Name: Logan Rabago

Period: 4

!
!

Mystery Rocks Lab!

Mystery Rocks Lab

Observation
Rocks have different properties that make them unique but also have properties that
may make them seem similar.

Question
!

Introduction
What is the purpose of this lab? What do you think will be the most helpful observations
to make when determining if your mystery rock is a sedimentary, igneous or
metamorphic rock and why? What do you think will be the least helpful observations to
make when determining if your mystery rock is a sedimentary, igneous or metamorphic
rock and why?
The purpose of this lab is understand the identifications of a rock and know the grain
size, shape, and pattern. The most helpful observation would be the type of rock it is or
what it looks like. The least observation would be the color because it really doesn't help
you to identify is it igneous, sedimentary, or metamorphic.

!
!
Materials and Methods
!

Materials:
1 mystery rock
3unknown igneous rocks
2 unknown sedimentary rocks
1unknown metamorphic rocks
hand lens
Rock Flow Chart
http://geology.com/rocks/ website and/or the identification clues
Rock Identification Chart- on Edline under Links

Procedure:
1. For this activity you will be given six rocks and one sample that is not a rock.
They are labeled A through G.

2. Observe and record your data in the results chart below. Add observations about
each mystery materials color, texture, or other property clues that might help you
to classify and identify it. As you are observing carefully, use a hand lens to help
you look closely at the rock.
3. Determine if any of the samples are sedimentary rocks formed from other
particles (sediments) of other rocks or remains of organisms or other clues. Use
your flow chart (or other materials from class) to help you.
4. Determine if any of the samples igneous rocks. Think: what characteristics would
prove these are the type of rock you are looking for. Use your flow chart to help
you.
5. Determine if any of the samples metamorphic rocks. Think: what characteristics
would prove these are the type of rock you are looking for. Use your flow chart to
help you.
6. Use http://geology.com/rocks/ website and/or the identification clues to identify at
least 2 rocks with their names.

Results
1. Record your data in the table below. Be as detailed as you can when you are
describing. For instance, instead of say just white, is it milky white, clear-crystal white,
dirty white, etc.?

Sample

Color

Texture:
Other Clues:
Rock
Feel
Foliated? Classification
Grain size
Fossils?
Grain shape
Vesicular?
Grain
Etc.
pattern

Rock
Name

sandy
beige

feels: rough and not vesicular: yes

that sharp
size:

igneous

pumice

black,
white,
and gray

feels: rough and

smooth and kind of
sharp
size: coarse grain
shape: jagged
pattern: banded

sedimentary

sandston
e

beige

feels: smooth
had another rock
size: coarse grain
connected to it
shape: jagged
pattern: non banded

mystery

Quartzite

it has other
sedimentary
rocks

copper
feels: rough and
it is shiny
and black smooth
size: fine grain
shape: jagged
pattern: non banded

metamorphic hornfels

gray

feels: styrofoam
vesicular: yes
size: medium
shape: rounded
pattern: non banded

igneous

rhyolite

black

feels: smooth and

sharp !
size: medium!
shape: slightly
rounded !
pattern: non banded

sparkly luster

igneous

obsidian

copper

feels: smooth and

kind of sharp
size: medium
shape:jagged
pattern:

white speckled

sedimentary

Iron Ore

!
!

Conclusion
1. Which samples could be classified as igneous rocks? How are the igneous rocks
similar and different from sedimentary rocks?
Obsidian because it is easy to identify. They both have something with the Earth.
2.Which of the samples could be classified as sedimentary rocks? How do you think
these rocks formed?
Sandstone. These rocks are formed by the weathering down of the Earth.
3.Decide which sample is not a rock. How did you determine that the sample you
chose is not a rock? What do you think the mystery rock is? Explain.
Quartzite because its dense. because its
4.What physical property was the most useful in classifying rocks and why? What
physical property was the least useful in classifying rocks and why? How do these results
compare to what you said in your introduction?
The most useful rocks were the obsidian because I remember the rock. The least
useful property is color because it doesnt identify how it is a rock. This compares to
what I said in my introduction because it can be classified with other properties instead of
just color which not a useful property to identify the rock.
5. Which type of rocks were easiest to classify for you and why? Which type of rock
were the most difficult to classify for you and why?

The easiest type of rock to classify was the pumice because I knew that it
contained air bubbles (vesicular) and it was an igneous rock. The most difficult rock was
to classify was the metamorphic rocks like the quartzite because it doesn't have obvious
clues like air bubbles or it didnt have large crystals.
6. Which rock is the most interesting to you and why?
The rock that was the most interesting was the quartzite because it had a layer
that looked liked a crystal or glass.