Rocks and Minerals Internet Hunt

The fascination of any search after truth lies not in the attainment, which at best is found to be very relative, but in the pursuit, where all the powers of the mind and character are brought into play and are absorbed in the task. One feels oneself in contact with something that is infinite and one finds a joy that is beyond expression in ‘sounding the abyss of science and the secrets of the infinite mind.

 Florence Bascom, American Geologist

Directions: Use the links provided to find the answers to the questions.
Use the Back button of your browser to return to this page.
If a link is broken, use your Internet searching skills to find the answer. (Printer version)

1. List the three rock groups.

2. Describe the rock cycle. Watch the Rock Cycle movie. Also here.

3. Write 3 minerals found in a house. Name the specific product where it is used.

4. What is the difference between a mineral and a rock? pdf resource

5. The gem Corundum is called a sapphire unless it is colored red.
What do they call a red colored corundum?

6. How old is the Hope Diamond?

7. Asbestos is a mineral that people used to protect themselves from fire. Later they discovered it was dangerous.
How is it dangerous?

(Use FactMonster.com.'s search to find the answer. Enter asbestos in the search box.
Click Go. Check out the information in the encyclopedia.)

8. F. Mohs developed a scale to measure hardness of gemstones. What is the scale called? Explore the scale here.

9. What mineral has the least hardness according to the scale?



What mineral has the greatest hardness?

10. How are sedimentary rocks formed? Name two sedimentary rocks.

11. How are igneous rocks formed?

What does the word ignite mean? Look it up in a dictionary.

12. Ever hear the phrase "it sank like a stone"? What rock can actually float?

13. Name the tests that scientists use to identify minerals. Explain two of them. (Tip - Click Next to move through the info)

14. What is an unusual property of the mineral ulexite?

15. What causes sedimentary and igneous rocks to change?

Challenge questions:

16. Nicholaus Steno set down two geologic principles. What are they?

1.

2.

17. On several of the sites you visited in the hunt they gave the name for molten rock. What is it?

18. Do this Math Mastery Rock problem

What role does the mineral fluoride play in your health?

Accept the challenge: Every day you eat minerals. Your folks don't plop a bowl of minerals down for breakfast.
So how are you eating these minerals? Figure it out here by reading about boron.

Do this web activity Rock Cycle interactive and engaging. Test your skills. Score-

Check out Rock varnish - Have you observed this phenomena?

Food for thought.

Suppose I told you about a teacher at school. (You will have her for Earth Science next year.)
I describe her as sedimentary. You would then picture her as which of these?

Sometimes we techies talk about morphing. We morph pictures, for example.
Using your understanding of rock terms - what does morphing mean?

Name an animal that "morphs" __________________________________

"In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock." Thomas Jefferson

Done already? Good for you!

©2000 Cindy O'Hora All rights reserved. This hunt may not be distributed or reposted elsewhere.
It may be printed for student use in a nonprofit setting. Updated 4/2008, created 4/2000

Save a tree - use a digital answer format - Highlight the text. Copy it. Paste it in a word processing document. Save the document in your folder. Answer on the word processing document in a contrasting color (not yellow) or font (avoid , or other ornate artistic fonts). Save frequently as you work. Or perhaps you have the resources to record verbal answers. If you do, be sure to first read / record the question. Then record the answer immediately after it.

Proof your responses. It is funny how speling errors and typeos sneak in to the bets work. Make your own printer paper answer sheet