Earth science Rock ID lab

Sedimentary & Metamorphic Rock Identification Lab 2010

Task:

Your group will examine and attempt to classify 9 different rock samples through use of the provided key and observations of their grain size, color, texture and any other physical properties/features unique to that rock. 

1. Each of you will need to make a rough draft in your notebook of the Lab write up where you: rewrite the question; compose a hypothesis, list the materials used to classify the rocks and a data table.   Teacher approval of Rd is needed before moving to #2
2. You will conduct the lab with your table group.  You may only examine one rock sample at a time.  Observe and record the properties/features present in the rock.  Repeat the process with each sample.
3. If your group came prepared you should have time in class to discuss the analysis questions and conclusion. Answer the analysis questions and complete the conclusion for home work. 
4. The final draft of the lab should be completed individually using the rubric.  The lab write up is worth 200 points. For correctly identifying the unknown 10^th sample  rock sample, I will award you 25 points.

Question:  Which physical attribute will be most commonly used for classifying rock samples?  SEE list you used for the igneous rock lab

Hypothesis:  Look at the attributes we are using for classifying the rock samples; use, your notes and prior experience at identifying rocks to hypothesize which attribute will help you to identify the largest number of samples. This is not a hypothesis, it is a hint.

Test: Rock samples will be classified by observing the following attributes: grain size, texture, color and any other physical properties. To determine the correct names for each rock sample rock identification keys, notes, and prior rock id experience will be used.  The most useful attributes for classifying rocks may then be determined.

Materials:  list everything you use to collect data

Procedures:  Label this section on your final draft and write procedures and diagrams are needed for this lab, but list and briefly describe the methods of identification you are using and include diagrams

Data Table:

Create a data table with rows for each rock sample.  Label the columns with sample #, the rock’s name, color, grain size, texture, other observable physical properties, and the feature that was most important to identifying the rock  Be sure to include drawings and description of each of the rock samples as part of you observation journal. 

 Analysis:  Make a graph and answer the questions

Graph:  make a bar graph that illustrates which attribute was used the most when identifying the rock samples.

Analysis Questions: 1) Were there any samples that you found difficult to classify?  Explain.   2)  Which attributes were least useful for classification? 3)  Classify each type of sedimentary rock into its sub-group and explain what allowed you to determine the sub group.   4)  Same as question #3 for metamorphic rock 5) Give two reasons we are studying rocks?

Conclusion:  Use the RUBRIC

		DISTINGUISHED (5)	SATISFACTORY  (4)	BORDERLINE  (3)	RE-DO  (2)	(0)
	TITLE MARGIN	Contains title, name, date, teacher, period and course	Missing one except title or name	Missing two except title or name	Missing more than two, title or no name
	ORDER	In logical order:  Question, Hypothesis, Test, Materials, Procedure, Data, Analysis & Conclusion	One category out of order	Two categories out of order	More than two categories out of order
	CLARITY	Lab report sections clearly labeled and separated.  Grammatically correct.	Sections clearly labeled but not separated.  Most grammar correct	Sections labeled but not separate.  Frequent errors in grammar	Sections not labeled nor separated.  Poor grammar
	QUESTION, HYPOTHESIS	Clear explanation of purpose. Variable(s) clearly identified in hypothesis	Gives a correct purpose with some framework.  Variables are identified	Declares a purpose that is correct.	Purpose is incorrect
	DATA	Carefully ruled tables are accurate labeled and complete	Ruled tables are accurate labeled and complete	Hastily ruled tables are accurate labeled and complete	Tables are not ruled or unlabeled or incomplete
	GRAPHS	Graphs are correct according to all good graphing rules	Graphs correct but misses no more than 1 label	Graphs correct but misses no more than 2 labels	Graph is un-readable/wrong type/untitled
	QUESTIONS	All questions are answered correctly.  And all questions are written out or obvious in the answer.	80% or more of the questions are answered correctly.  And all questions are written out or obvious in the answer.	No less than 70% of the questions are answered correctly.  And all questions are written out or obvious in the answer.	Less than 70% of the questions are answered correctly.  OR  only writing answers
	HYPOTHESIS	Restates the hypothesis, supports or refutes it and explains the role of the experiment in doing this	Restates the hypothesis and supports or refutes it	Supports or refutes the hypothesis without restating it	Does not address the hypothesis
	EVIDENCE	Uses data powerfully as evidence to support statements	Uses data to support statements	Refers to data as support	Does not use data to support arguments
	LOGIC	Conclusion logically follows from data and prior knowledge	Conclusion is logical but not well defended	Conclusion is logical but not defended	Conclusion is not logical
	ERROR	Identifies sources or error and explains the effect on results	Identifies sources of error	Suggests possibility of error	Does not address error
	CONTEXT	A next step is included that will further understanding of the original experiment and societal scientific implications	A next step is included that will further understanding of the original experiment	A next step is mentioned, but its purpose is unclear	A next step is mentioned

 

Igneous, Sedimentary & Metamorphic Rock Identification Lab KEY

	Color	Grain	Texture	Other Observations	Rock Name
	Dark	Coarse	Weakly foliated	Cleavage shows parallel plate like mineral crystals	Amphibolite
	Black	Super fine	Non-foliated	Shiny conchoidal fractures	Anthracitic coal
	Varies	Coarse >2mm pebbles	Fragments in sandstone	Angular fragments	Breccia
	Black-brown	Non porous	Sooty	Commonly spotted with yellow sulfur compounds	Bituminous coal
	White-grey	Too small to be seen	Powdery	Shell fragments	Chalk
	Varies	Too small to be seen	Glassy conchoidal cleavage	Quartz, SiO2 from the shells of marine single celled organisms	Chert
	Varies	Coarse >2mm pebbles	Abraded-rounded pebbles in sandstone	Looks like broken concrete	Conglomerate
	Varies	Very porous	Shell fragments	Slightly cemented in calcite	Coquina
	Varies	Fine –very fine	Gritty-sandpapper	Sugary appearance	Dolostone
	Varies	Fine	Rough with fossil fragments	Fossils cemented and appear floating n limestone	Fossiliferous limestone
	Varies	Coarse	Foliated	Bands of feldspar, quartz and olivine	Gneiss
	Varies	Too small to see	Glassy conchoidal cleavage	Transparent and slick	Gypsum
	Dark	Very fine	Non-foliated	Looks like basalt	Hornfels
	Varies	Fine to coarse	Non-foliated	Sugary sparkles	Marble
	Brown	Very porous	Fibrous	Plant material	Peat
	Varies	Fine	Foliated	Layers with mica impart sheen/luster	Phyllite
	Varies	Medium to coarse	Rough like sandpaper	Quartz grains	Quartz Sandstone
	Varies	Coarse	Foliated	Poor cleavage leaves crinkly appearance	Schist
	Varies	Very fine	Slightly gritty	Slick when wet, breaks into sheets	Shale
	Varies	Very fine	Foliated	Common to have cleavage through  cross bedding, slight sheen; looks like mud	Slate