Activity No.

2
Identifying Rocks
In geology, rock or stone is a naturally occurring solid aggregate of one or more minerals
or mineraloids. For example, the common rock granite is a combination of the quartz, feldspar
and biotite minerals. The Earth's outer solid layer, the lithosphere, is made of rock.
Rocks have been used by mankind throughout history. From the Stone Age, rocks have
been used for tools. The minerals and metals found in rocks have been essential to human
civilization
Three major groups of rocks are defined: igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic. The
scientific study of rocks is called petrology, which is an essential component of geology.
I. Problem:
What are the different kinds of rocks?
II. Materials:
Rock samples
Hammer
vinegar
Rock key
Magnifying lens
III. Procedure:
1. Identify the rock samples you have collected.
2. You may use the hammer to crush/break a portion of the rock to examine individual grains,
mineral composition and presence of crystals.
3. Use the magnifying lens to look for very small crystals and bands.
4. Test rocks for the presence of carbonate minerals using the vinegar.
IV. Questions
1. What rocks have you identified? Record them in the table below.
Type

Rock Name
(optional)

Distinct Features

Primary Uses

(Igneous, Sedimentary,
Metamorphic)

2. How did you identify the rocks?

3. Enumerate the characteristics unique to each rock type in the table below:
Igneous

Sedimentary

Metamorphic

V. Conclusion