Igneous, Sedimentary, and Metamorphic Rocks
Igneous, Sedimentary, and Metamorphic Rocks
Objectives
In this unit, students investigate the three basic rock types (igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic) and connect them to the rock-forming processes that produce them. Students will:
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differentiate among igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rock-forming processes.
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investigate rock specimens representative of igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rock types.
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relate rock specimens to the Earth processes that produce them.
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explain how igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks form.
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analyze models to better understand Earth processes.
Essential Questions
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Related Materials & Resources
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Materials haven't been entered into the unit plan.Formative Assessment
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Multiple Choice Items:
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Basalt is an igneous rock that commonly crystallizes from lava. Which characteristic best describes the mineral crystals in basalt?
A
Clear
B
Broken
C
small
D
glass
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Which sequence best matches the production of igneous rock?
A
pre-existing rock compaction recrystallization
B
pre-existing rock melting solidification
C
pre-existing rock dissolving precipitation
D
pre-existing rock pressure crystallization
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Which igneous rock can best be shaped into arrowheads with sharp edges?
A
Granite
B
Basalt
C
Pumice
D
Obsidian
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Sandstone is classified as a clastic sedimentary rock because it consists mostly of which one of the following?
A
large crystals
B
banded rock
C
organism remains
D
rock pieces
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Which pair of processes preserves plant remains early in the coal-forming process?
A
precipitation and compaction
B
rapid burial and immersion
C
crystallization and cementation
D
heat and compression
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Compaction and cementation produce shale from which source?
A
Mud
B
Gravel
C
Shells
D
Sand
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Recrystallization of minerals results in which physical characteristic?
A
crystals in granite
B
layers in peat
C
grains in sandstone
D
banding in gneiss
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Heat and pressure turn which rock into marble?
A
Sandstone
B
Limestone
C
Granite
D
Shale
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Igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rock-forming process are similar in which way?
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A
rocks melt and layer
B
rocks dissolve and precipitate
C
rocks recycled into other rocks
D
rocks recrystallize and erode
Multiple Choice Answer Key:
1. C
2. B
3. D
4. D
5. B
6. A
7. D
8. B
9. C
Short Answer Items:
10. Explain how the formation of metamorphic rocks differs from the formation of
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sedimentary rocks in relation to the Earth’s surface.
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igneous rocks in terms of state of matter (solid, liquid, gas).
Short-answer key and Scoring Rubrics:
10. Explain how the formation of metamorphic rocks differs from the formation of
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sedimentary rocks in relation to the Earth’s surface.
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igneous rocks in terms of state of matter (solid, liquid, gas).
Points
Description
2
Student correctly explained both of the following points:
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Sedimentary processes occur at or near the surface of the Earth from deposition of sediment. Metamorphic processes occur deep beneath the Earth’s surface under increased temperature and pressure conditions.
- Rocks melt into magma before solidifying into igneous rocks. Rocks change into metamorphic rocks while remaining in the solid state.
1
- Student correctly explained one of the above points but not both.
0
- Student correctly explained neither of the above points.
Performance Assessment:
There is a huge body of granite in central Texas called the Enchanted Rock Batholith, which covers some 100 square miles. The granite that makes up this batholith is 1.1 billion years in age, making it one of the oldest granites in the world. The Enchanted Rock Batholith was once 10 miles under the surface of the Earth, buried by a great mountain chain called the Grenville Mountains. These ancient mountains once extended from northeastern Canada to Mexico, and ran through eastern Pennsylvania as well as central Texas. Today, people go to climb and picnic on the Enchanted Rock Batholith. One of the domes of the batholith is pictured below.
Write a short essay about the Enchanted Rock Batholith. Include the following information:
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Explain what the rock, granite, tells us about
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the rock-forming processes that produced the batholith granite.
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the depth at which the batholith granite crystallized.
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the minerals that the batholith granite most likely contains.
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Explain what happened to the mountains that once buried the batholith.
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Identify and explain the two sedimentary processes that act upon surface rocks, relating these processes to the mountains.
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Explain how sedimentary rocks can form from mountains.
You may use your unit worksheets and notes as reference materials.
Performance Assessment Scoring Rubric:
Points
Description
5
The student completes all five of the requirements, as follows:
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The batholith is composed of granite, an igneous rock that formed from the crystallization of magma.
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Granite is characterized by large, visible crystals, so the magma must have crystallized slowly underground.
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Granite commonly is made of the minerals feldspar, quartz, and biotite, so the batholith granite most likely contains these minerals as well.
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The mountain rocks were at the surface of the Earth. Rocks at the surface of the Earth are subjected to weathering (the physical or chemical breaking down of rocks into sediments) and erosion (the wearing down and movement of Earth’s crust materials from one place to another by agents like wind, water, and glaciers), so the mountains were weathered and eroded.
- The mountains were weathered and eroded into sediments that were deposited (laid down) and lithified (changed into rock) through compaction (the squeezing together of sediment particles by the weight of overlying sediment layers) and cementation (sediments are bound together by minerals that precipitate around the sediment particles) into sedimentary rocks.
4
The student completes four of the requirements.
3
The student completes three of the requirements.
2
The student completes two of the requirements.
1
The student completes one of the requirements.
0
The student demonstrates lack of understanding or does not attempt to complete the assessment.
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DRAFT 11/17/2010
