Topic 3: Rocks & Minerals

What are vibrations that travel through Earth, carrying the energy released during an earthquake?

seismic waves

This term refers to the way some minerals break along certain lines of weakness in their structure and in smooth planes (when a mineral breaks in a predictable pattern/shape).

cleavage

Air, water, and impurities can change this mineral property, which is why it should never be the only test used to determine a mineral's identity. In addition, the composition of a mineral represents this property.

color

Igneous rock is formed by the cooling and solidification of molten Earth materials. Igneous rock forms when magma or lava cools. If igneous rock forms above ground after a volcanic eruption, it ________________ forming ____________ igneous rock, such as obsidian which is a naturally occurring volcanic glass.

cools quickly, extrusive

What is the layer of rock that forms Earth's outer surface; solid rock that includes both dry land and the ocean floor?

crust

What is a solid in which the atoms are arranged in a pattern that repeats again and again?

crystal

Molten hot magma that cools very slowly can cause ______________ in igneous rock.

the formation of large crystals

What is the color a mineral displays in a finely powdered form after being scratched on a plate called?

A) streak

Rock sediments are carried to other places by the wind, running water, and gravity. As these forces lose energy settling takes place. The sediments settle out of the air or water in rock particles graded by size with heavier pieces settle out first. Which term of describes this process of sedimentary rock formation?

Deposition

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a mineral? A) solid B) liquid C) definite chemical composition D) inorganic

Liquid

This term refers to how light is reflected off the mineral's surface; often described as being metallic or nonmetallic.

Luster

Which property remains unaffected during the rock cycle?

Mass of the material

A student is watching a video in order to understand how convection in the mantle of the Earth occurs. The video shows rock rising and sinking to make convection currents in the mantle. Which process is responsible for causing rock to rise?

Rock is heated.

Rocks in and on the Earth are constantly changing because of both physical and chemical processes. The continual change in rocks on Earth is called

The Rock Cycle

What is the process by which atoms are arranged to form a material with a crystal structure?

crystallization

During the rock cycle, ______________ follows erosion.

deposition

What is a rock that forms when lava cools ABOVE/ON the surface of Earth?

extrusive igneous rock

This refers to when a mineral does not break in a predictable pattern (mineral breaks randomly; irregularly).

fracture

What causes sedimentary rock to change into metamorphic rock?

heat and pressure

What is a type of rock that forms from the cooling of molten rock at or below the surface?

igneous rock

Five hundred million years ago, basaltic lava flowed in an area now known as Monticello, the historic home of Thomas Jefferson. Some of this rock has since re-crystallized under intense heat and pressure and then has been eroded by wind and rain. The order of the rock cycle in this case is BEST described as

igneous, metamorphic, sedimentary

What is a dense sphere of solid iron and nickel at the center of Earth?

inner core

he _______ is characterized by being a solid that is the hottest layer and under the most pressure. Whereas, the _______ layer of Earth is a liquid and is responsible for creating Earth's magnetic field.

inner core / outer core

What is a rigid layer made up of the uppermost part of the mantle and the crust?

lithosphere

What is the layer of hot, solid material between Earth's crust and core?

mantle

The ________________ should be the thickest layer of Sam's model, and the _____________ should be the thinnest layer.

mantle / crust

Metamorphic rock is changed into igneous rock by

melting followed by cooling and solidification.

What is a type of rock that forms from an existing rock that is changed by heat, pressure, or chemical reactions?

metamorphic

Which type of rock can form if extreme heat and pressure are applied to sedimentary rock?

metamorphic rock

What is a naturally occurring solid that can form by inorganic processes and that has a crystal structure and a definite chemical composition?

mineral

Rocks are composed of different kinds of

minerals

What is a layer of molten iron and nickel that surrounds the inner core of Earth; a liquid layer responsible for creating Earth's magnetic field?

outer core

Which of these BEST describes the concept of the rock cycle?

rocks are continually changing, and any type of rock may be transformed into another type by appropriate processes

What are small, solid pieces of material that come from rocks or the remains of organisms; earth materials deposited by erosion?

sediment

A rock appears to have formed in materials deposited in water. It is most likely a/an _____________ rock.

sedimentary

How is it possible for two different minerals (such as Graphite and Diamond) to have the same chemical composition?

they have different crystal structures