Rock Identification Lab

Rocks can be identified as igneous, sedimentary, and igneous. These labels distinguish how the rocks were made. Igneous rocks are made from the cooling of magma and lava when heat is released and the transformation from liquid to solid occurs. Sedimentary rocks are the result of accumulating pieces of loose rocks and sediments that form together. Metamorphic rocks were once sedimentary or igneous rocks that underwent pressure and/or heat that it wasn't used to, and as a result, became metamorphic. Here are examples of each of the 3 rock types.

Igneous Rock- Andesite

Andesite is an intrusive igneous rock often described as middle ground between basalt and dacite.

Sedimentary Rock- Coal

Coal is an organic sedimentary rock formed from the debris of plants. Coal is also combustible and often used as a fuel when burned.

Metamorphic Rock- Quartzite

Quartzite is a metamorphic rock made up primarily of quartz. Quartzite is a result of the metamorphosis that sandstone has undergone. 

A Soil Texture Diagram is a geological tool used to identify soil types by the amount of sand, silt, and clay that make it up. Someone using the diagram would need to know the percentage of sand, silt, and clay that is present in the soil so that they can identify what type of soil it is. For example, if the soil contained 30% clay and 40% silt, the soil type would be clay loam.