Question

Valerie creates a model using three different rocks. The rocks are classified as igneous, metamorphic, and Sedimentary. Which property does Valerie use for classification purposes?

Answer 1

Valerie classified rocks based on their origin: igneous rocks form from cooled magma or lava, sedimentary from weathered rock particles or precipitated minerals, and metamorphic rocks change under pressure and heat. These rocks help interpret Earth's history.

Step-by-step explanation:

Valerie creates a model using three different rocks categorized as igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary. For classification, she uses the rock formation process or their origin. Igneous rocks solidify from magma or lava, sedimentary rocks are cemented from accumulated sediments or precipitated minerals, and metamorphic rocks transform from pre-existing rocks under heat and pressure, often showing foliation.

Igneous rocks are key in determining a region's plate tectonics history; sedimentary rocks indicate past environments, while metamorphic rocks give insights into geological conditions prior to transformation. The mineral composition, texture, and rock cycle history are essential to understanding Earth's past through these rocks.

Composition and Texture in Rock Classification

The mineral composition and texture of the rocks are analyzed to assist classification. Minerals may be observed with a hand lens to identify their presence, while texture—referring to mineral size, shape, and relationships—plays an additional role in differentiating metamorphic rocks into foliated and non-foliated categories.

Answer 2

texture is NOT the correct answer. I'm assuming that formation is the right answer.