Tutorial 2

Sedimentary Rocks

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Lesson Plan
Rocks and Minerals
Rock types & Properties
Sedimentary Rock Properties
Exercise
Assessment

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Objective
To be able to distinguish different types of rocks
and minerals
To be able to identify clastic from non-clastic rocks
To be able to assess porosity from hand specimens

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Rocks & Minerals

Rocks are composed of one or more minerals. The colour of the rock is
influenced by the minerals it contains.
Minerals are naturally occurring material with a definitive chemical
composition
KAlSi3O8
SiO2

NaAlSi3O8CaAl2Si2O8

K(Mg,Fe)3(AlSi3O10)(F,OH)2

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Rocks & Minerals

Hardness: Mohs scale
Glass has a hardness of 5.5
If a mineral scratches glass
then its hardness is greater
than 5.5.
If glass scratches it, its
hardness is less than 5.5.
Other properties of Minerals
Parting/Cleavage
Fracture
Streak
Crystal Habit
Density
Magnetic

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Rocks Types

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Rocks Types

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Sedimentary Rocks

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Sedimentary Rocks

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SILICICLASTIC ROCKS
Conglomerate/Breccia

Sandstone

Siltstone

Mudstone/Clay

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NON-CLASTIC ROCKS
BioclasticLimestone

Coal
Chalk

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Sedimentary Rock Properties

Texture & Fabric
Grain size (pebbles, sand, silt, fine grained)
Sphericity & Roundness

Composition
Colour
Minerals (Siliciclastic or chemical)

Sedimentary structures
Bedding
Fossil content

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Sedimentary Rock Properties

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Exercise
Organize into groups
Each group shall be presented with some rock samples
Separate the rocks into 2 groups
Sedimentary
Non-sedimentary (Igneous/Metamorphic)

Enumerate the properties of the sedimentary rocks in the

provided identification form
Use the Sedimentary Rock identification workflow to name the
rock (Please bring a printout of the workflow to class)

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Assessment
Individual Assessment
Each shall be provided with 3 sedimentary rocks
Tasks
List the physical properties in the provided answer sheet.
Estimate the porosity (apply drops of water to check if it is being
absorbed by the sample)
Using the Sedimentary Rock Identification Workflow, name the rock