Earth and Environmental Blog Week 13

Monday or December 7, 2015 C.E.: 

Today we reviewed for the quiz both as a group and independently. We discussed all the topics of the first, second, and third sections as a class. Then we studied independently or in small groups. I studied independently first, but then I joined a small group using Kahoot. We did several of its quizzes talking about Rock Identification and the characteristics of the three types of rocks. Kahoot ranks you against you friends, and I did quite well so I think I will do well on the quiz tomorrow. I cannot wait to see how it affects my overall grade. 

Tuesday or December 8, 2015 C.E.: 

Today we took the quiz on the first three sections of Unit 5. It contained a variety of information like what Felsic and Mafic rocks are, what they look like, and their density. It also had questions about Igneous intrusions such as dikes, sills, lacoliths, and stocks. There were also questions about the texture of different types of rocks based on their origins and questions about Metamorphism and the construction of the types of Sedimentary rock. I think I knew all the topics and I will get a good grade. It will definitely help my overall grade. 

Wednesday or December 9, 2015 C.E.: 

Today we reviewed the quiz and I got a 99%. This sure is good news for my grade! After reviewing it, we took notes to start the rest of the Unit. We learned about Section 4, the rock cycle. We learned how each rock becomes the other and why. We also talked about how Plate Tectonics helps drive the rock cycle though two processes, Subduction and Uplift. Subduction helps rock melt and Uplift exposes them to Weathering and erosion. We also drew a diagram of the rock cycle similar to the one below.

The Rock Cycle

Thursday or December 10, 2015 C.E.:

Today I started the Sedimentary Rock Lab. I had to identify seven rocks, Rock Gypsum, Limestone, Tufa, Conglomerate, Dolostone, Shale, and Sandstone. Dolostone was the hardest to classify. Rock Gypsum and Limestone were Chemical Sedimentary rocks. Limestone was also an Organic Sedimentary rock. The other rocks were all Clastic Sedimentary rocks. I also did reflection questions concerning Evaporites which are Chemical and Sedimentary "Veneers" which are coverings of Sedimentary rocks. I completed the lab in one day and I hope I will get a good grade. 

Friday or December 11, 2015 C.E.: 

Today we did our Rock Identification Practical. We spent the beginning of class studying for it, so not everyone was in the testing area at once. We had to identify 15 rocks. There were 13 mandatory rocks and 2 bonus rocks. The 13 mandatory rocks were quite easy. The 2 bonus rocks were not so easily recognized. They were Rhyolite and Tufa. I got Rhyolite, but got Tufa mixed up with an Igneous rock called Tuff. This is ok though because my final score with the bonus was 102% which is awesome.    
Summary: This week was great. I did very well on two major assessments and was very efficient. However, I can still do my blog faster and more efficiently and I will do so in the next blog post. 

Earth and Environmental Blog Week 12

Monday or November 30, 2015 C.E.:

Today we finished notes for the Igneous section of this rock unit. We talked about rock's texture and what forms it. We talked about intrusive rocks and plutons. We also talked about the differences between felsic, intermediate, mafic, and ultramafic rocks. We also talked about extrusive structures like lava plateaus. After this we started a lab where we classify igneous rocks. Today we only classified two rocks, obsidian and pumice. We also filled out the definitions of rock characteristics. Tomorrow we will continue to classify them.

Tuesday or December 1, 2015 C.E.:

Today we finished classifying our rocks. We classified Granite, Vesicular Basalt, Scoria, Rhyolite, and Andesite. Rhyolite and Andesite were hard to classify because their color and texture was very similar to a wide variety of rocks. We learned about the minerals present in each type of rock and the silica found in them. After that we did some reflection questions. I wrote about the grain size and chemical compostions of extrusive and intrusive igneous rocks.

Wednesday or December 2, 2015 C.E.:

Today we took notes about Metamorphic rocks. We learned about the forces that cause metamorphic rocks. They are heat, pressure, and the addition and removal of fluids. They are caused by two different forces, contact metamorphism and regional metamorphism. Contact metamorphism is caused by magma nearby and regional is caused by heat and pressure from a tectonic plate boundary. We also talked about the classification of metamorphic rocks and the types of metamorphic rocks. After this I finished the Igneous Rock Classification lab and started the Metamorphic one.

Thursday or December 3, 2015 C.E.:

Today we took notes on Sedimentary rocks. Sediments are created though the weathering of rocks. These sediments are then fused together by minerals in a process called cementation. They are then compressed by sediments above them to form sedimentary rock in a process called compaction. The sedimentary rock types include sandstone, conglomerate, shale, coal, gypsum, and halite. They are classified by their origin. Clastic is a rock formed from pre-existing pieces of rocks, the most obvious being conglomerate. Organic is a rock composed of organic materials like coal. A Chemical Sedimentary rock is a rock formed from water as a precipitate. After this I continued to work on my Metamorphic Rock lab.

Conglomerate

Friday or December 4, 2015 C.E.:  

Today I spent the pretty much the entire time finishing up the Metamorphic Rock Classification Lab. I classified a variety of rocks and answered many questions for this lab. The rocks I classified were Marble, Antracite Coal, Schist, Slate, Gneiss, and Quarzite. Now that I have finished this lab, I will do the last lab of the series. It is the Sedimentary Rock Lab. I am sure it will be as fun as the labs we have done already.
Summary: This week was great, I finished many things and was very productive. I also did not procrastinate! I can still improve on the quality of my lab work and I will continue to do so.