Name: ______________________________________ Date: ________________________

Student Exploration: Rock Classification

Vocabulary: classify, extrusive igneous rock, foliation, fossil, igneous rock, intrusive igneous
rock, metamorphic rock, mineral, sedimentary rock, strata, texture, vesicle

Prior Knowledge Questions (Do these BEFORE using the Gizmo.)

When you classify objects, you organize them into groups based on common characteristics.

1. What are some different ways you could classify these marbles?

We could classify the marvels color and size

2. What characteristics do you think scientists use to classify rocks?

Gizmo Warm-up
Rocks are classified by how they formed. The three types are:
• Igneous rocks form from cooling magma or lava.
• Sedimentary rocks form from the bonding of rock
fragments such as sand, silt, or clay; from organic
materials; and from chemicals dissolved in water.
• Metamorphic rocks form when other rocks are
changed by heat and pressure.

In the Rock Classification Gizmo, you will get to explore these three types of rocks. Think about
how each type of rock is formed.

1. Fossils are the remains of ancient plants and animals. Which type of rock do you think is

most likely to contain fossils? Sedimentary rocks

2. Foliation occurs when minerals are flattened by heat and pressure. This results in a layered

or banded texture. Which type of rock do you think is foliated? Metamorphic roc

3. Air pockets, or vesicles, can form in rapidly cooling magma or lava. In which type of rock

would you expect air pockets? Igneous rock

Activity A: Get the Gizmo ready:

Classifying rocks • Click Reset.

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Introduction: You can classify rocks by examining characteristics such as texture. A rock’s
texture is determined by the sizes, shapes, and positions of the grains that make up the rock.

Goal: Classify rocks as igneous, sedimentary, or metamorphic.

1. Summarize: The three groups of rocks each have unique characteristics. For example,
many igneous rocks have a texture of interlocking mineral crystals. Sedimentary rocks may
have distinct layers of sediments, known as strata.

To learn other characteristics of igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks, turn on

Show common characteristics in the CHARACTERISTICS pane. In the table below,
summarize the textures that will allow you to identify and classify these rock types.

Rock type Characteristics

Formed from cooled magma.

Igneous Texture of interlocking crystals with no layering or color banding.
Some igneous rocks contain small holes, or vesicles.

Formed of particles such as pebbles, sand, silt, or clay cemented together. May contain
Sedimentary fossils. Often form layers.

Formed from rocks transformed by heat and/or pressure. Interlocking crystal texture
Metamorphic often shows foliation (layers) or alternating light and dark bands.

2. Classify: Select Name on the SIMULATION pane. Move your cursor over the rock pictures.
Based on what you see, classify the rocks by dragging them into the correct box on the
CHARACTERISTICS tab. Record your classifications (in pencil) in the table below.

Rock type Rock names

Igneous Pumice Diorite granite vesicular basalt

Sedimentary Lime stone conglomerate sandstone siltstone

Metamorphic Slate marble schist gneiss

Click on Status to check your answers. If necessary, change your classifications of rocks on the
Gizmo, and make any needed corrections to the table above. When you are done, click tools
and take a screen shot ( ). Right-click the image, and click Copy Image, and paste the image
into a blank document.

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 Get the Gizmo ready:
Activity B:
• Click Reset.
Rock locations
• Select the LOCATION tab.

Introduction: Igneous rocks that form under Earth’s surface are called intrusive. Intrusive
igneous rocks usually have large mineral grains because they form from magma that cools
slowly. Igneous rocks that form above ground are extrusive. Extrusive igneous rocks have
small mineral grains or no grains at all because they form from lava that cools quickly.

Question: Where do different kinds of rocks form?

1. Label: Review how the different

types of rock form. On the
diagram at right, label where
you would expect the following
types of rock to form:
• Extrusive igneous rocks
• Intrusive igneous rocks
• Metamorphic rocks
• Sedimentary rocks

Select Show classification

names to check your labels.

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 Correct any rock locations that
you labeled incorrectly.

2. Classify: Drag the rocks from the SIMULATION pane to the correct positions on the
LOCATION tab. Click on Status to check your placements. When you are done, click tools
and take a screen shot ( ). Right-click the image, and click Copy Image. Then paste the
image into your blank document.

Which rocks did you classify as extrusive and intrusive igneous rocks?

Extrusive: vesicular basalt Intrusive: granite

pumice diorite

3. Analyze: What features did you use to classify igneous rocks as extrusive or intrusive?

Texture or grain size

4. Draw conclusions: Extrusive igneous rocks often have air pockets, but intrusive igneous

rocks never do. Why do you think is this the case? The extrema pressure that is found under

the earth takes out the bulbul that would be there.