Minerals, Rocks, and Soil Study Guide(This is a guide to work through. This is not going to be collected for a grade.)

Refer back to Properties of Minerals Notes - Found on “All About Science” pageMinerals Vocabulary: List and define the 7 properties of minerals

● Luster● Hardness● Cleavage● Fracture● Color● Density/Specific Gravity● Streak

Sample Application Questions: Answer on a sheet of notebook paper

1. Which mineral would be scratched by a steel nail but not by a glass plate? How do you know?

2. Be able to look at pictures of minerals and sort them based on their properties such as luster.

3. Examine a mineral and be able to identify various properties about it.

Rock Cycle - Refer back to Rock Cycle Notes found on the “All About Science” tabVocabulary - Be able to explain and apply each of these terms

● Sedimentary ● Igneous (extrusive and intrusive) ● Metamorphic ● Weathering and Erosion● Heat and Pressure● Lithification● Cementing and Compacting● Cooling and Hardening

Rock Cycle Sample Application Items: Answer on a separate piece of paper

1. What is the rock cycle?2. Explain the process of limestone turning into the metamorphic rock marble.3. What conclusion could you make if you found a rock that had wavy layers?

Refer back to Soil Formation and Soil Conservation Notes on the “All About Science” pageSoil Vocabulary - Be able to explain and apply these terms

● O horizon/litter● A horizon/topsoil● B horizon/subsoil● C horizon/parent material● R horizon/bedrock● Weathering● Erosion● Crop rotation● Soil conservation● Sand● Silt● Clay● Loam ● Pore space

Sample Application Items: Answer on a sheet of notebook paper

1. How can you relate particle size of the soil to the percentage of water that can pass through?

2. What is the connection between organic material and health of the soil/plant growth?3. What are the steps of soil formation?4. What factors influence soil formation?5. How do humans cause damage to occur to the soil?6. What steps can we take to help conserve soil?