Materials:
- Geology.com (https://geology.com/rocks/) as a reference.
- Rock pictures available in in the Google folder “Pictures for Rocks Lab”
Part 1 – Igneous Rocks
1. The texture of igneous rock is typically described as phaneritic, aphanitic, glassy, or vesicular. Briefly describe what each of these textures means, and how it relates to the rate of cooling to form the rock.
Texture
Description
Rate of Cooling
Phaneritic
Aphanitic
Glassy
Vesicular
2. Using the website and your lecture notes, state the texture for each of the following rocks.
Rock
Texture
Gabbro
Rhyolite
Obsidian
Andesite
Pumice
Granite
Basalt
Diorite
3. The composition of igneous rock is typically described as felsic, intermediate, mafic, or ultramafic. The composition of the igneous rock is determined by the minerals that are in the magma or lava that forms the rock. State the type of color that is found in igneous rocks of each type of composition. (Choose from light, dark, dark greenish, and in between light and dark.)
Composition
Color
Felsic
Intermediate
Mafic
Ultramafic
4. Using the website and your notes, state the composition (felsic, intermediate, mafic, ultramafic) for each of the following rocks.
Rock
Composition
Gabbro
Rhyolite
Obsidian
Andesite
Pumice
Granite
Basalt
Diorite
5. Complete the following table to identify the pictures of igneous rocks.
Texture: phaneritic, aphanitic, glassy, or vesicular
Composition: felsic, intermediate, mafic, or ultramafic
Igneous Rock Name: Basalt, granite, etc.
Number
Texture
Composition
Igneous Rock Name
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Part 2 – Sedimentary Rocks
1. Sedimentary rocks are classified by the materials that most directly make up the rock. Briefly describe the three basic types of composition for sedimentary rocks.
Composition
Description
Clastic
Chemical
Organic
2. Using the website and your lecture notes, state the composition of each of the following types of rocks.
Rock
Composition
Sandstone
Coquina
Shale
Bituminous coal
Limestone
Conglomerate
3. Carbonate minerals, such as calcite (CaCO3) will undergo a chemical reaction with HCl to create CO2, which is a gas at room temperature. Therefore, when HCl is applied to these minerals, they will bubble or fizz. Considering which carbonates we have discussed, and which sedimentary rocks are made of these minerals, complete the chart below with which rocks you would expect to produce bubbles when you apply HCl.
Rock
Produce bubbling when HCl is applied?
Sandstone
Coquina
Shale
Bituminous coal
Limestone
Conglomerate
4. Complete the following table to identify the pictures of sedimentary rocks.
Composition: clastic, chemical, or organic
Mineral Composition (for chemical sedimentary rocks only!): state dominante mineral present
Reaction with HCl: if reaction with HCl is expected, based on chemical composition
Sedimentary Rock Name: sandstone, bituminous coal, etc.
Number
Composition
Mineral Composition
Reaction with HCl
Sedimentary Rock Name
9
10
12
13
14
16
Part 3 – Metamorphic Rocks
1. Describe the difference between a foliated and nonfoliated metamorphic rock.
Term
Description
Foliated
Nonfoliated
2. Using the website and your lecture notes, identify each of the following rocks as foliated or nonfoliated.
Metamorphic Rock
Foliated or Nonfoliated
Marble
Anthracite Coal
Schist
Amphibolite
Slate
Quartzite
Gneiss
3. Metamorphic rocks are formed when a previously existing rock undergoes metamorphism (heat and pressure). The parent rock is this previously existing rock. For each of the metamorphic rocks in the table, state the parent rock(s).
Rock
Parent Rock(s)
Marble
Anthracite Coal
Schist
Amphibolite
Slate
Quartzite
Gneiss
4. Recall that carbonate minerals will undergo a chemical reaction with HCl to create CO2, which is a gas at room temperature. Therefore, when HCl is applied to these minerals, they will bubble or fizz. Considering the parent rocks of the metamorphic rocks listed below, state which you would expect to produce a reaction with HCl.
Rock
Reaction with HCl?
Marble
Anthracite Coal
Schist
Amphibolite
Slate
Quartzite
Gneiss
5. Complete the following table to identify the pictures of the sedimentary rocks.
Foliated or nonfoliated: showing layer of minerals or not
Reaction with HCl: is reaction with HCl is expected
Parent Rock: non-metamorphic rock that is turned into metamorphic rock
Metamorphic Rock Name: gneiss, marble, etc.
Number
Foliated or Nonfoliated?
Reaction with HCl
Parent Rock(s)
Metamorphic Rock Name
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
