Rocks, Minerals, and Soil

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Minerals

Rocks

The Rock Cycle

Soil

Erosion

Definition: A mineral is an inorganic, homogeneous solid

Inorganic means never been alive

Homogeneous means made of only one thing

Minerals

MineralsExamples: Gold, iron, copper, salt, diamonds, coal, feldspar, calcium, phosphorus

Iron Feldspar Gold

RocksDefinition: More than one kind of mineral stuck together

Three types of rocks

Igneous - May have crystals, no layers, may have holes, might look “glass-like”

Metamorphic - May have layers of crystals or minerals, wavy lines

Sedimentary - May have layers, rounded particles, rough and grainy

Deep inside the Earth, rocks and minerals melt under tremendous heat. This forms magma.

When the magma cools back down, it hardens and forms new rocks. These rocks are called IGNEOUS rocks.

IGNEOUS ROCKS• How are they made?

IGNEOUS ROCKS• Samples of Igneous Rocks

Basalt, granite, obsidian, pumice

Some rocks are changed by heat and pressure. New rocks are formed.

Deep inside the Earth

Layers of sediment

Metamorphic rocks form

METAMORPHIC ROCKS• How are they made?

METAMORPHIC ROCKS• Samples of Metamorphic Rocks

The forces of wind, water, and gravity break rocks down into little pieces. This is called weathering.

Big rocksBig rocks Smaller rocksSmaller rocks SandSand

SEDIMENTARY ROCKS• How are they made?

After a long time, these little pieces of rocks get stuck back together and form new rocks.

Time + Pressure

SEDIMENTARY ROCKSHow are they formed?

SEDIMENTARY ROCKS• Samples of Sedimentary Rocks

Sandstone, limestone, shale, conglomerate

The Rock Cycle

To access an interactive website, click here.

If the link doesn’t work, go to: http://www.classzone.com/books/earth_science/terc/content/investigations/es0602/es0602page02.cfm

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Soil

• In this section, you will learn about the layers of soil, how soil is formed, and what soil is made of.

Topsoil - where plants get their nutrientsTopsoil - where plants get their nutrients

Subsoil - not as much organic materialSubsoil - not as much organic material

Parent Material - provides the minerals in soilParent Material - provides the minerals in soil

Bedrock - mostly solid rockBedrock - mostly solid rock

Layers of Soil

Soil Formation

It takes about 500 years for 1 inch of topsoil to form.

Soil is formed as rocks are weathered and

covered with organic material.

Components of Soil

Erosion happens when pieces of rocks and soil are carried away by wind and water.

ErosionWhat is erosion?

It can be beautiful.

Erosion happens when pieces of rocks and soil are carried away by wind and water.

ErosionWhat is erosion?

It can be devastating.

Farmer’s field gets washed away

A house too close to a river

• Class website: www.mrbrunner.com

• My school email: jbrunner@alpine.k12.ut.us