2-1: Minerals and Rocks

6th Grade Earth Science

2-1: Minerals and Rocks

1. Naturally Occurring –Not man made.

2. Inorganic Solid - Did not form from a living thing.

3. Crystal Shape – Like cubes, prisms, triangles, etc.

4. Chemical Composition –Made of a definite chemical composition in a specific proportion.

What is a Mineral?

2-1: Minerals and Rocks

1. Minerals are the building blocks of rocks.

2. Rocks are made up of one or more minerals.

What are Rocks?

2-1: Minerals and Rocks

• Crystals are a solid made up of particles that line up in a pattern that repeats over and over again.

What is a Crystal?

2-1: Rocks and the Rock Cycle

3. Metamorphic

Types of Rocks

1. Igneous

2. Sedimentary

2-1: Rocks and the Rock CycleWhat is the Rock Cycle?

• It is a series of processes on and beneath Earth’s surface that slowly change rocks from one kind to another.

2-1: Rocks and the Rock Cycle

2-1: Rocks and the Rock Cycle

Starts withIgneous Rock

• Forms when molten rock hardens under ground or at the Earth’s surface.

• Big crystals – slow cooling.

• Small crystals – fast cooling.

2-1: Rocks and the Rock Cycle

Starts withIgneous Rock

• Forms when molten rock hardens under ground or at the Earth’s surface.

• Big crystals – slow cooling.

• Small crystals – fast cooling.

2-1: Rocks and the Rock Cycle

Water and weather break the rocks into sediment

• Pieces of rock are carried by the wind or water.

• They are deposited in layers of sediment.

2-1: Rocks and the Rock Cycle

2-1: Rocks and the Rock Cycle

Sedimentary Rock

• Pieces of rock are deposited as sediment.

• The layers are compressed and glued together to form sedimentary rock.

2-1: Rocks and the Rock Cycle

Metamorphic Rock• When a rock is

deeply buried, it heats up and is under pressure.

• Minerals in the rock can melt and change into other minerals.

Granite turns into …

…. Gneiss

2-1: Rocks and the Rock Cycle

• There are many pathways in the rock cycle.

2-1: Using Minerals and Rocks

Nonrenewable Resources • Minerals and rocks are used in many ways.

• Since new ones take so long to form, they are considered nonrenewable.

2-1: Using Minerals and Rocks

Use of Minerals• Gemstones

• Copper

• Iron

• Silver

• Gold

• Glass

• Foods

• Medicines

• Cement

2-1: Using Minerals and Rocks

Use of Rocks• Arrowheads

• Counter tops

• Floors

• Cement

• Walls

• Decoration

2-1: Producing Metals from Ores

What is an ore?• A rock that

contains a useful mineral that can be mined and sold for money is called an ore.

Copper

Ore

Platinum

Ore

2-1: Producing Metals from Ores

What is Mining? • Digging the ore out of the ground.

– Strip mining

– Open-pit mining

– Shaft mining

2-1: Producing Metals from Ores

What is Smelting?• Adding other substances

to the melted ore to separate the useful metal from the other elements. Ingots are produced.

2-1: Producing Metals from OresSummary

• Rocks are made of minerals. Minerals have a crystal shape and definite chemical composition.

• The rock cycle forms, breaks down, changes, and melts rocks.

• Three main rock types: Igneous, Sedimentary, and Metamorphic.

• Minerals and rocks have many uses.

• Miners mine ores and use smelting to get the minerals out.