ROCKS AND MINERALS Can Rocks Change Your Life?

Objectives of the Lesson: Rocks

a. I can identify and describe the three basic Big rocks into pebbles,
rock types;
Pebbles into sand.
b. I can describe how and define what type
of environment each of these rock types are I really hold a million, million
formed;
Rocks here in my hand.
c. I can describe how rocks are transformed
Florence Parry Heide
from one rock type to another through the
rock cycle; Rocks
d. I can identify and describe the different Rocks are made up of two or more minerals.
geologic processes that operate within the
rock cycle. They are not crystals

Understanding Key Concepts Natural substances consisting of aggregates

minerals clumped together with other Earth
The Rock Cycle provides us a materials through natural processes.
comprehensive understanding how the 3
dominant rock types are formed. Based on There are THREE major categories of Rocks
their physical and chemical properties, what
could be the possible conditions of Igneous
formation for each rock type?
Sedimentary
Review
Metamorphic
What are the 8 elements comprising almost
Changes and the Rock Cycle
99 % of the minerals making up the Earth’s
crust?

The total abundances do not add up to

exactly 100% because of round-off errors)
Igneous Igneous Rocks- ignis “fire”
Approximately 85% of the Earth's crust is
composed of oxygen and silicon. Together Form when melted rocks harden
they form the silicon oxygen tetrahedron,
Fine-grained rocks (smooth) are from lava
which is the basic building block of silicate
minerals. Silicates are also termed as
Coarse-grained rocks (rough) are from
(common) rock forming minerals.
magma
 Sedimentary Rocks

these are rocks that are formed at or near the

surface of the Earth

sedimentary processes include: weathering

of rocks, erosion, sediment transport and

deposition (compaction and cementation)

common sedimentary features: fossil

Magma is a molten rock material beneath
assemblages and stratification
the surface of the earth.
fossil assemblages: remains and traces of
Lava is molten rock material extruded to the
plants and animals that are preserved in
surface of the earth through a central vent
rocks
(volcano) or as fissure eruption.
stratification or layering (strata which is
Plutonic or Intrusive Rocks
>1cm is called bedding and < 1cm is called
from solidified magma underneath the earth lamination):

gradual lowering of temperature is indicated layering is the result of a change in grain

by the movement of magma from depth to size and composition; each layer represents
surface causing slow cooling /crystallization a distinct period of deposition

Phaneritic textures Fossils-usually found in sedimentary rocks

- Examples: granite, diorite, gabbro Conglomerate rocks-have large pieces and

room in shallow water

Siltstone- made up of smaller pieces

Volcanic or Extrusive Rocks
Limestone-made up of fine grained rock
from solidified lava at or near the surface of
the earth Sandstone-made up of grains the side of
sand
fast rate of cooling/crystallization due to
huge variance in the temperature between Clastic Sedimentary Rocks
Earth’s surface and underneath
grains, matrix and cement are the
common textures: aphanitic, porphyritic components of clastic rocks
(define groundmass vs phenocrysts),
clastic rocks are commonly classified based
vesicular
on particle size
examples: rhyolite, andesite, basalt
clastic rocks with volcanic origin (e.g.
pyroclastic rocks: fragmental rocks usually pyroclastics) and may have undergone some
associated with violent or explosive type of stages in the sedimentary processes could be
eruption. classified as sedimentary rock (e.g.
volcanoclastic rocks).
Examples tuff and pyroclastic flow deposits
(ignimbrite) the presence of variable grain sizes
(including matrix and cement) is indicative
 of sedimentary differentiation which is
actually a function of processes happening
in different sedimentary environments.

Table below shows the different clastic rocks

Non-clastic Sedimentary Rocks Metamorphic Rocks

evaporation and precipitation from solution Existing rocks are changed through high heat and
or lithification of organic matter pressure to form different rocks

classified as evaporites (halite, gypsum and Meta-change and morph-form

dolostone), precipitates (limestone) and
bioclastics (coal, coquina) Contact metamorphism

chart below summarizes the features of the non- heat and reactive fluids as main factors:
clastic rocks occurs when a pre-existing rock gets in
contact with magma which is the source of
heat and magmatic fluids where
metamorphic alterations and transformations
occur around the contact / metamorphic
aureole of the intruding magma and the rock
layers. The aureole occurs on different
scales depending on the sizes of the
intruding magma and the amount of water in
the intruded rocks and the reactive fluids
coming from the magma.

creates non-foliated metamorphic rocks

example: hornfels

Regional metamorphism
Several photos of sedimentary rocks
pressure as main factor: occurs in areas that
have undergone considerable amount of
mechanical deformation and chemical
recrystallization during orogenic event
which are commonly associated with
 mountain belts occurs in a regional/large
scale creates foliated metamorphic rocks

examples: schist, gneiss

non-foliated rocks like marble also form

through regional metamorphism, where
pressure is not intense, far from the main
geologic event

Table of the different metamorphic rocks

Kkk

Some photos of common metamorphic rocks:

MINERALS They are found in the Earth’s mantle, near
the surface when oxygen, calcium and
Objectives of the Lesson: carbon combine in the ocean and when hot,
mineral-rich water moves slowly through
a. I can describe how much minerals are part
the cracks in the Earth’s crust
of our daily lives

b. I can describe minerals as a life-long

hobby (gemstone collectors)

c. I can describe the importance and use of

minerals to human development

d. I can develop a systematic way of

identifying minerals

Key Understanding

Define what a mineral is. Give emphasis to

the five requirements for a material to be
considered a mineral (i.e. naturally
occurring is not man-made or machine-
generated, inorganic is not a byproduct of
living things, etc.). A. Mineral Properties

Review 1. Luster – it is the quality and intensity of

reflected light exhibited by the mineral
 Do you consider water a mineral?
a. Metallic – generally opaque and exhibit a
 How about snowflake or tube ice?
resplendent shine similar to a polished metal
 Mineral - naturally occurring, inorganic
b. Non-metallic – vitreous (glassy), adamantine
solid with orderly crystalline structure and a
(brilliant/diamond-like), resinous, silky, pearly,
definite chemical composition.
dull (earthy), greasy, etc.
 These are the basic building blocks of
2. Hardness – it is a measure of the resistance of
rocks. a mineral (not specifically surface) to abrasion.

 Water is not a mineral since it is not solid Moh’s scale of Hardness

and crystalline.
b. What are the pros and cons in using the Mohs
 Tube ice is not because it is not naturally scale of hardness?
occurring.

 Snow flake meets all requirements in

defining a mineral.

 Minerals are always solid with particles in

repeating patterns-crystals

They are only found in Nature

 do not have a crystal structure is described
as amorphous.

5. Cleavage refers to the tendency of a mineral

to break along planes of weakness in the
chemical bonds, or along planes where bond
strength is the least.

6. Fracture refers to the non-planar breakage of

minerals.

 Minerals that break along fractures (as

oppose to cleavage planes) do not exhibit
predictable weakness along specified bonds.

 Fractures may be described as splintery,

uneven, or conchoidal.

3. Color maybe a unique identifying property of certain 7. Transparency/ Diaphaneity- indicates the extent
minerals (e.g. malachite – green, azurite – blue). There are also of light that can pass through the mineral.
lots of minerals that share similar or the same color/s. In
addition, some minerals can exhibit a range of colors. The The degree of transparency may depend on
mineral quartz for example, can be pink (rose quartz), purple the thickness of the mineral
(amethyst), orange (citrine), white (colorless quartz) etc.
8. Magnetism- indicates the ability of a mineral to
 3. Streak- refers to the color of a mineral’s attract or repel other minerals
powdered form left behind after it is scraped
or rubbed across a porcelain streak plate. 9. Tenacity- The level of resistance or reaction of
minerals to stress such as crushing, bending,
 A mineral may appear one color and then breaking, or tearing.
produce a streak with a different color.
It can tell if a mineral is brittle, malleable,
 A mineral’s streak color is a more reliable elastic, etc.
identification characteristic than the
minerals perceived surface color. Luster refers to how light is reflected from the
surface of a mineral.
 Even though the mineral pyrite is
 There are two main types of luster: metallic
 gold in color, it leaves a grey “pencil lead” and non-metallic:
streak on the porcelain streak plate.
 Minerals with a metallic luster are
4. Crystal Form/Habit –The external shape of a described as shiny, silvery, or
crystal or groups of crystals is displayed / observed as having a metal-like reflectance.
these crystals grow in open spaces. The form reflects
the supposedly internal structure (of atoms and ions)  Non-metallic minerals may be
of the crystal (mineral). It is the natural shape of the described as resinous, translucent,
mineral before the development of any cleavage or pearly, waxy, greasy, silky,
fracture. vitreous/glassy, dull, or earthy

 Examples include prismatic, tabular, bladed,  Luster may be subjective, and thus is not
platy, reniform and equant. A mineral that always a reliable identifier
Odor- A distinct smell of a mineral that is usually for the most common and abundant
released from a chemical reaction when subjected to minerals.
water, heat, air, or friction
 Feldspar, Quartz, Biotite, and Amphibole
Ex. Sulfur smells like a lit match are the most common silicates

SPECIFIC GRAVITY refers to the weight or Native Elements

heaviness of a mineral, and it is expressed as the
ratio of the mineral’s weight to an equal volume  Native elements are minerals that are
of water. composed of a single element.

Minerals with a specific gravity < 2 are  Some examples are: Gold (Au), Silver (Ag),
considered light, 2-4 are average, and >4.5 Copper (Cu), Iron (Fe), Diamonds (C),
are heavy Graphite (C), and Platinum (Pt)

Specific gravity can be measured using Halides

complex lab tools such as the hydrostatic
 Halides consist of halogen elements,
balance or more simple procedures
chlorine (Cl), bromine (Br), fluorine (F), and
involving beakers and water displacement
iodine (I) forming strong ionic bonds with
measurements.
alkali and alkali earth elements sodium (Na),
B. Mineral Classification calcium (Ca) and potassium (K)
Minerals are classified by their chemical
 Some examples include Halite (NaCl) and
composition and internal crystal structure.
Flourite (CaF2).
There are 7 Major Mineral Groups:
Carbonates
 Silicates
 Carbonates are anionic groups of carbon and
 Native Elements oxygen. Carbonate minerals result from
bonds between these complexes and alkali
 Halides earth and some transitional metals
 Common carbonate minerals include calcite
 Carbonates CaCO3 , calcium carbonate, and dolomite
CaMg(CO3)2 , calcium/magnesium
 Oxides
carbonate
 Sulfates
Oxides
 Sulfides
 Oxides are minerals that include one or
Silicates more metal cations bonded to oxygen or
hydroxyl anions.
Silicates are composed of silicon-oxygen
tetrahedrons, an arrangement which contains  Examples of oxide minerals include:
four oxygen atoms surrounding a silicon Hematite (Fe2O3), Magnetite (Fe3O4),
atom (SiO4-4). Corundum (Al2O3), and Ice (H2O)

 Silicates comprise the majority of minerals Sulfates

in the Earth’s crust and upper mantle. Over
 Sulfates are minerals that include SO4
25% of all minerals are included in this
anionic groups combined with alkali earth
group, with over 40% of those accounting
and metal cations.
  Anhydrous (no water) and hydrous (water) b. I can explain how heat from inside the earth is
are the two major groups of Sulfates. tapped as a source of energy (geothermal) for human
use
 Barite (BaSO4) is an example of a
anhydrous sulfate and Gypsum (CaSO4 · c. I can explain how energy (hydroelectric) is
2H2O) is an example of a sulfate harnessed from flowing water

Sulfides d. I can create a model explaining how fossil fuels

are formed, and how geothermal and hydroelectric
 Sulfides are minerals composed of one or energy are harnessed for human use
more metal cations combined with sulfur.
Many sulfides are economically important • State the importance of energy and it’s various
ores. sources and uses

 Pyrite (FeS2) or “fool’s gold”, Galena (PbS), • Initiate an opening discussion on the importance of
Cinnabar (HgS) an Molybdenite (MoS2) are energy to humans.
a few commonly occurring sulfide minerals
• Enumerate the different sources of energy, general,
Uses of Common Minerals and identify which ones we utilize in the country.

Minerals are a non-renewable natural • Cite some examples of highly developed (1st
resources, meaning that once we mine or world) countries and relate how critical energy
extract them they will not replenish in selfsufficiency is to their development and
enough time to be used again by humans. advancement.

Industrial minerals are non-renewable • Enumerate the various energy sources which can be
minerals that are mined for commercial broken down into 2 broad categories: Nonrenewable
value and are not used as fuel or as a source and Renewable. (Reference: Republic Act 9513 -
of metals. Renewable Act of 2008) 

These minerals are either used in their raw
Various Energy Sources
form or as additives with other materials.
Non-Renewable Sources
Industrial minerals are used for construction,
ceramics, cement, paints, electronics, glass, 1. Coal
detergent, paper, plastics, filtration, and
variety of other common household 2. Oil
applications.
3. Natural Gas

4. Nuclear
Earth Materials and Resources - Energy Resources
Renewable Sources
Communicating learning objective
1. Solar
1. Introduce the following learning objectives
using any of the suggested protocols 2. Wind
(Verbatim, Own Words, Read-aloud)
3. Hydroelectric
a. I can describe how fossil fuels are formed.
4. Biomass

5. Geothermal
Uses of Energy metamorphism. Also known as bituminization or
carbonification.
1. Agricultural
Geological Time For The Formation of Coal
2. Transportation
The most favourable conditions for the formation of
3. Residential coal occurred 360 million to 290 million years ago,
during the Carboniferous (“coal-bearing”) Period.
4. Commercial
However, lesser amounts continued to form in some
5. Industrial parts of the Earth during all subsequent periods, in
particular the Permian (290 million to 250 million
“How important is energy to the advancement of years ago), and throughout the Mesozoic Era (250
society and how do we ensure self-sufficiency for the million to 65 million years ago).
current and future generations (energy
independence)?”

Fossil Fuels The accumulated plant matter buried during the

Tertiary Era — less than 65 million years ago — is
• fuels formed by natural processes such as generally less mature. It is often in the form of
anaerobic decomposition of buried dead lignite, which still contains a high content of volatile
organisms. matter (bitumen and decayed wood) and has a lower
carbon content. However, there is also some higher
What is coal and how is it formed? rank coal from the Tertiary Era, coal that matured
early, heated by plate tectonics. Examples of this
Like oil and natural gas, coal is a fossil fuel. It started
include Paleocene coal (65 to 55 million years ago),
forming over 350 million years ago, through the
found in Columbia and Venezuela, and Miocene coal
transformation of organic plant matter
(20 million years ago), found in Indonesia. In
Indonesia, where the geothermal gradient is very
high, anthracite lies close to the surface

However, the deposits in the Moscow Basin have

never gone beyond the lignite stage as it is too cold.
Finally, recent accumulations (from 10,000 years ago
to today) are very rich in fibrous debris known as
peat, in which the shapes of branches and roots can
still be discerned. This material was not buried deep
enough to contain elemental carbon.

Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black

The Different Types of Coal
sedimentary rock usually occurring in rock strata in
layers or veins called coal beds or coal seams. Anthracite is 86 to 98% pure carbon and 8 to 3%
volatile matter. It is an excellent fuel that is still used
• composed primarily of carbon along with
to heat homes.
variable quantities of other elements, chiefly
hydrogen, sulfur, oxygen, and nitrogen. Bituminous coal contains 70 to 86% carbon and 46 to
31% volatile matter. It is used to make coke, used in
Coalification is the formation of coal from plant
metallurgy.
material by the processes of diagenesis and
Sub-bituminous coal is 70 to 76% carbon and 53 to
42% volatile matter. It is burned in industrial boilers.
Human Activity and the Environment
Lignite is 65 to 70% carbon and 63 to 53% volatile
matter. It is a low-grade fuel with a high moisture
content that is used in industrial boilers.

Peat consists of partially decomposed vegetation.

Technically speaking, it isn’t coal. It has a carbon
content of less than 60% and is composed entirely of
volatile matter. A poor fuel that was once used
throughout Europe in the form of dried briquettes for
heating, today it is used only in a few regions, such as
Ireland.

What is petroleum (oil and gas) and how is it

formed?

Other Sources of Wastes and their Environmental

Impact

Industrial Waste

Waste released from manufacturing plants, such as

How Oil and Gas Deposits are Formed chemical plants, cement production, textile
• Deep in the Earth, oil and natural gas are industries, metallurgical plants, textile, food
formed from organic matter from dead processing, power plants, etc
plants and animals. These hydrocarbons take
Agricultural Waste
millions of years to form under very specific
pressure and temperature conditions. • Excess use of fertilizers and pesticides can cause
land and water pollution.
When a living organism dies, it is generally
recycled in one of two ways: • Rice paddies release methane to the atmosphere.

1. It is eaten by predators, scavengers or • Excess excrement from poultry and other livestock
bacteria. can cause eutrophication of bodies of water.

2. Through exposure to ambient air or oxygen- Mining Waste

rich water, it oxidizes. That means that the
hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, sulfur and • Waste generated from the exploitation of mineral
phosphorus contained in the matter combine with resources
oxygen atoms present in the air. The organic
matter breaks down into water (H2O), carbon • Overburden material - ground (soil and rock) that is
dioxide (CO2), nitrates, sulfates and phosphates removed to extract the mineral deposit. Release of
that nourish new plants. overburden material to the environment as a result of
improper management can cause siltation of bodies
of water.

• Acid mine drainage - water that has come to contact

with oxidized rock or overburden that contains
sulphide material (coal, zinc, copper, and lead).
When acid mine drainage is not properly managed, it
can find its way into waterways and the ground
water. High pH waters can be detrimental to plant
and animal life. Acid mine drainage is also associated
with the release of heavy metals to the environment.

Biomedical Waste

• Waste generated by hospitals and other health care

institutions

• This type of hazardous waste includes infectious

waste and chemical waste dangerous to people and
the environment.