Rocks and Minerals Student Unit Outline

8/3/2019 Rocks and Minerals Student Unit Outline

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ROCKS & MINERALS

unit

Science 7/8

Mr. letkeman


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Rocks and Minerals Unit

Rocks are not created equal. They each have their own stories and their own

origins. We can learn about these origins by studying the minerals that existinside each rock. These rocks and minerals are also mined in Saskatchewan and

form a huge part of our prosperous economy. Thats what this unit is about.

Topic Outline

1. Whats the Difference? Rocks and Minerals

2. Whos In There? - The 4 Properties of Minerals

3. Mineral Lab (assignment)

4. Rock Family Trees Igneous, Metamorphic, & Sedimentary Rock

5. Stone Sleuthing - Classifying Rocks Using a Dichotomous Key

6. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle The Earths Natural Rock Recycling Program

7. Mid-Unit Quiz

8. Where the Money Is Mining in Saskatchewan

9. Mining in Canada Video The Effects of Mining on Communities & Ecosystems

10. Tools of the Trade Technology and Mining

11. Mind Your Minerals - Mining in Saskatchewan Research Assignment

12. Unit Review & Unit Test


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Unit Vocabulary

Core Sample Samples of rock in the shape of a cylinder that are taken from

deep in the earth through drilling. Geologists examine the core sample for mineral

deposits like diamonds, gold, uranium, etc.

Erosion The movement of rock materials and soil by water, wind, and ice.

Geologist A person who studies the Earths history, found in landforms and rock

formation.

Hardness One of the properties of rock minerals. Some minerals are soft,

others hard. Depending on the hardness of the minerals, geologists can determine

the type of mineral in the rock.

Igneous Rock Rocks that are formed from lava or magma.

Kimberlite Igneous rock that is best known for sometimes containing diamonds.

There are huge amounts of kimberlite in the Prince Albert area.

Lava Hot molten rock that has reached the Earths surface and has spilled out.

Lustre One of the properties of rock minerals. It is the way the surface of a

mineral looks in the light. An example of lustre is: shiny or metallic like gold.

Magma Hot molten rock that is below the earths surface.

Metamorphic Rock Rocks that had started out as Igneous or Metamorphic, but

exposure to intense heat and pressure from the Earths interior has changed their

appearance.

Minerals A pure substance that has formed naturally as a solid in the Earth.

Minerals form rocks.

Ores When minerals are found in high concentrations. Where the

concentrations are high enough, ores can be mined.

Potash A salt mineral found in sedimentary rock.


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Precambian Shield Also known as Canadian Shield. It is found in Canadas

north, and is stable (unchanging) rock. The Shield contains most of Canadas

mineral resources (gold, nickel, diamonds, uranium, etc.). The Precambrian Shield is

rock that is the product of a violent convergent plate boundary billions of years

ago.

Rocks A substance that is made up of one or more minerals.

Rock Cycle Shows how rocks are broken down (weathering), moved (erosion), and

eventually recycled into new forms of rock.

Sedimentary Rock Rock that was created by layers (strata) of rock fragments

(from erosion) settling on top of each other. Most sedimentary rock usually

contains layers. It is usually soft rock like sandstone or limestone.

Strata Layers of sedimentary rock.

Streak One of the properties of rock minerals. When rubbed on rough

porcelain, the minerals in rock will leave a coloured line. This coloured line helps

geologists determine the type of mineral(s) present in the rock.

Weathering The process that wears down or breaks down rock. There are three

types of weathering: Mechanical, Chemical, and Biological.

EC 7.2 Be able to identify the regions where mining occurs, as well as the

ways in which minerals are explored and extracted from the earth. Survey the

impacts of mining on communities and the environment.

EC 7.3 Look into how the geological features (rocks and landforms) of

Saskatchewan has been created, how it has been used in the past, how it isbeing used in the present, and how it might be used in the future.

Documents

Rocks and Minerals Student Unit Outline