you’ll record your
observations and sketch your pebble
sample. Fill in as much as you can during
the field trip. Don’t worry if you run out of
time, you can finish recording information
about your pebbles when you’re back in the
classroom.

Use your own words to describe everything

you see. Write neatly with descriptions that
others will be able to understand. Sketching
what you see will help you look a little closer

21
 ROCK IDENTIFICATION FORM c

Collector Date Sample #

Location Name Location Description

Pebble Observations (describe the following characteristics)

Colour (give one or more) Dimensions (shortest & longest lengths) Shape (choose one of the following)

rounded angular

Texture (crystals, sediments, or too small) Permeability test

(pour tiny amount of water onto the pebble)

water is absorbed = water runs off =

permeable not permeable
subrounded subangular
Feels (smooth or rough) (light or heavy) Pattern (no pattern or organized)

Describe your observations (include patterns and other characteristics you can see)

Sketch your pebble (include labels such as the pebble’s dimensions and any special features)

Rock type: (circle one) Rock name:

Igneous Sedimentary Metamorphic

22
If you are having difficulty describing the rock characteristics in the Rock Identification
Form, use the descriptions below in the Rock Identification Table to help you. Start on the

ROCK IDENTIFICATION TABLE

TEXTURE PERMEABLE COLOUR PATTERN
high permeability has no pattern

sediments medium permeability

are visible may have no pattern

small permeability may have organized pattern of flat layers
light and dark colours
may have organized pattern of parallel
and wavy layers

sediments
and has an organized pattern of thin and

crystals slightly wavy layers

too small dark colours

has no pattern

to see may have no pattern

dark to medium colours may have organized pattern of flat to
wavy layers

no permeability

light and dark colours

has no pattern

crystals
are visible dark colours

has an organized pattern of thin and

slightly wavy layers
light and dark colours
has an organized pattern of thin to thick
and flat to wavy layers

23
left hand side of the table by selecting the texture of your rock. Then, work your way to the
right to determine the rock name and its rock type.

ROCK IDENTIFICATION TABLE c

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS ROCK NAME ROCK TYPE

contains rounded pebbles with different sizes and rock types CONGLOMERATE

sand-size sediments SANDSTONE

layers can be slanted in one or more CLASTIC
directions SEDIMENTARY
surface feels smooth
may have fossils or plant material like baby powder SILTSTONE OR
may have ripples or mud cracks surface may feel MUDSTONE
greasy

rock surface fizzes (bubbles) with a drop of vinegar CHEMICAL

LIMESTONE
may have fossil shells SEDIMENTARY

fresh rock surface has sugary texture

QUARTZITE
crystals look like they are glued together
METAMORPHIC
may contain glittery flakes of mica PHYLLITE OR SCHIST

looks like a mudstone but is more brittle SLATE

may contain holes shaped like gas bubbles

BASALT
may have hexagonal shape on the outer rock surface

may be reddish or greenish colour RHYOLITE IGNEOUS

EXTRUSIVE
(VOLCANIC)
may have holes filled with light minerals or crystals BASALT

may be reddish or greenish colour

RHYOLITE
may contain visible crystals of one or more colours

contains crystals of grey (quartz), white or pinkish-orange

(feldspar) and black (biotite) colours GRANITE
IGNEOUS INTRUSIVE
(PLUTONIC)
contains mostly dark coloured crystals with a smaller amount
of grey (quartz) and white (feldspar) crystals DIORITE OR GABBRO

may contain glittery flakes of mica and a few visible crystals

of different colours PHYLLITE OR SCHIST
METAMORPHIC
contains layers with different thicknesses of dark and light
coloured crystals GNEISS

24
 GLOSSARY
ASTHENOSPHERE A partially molten layer such as magma cooling into solid rock.
in the mantle, beneath the lithosphere, that is
DEPOSITION A process of laying down, or
100 to 700 km below the Earth’s surface which
“dumping” rock-forming materials such as
flows and helps the tectonic plates move.
sediments or mineral matter precipitated from
BED (BEDDING) A layer in a sedimentary a solution.
rock, originally laid down as a layer of sediment.
DYKE An igneous intrusion that cuts across
BURIAL A sedimentary process of burying one or more layers of other rocks.
layers of sediment deeper below the Earth’s
EROSION A sedimentary process that
surface from the weight of the overlying layers
“removes” sediments by gravity, flowing water,
of sediment.
wind, and glaciers (ice).
CEMENT A material that consists usually of
FOSSIL The remains and traces of animals
quartz or calcite minerals that crystallize in the
and plants which have been preserved by
pore spaces of sediments.
natural causes in the Earth’s crust.
CORE A zone at the Earth’s centre consisting
GEOSPHERE Consists of all the solid parts of
mostly of iron with a solid inner core and a liquid
the Earth, including the lithosphere.
outer core.
INTRUSION A body of molten rock that has
CRUST The uppermost layer of the Earth
travelled upward through the Earth’s crust and
that overlies the upper mantle, consisting of a
solidified within another rock.
continental crust which makes up most of the
rock under continents and an oceanic crust LAVA A fluid rock originating from magma
which makes up most of the rock under oceans. that erupts from a volcano.

CRYSTAL A three dimensional form with LITHIFICATION A process that cements

flat, regular, repeated surfaces created from sediments together to form a solid rock.
the internal orderly arrangement of atoms in a
LITHOSPHERE An outer rigid shell layer,
mineral.
around 100 km thick, consisting of the crust
CRYSTALLIZATION The formation and and part of the upper mantle, broken into
growth of a solid (crystal) from a liquid or gas, tectonic plates.

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 GLOSSARY
MAGMA A molten material, or liquid rock, ROCK CYCLE A cycle of processes through
formed very deep below the Earth’s surface. which Earth materials are formed and
transformed from one rock type to another.
MANTLE A zone beneath the crust and
around the core which makes up about 80% of SEDIMENT A material that consists of
the Earth’s volume with mostly solid outer and loose particles created from the processes of
inner layers separated by the partially molten weathering and erosion of rock, by chemical
asthenosphere. precipitation from a solution in water, or
from secretions or material discharged from
MELTING A process when solid rock is
organisms.
transformed into a fluid rock, or magma.
SOLUTION A change in matter from a solid
MINERAL A naturally occurring inorganic
or gas into a liquid state that mixes together.
compound or element with defined chemical
composition and physical properties. TECTONIC PLATES A series of large rigid
segments of broken up plates of the lithosphere
MINERAL MATTER A substance formed
that move relative to one another over the
from decaying plants and animals.
asthenosphere.
MOLTEN A term to describe partially melted
TEXTURE A property describing the way
or ‘liquid’ rock.
crystals and sediments fit together, including
PERMEABILITY A measure of how quickly a shapes, sizes and orientation of crystals and
fluid will flow through a rock. sediments.

PLASTIC A property that describes partially UPLIFT A process that pushes rocks, of any
melted or molten rock that allows rock to flow. type, upward towards the surface of the Earth.

PLUTON An intrusive igneous body that forms VESICLES A series of small holes or cavities in
when magma cools and crystallizes within the a rock that are formed by trapped gas bubbles
Earth’s crust. in the lava when the rock was cooling.

ROCK A consolidated naturally occurring WEATHERING A sedimentary process that

material composed of a mixture of minerals, “breaks” a rock by physical, chemical and
rock fragments and fossils. biological action.

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NOTES

27
NOTES

28
 About the Author

Louise Leslie is a passionate earth science educator. She draws

on her knowledge and experience as a geologist and outreach
specialist to create concise, science-based, visually engaging
guides. Her classroom-ready resources encourage hands-on
inquiry-based activities focused on outdoor learning. She strives
to create invaluable educational tools for teachers which are
also equally enticing for the outdoor enthusiast curious about
our planet Earth.

Having recently moved to Nova Scotia, Louise discovered the

untapped, resource-rich potential of the beach pebbles found
near her home. Who hasn’t combed beaches for those one-
of-a-kind pebbles? Her handy Pebble Guide lets you have fun
unravelling the stories in the pebbles and at the same time,
helps you gain a broader understanding of important Earth
processes.

Louise has an MSc in Quaternary Geology and an MA in

Environmental Education and Communication in field-based
earth science education.

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 For More
Information and
Learning Resources
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c
Pebble Guide
learning earth science by doing Learning Rock Names
GeoLearns© 2020. All Rights Reserved. Questions regarding use and reprints, please contact us at louise@[Link]