Rock ID Key

Rock ID Key

Students will explore rock samples in relation to this identification key. By observing the properties of the rocks, the students will be able to identity the name to the rock sample and determine the rock family that the rock sample belongs to.

The two main questions in identifying a rock is whether it has crystals or layers.

Crystals are a primary formation of rocks that belong to the Igneous Rock family (I) by molten rock cooling and crystallizing.

Layers are a primary characteristic of rocks that belong to the Sedimentary Rock family (S) through compacting and cementing of sediments.

Metamorphic Rocks (M) are more difficult to determine since they are transformed through heat and pressure from existing Igneous, Sedimentary, or Metamorphic rock samples.