Name________________Period 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Date _____________

Sedimentary, Igneous and Metamorphic Rock Lab

Purpose:

To observe characteristics of Sedimentary, Igneous, and Metamorphic rocks, and to organize samples according to analysis of data.

Materials:

You will need to collect the following at the front table:

Obsidian
Granite
Scoria
Pumice Markers
Marble
Quartzite
Slate
Schists
Salt (halite)
Sulfur
Coal
Chalk
Shale
Magnifying glasses
Note cards for display labels

Markers

Directions:

Take each sample one by one and note characteristics that you observe.

The observations that you make will be very similar in context to the ones that you made when we did the IML lab. The difference with these samples is that they are NOT all minerals so their characteristics will be noticeably different. Keeping this in mind you should note the following:

Color(s)

Texture(s)

Luster (if any. Most igneous rocks are dull and ugly)

Grain size (coarse or fine-grained. This is an igneous characteristic)

Foliated or non-foliated ( ribbed bands found or not found in metamorphic rock)

Strata ( layers if any )

Hardness. Although you will not be doing any field scale tests, you should be aware that Igneous and Metamorphic rocks are much harder than Sedimentary rocks. Simple use of the fingernail should differentiate a lot of the sedimentary rocks from the rest.

Other characteristics.

After you have made you're observations of each sample and recorded them on the lab data sheet, take some time and analyze each sample. Carefully look at the characteristics of each, and make sure you have written down all observations. When you are ready, you should fill in the lab information required in Conclusion sheet # 1. Be sure to fill this out completely.
You should now take the marking pen and write out the names of the 3 major categories of rock. Label one card Igneous , Another Metamorphic , and the last Sedimentary . When you have done this in you're lab group, raise your hand and ask Mr. Andrews to check you're work. After Mr. Andrews checks you're work answer the conclusion questions on Conclusion sheet # 2. This finished lab should be turned in to Mr. Andrews Monday morning.

	Color(s)
	Texture(s)
	Luster (if any. Most igneous rocks are dull and ugly)
	Grain size (coarse or fine-grained. This is an igneous characteristic)
	Foliated or non-foliated ( ribbed bands found or not found in metamorphic rock)
	Strata ( layers if any )
	Hardness. Although you will not be doing any field scale tests, you should be aware that Igneous and Metamorphic rocks are much harder than Sedimentary rocks. Simple use of the fingernail should differentiate a lot of the sedimentary rocks from the rest.
	Other characteristics.