I dedicate this book to my science teacher, Mrs.Esposito

Table of Contents

About minerals and rocks............................................page 3

Rocky is born..................................................................page 4

Rowan becomes an Igneous Rock................................pages 5-6

Rowan becomes a Sedimentary Rock..........................page 7

Rowan becomes a Metamorphic Rock........................page 8

Rock Cycle......................................................................pages 9-10

Questions....................................................................pages 11-12

Glossary....................................................................... pages 13-15

Minerals and Rocks

Minerals and Rocks, although related, are not the same. Minerals are inorganic, solid materials found in nature. Rocks are made up of two or more minerals. Rocks are classified into three different types. They are Igneous rock, Sedimentary rock, and Metamorphic rock.

Rocky is born

Rowan started his life as an Igneous rock. He was formed in the largest volcano in Mexico, Mount Popocatépetl. Rowan came to realize that he was a Basalt rock, a type of igneous rock. He didn't remember much about how he was formed but he had faint memories that he once used to be a liquid and was blasted out of a big mountain.He landed on the ground. He remembered himself feeling like his body was solidifying until he eventually became a

rock. And then he passed out.

Igneous Rocks

Igneous Rock, one of the main classes of rock, are formed when magma cools and hardens, or solidifies. When magma comes out of a volcano and is above the ground, it is known as lava. There are two types of Igneous rock: Extrusive and Intrusive. Extrusive igneous rocks are formed when magma solidifies above Earth's surface. These rocks cool faster as they are exposed to air and water. Intrusive igneous rocks are formed when magma solidifies below the surface of the earth.They cool much, much slower than extrusive rocks because it is much hotter underground and they are not exposed to air or water.

Igneous Rocks (continued)

Intrusive igneous rocks have larger crystals because they have a longer time to develop them. Extrusive igneous rocks have small crystals because they don't have enough time to form crystals, as they cool really fast. A type of igneous rock that has really small crystals are obsidian.Obsidian is considered glassy because it has an extremely smooth, crystalline texture.

Obsidian

Intrusive Igneous Rocks have larger crystals, as shown:

Diorite

As you can see, Extrusive Igneous Rocks have much smaller crystals than Intrusive Igneous Rocks:

Obsidian

Basalt

Rhyolite

Rowan becomes a Sedimentary rock!

In order for Rowan to become a Sedimentary Rock, he would have to be eroded, deposited into layers, and then compacted/cemented. A sedimentary rock is a type of rock that forms when sediment (minerals, small plant pieces, organic matter) deposits and compresses over time. The three types of sedimentary rock are Detrital, Chemical, and Organic sedimentary rock.

Rowan becomes a Metamorphic rock!

A Metamorphic rock is made when a pre-existing rock undergoes extreme heat and pressure. However, during this process the rock doesn't melt, instead, it changes or metamorphosizes. To become a metamorphic rock, Rowan has to undergo heat and pressure. There are two types of metamorphic rock:

Foliated and Non-Foliated