Rocks

Rocks

Rocks are the hard crust of our planet. They are made up of minerals. Minerals are naturally occuring crystals. Rocks are not alive but they are changing all the time. Rocks can dissolve, melt, fall apart and even change into other rocks.

Test each of the rocks on this site to see if they wear well, split, float or let water go through them (permeable). Keep a record of your findings on your worksheet.

What are the different ways that rocks are formed?

Click on question 1 to find out.

Finished? Learn more in Rex the Dino Detective's "Mystery of the Floating Rock"

People dig rocks out of the earth and use them in many different ways.

Some of the rocks that are used are marble, slate, granite, sandstone

and limestone.

Finding Minerals

How are minerals found? Use this site to complete your worksheet.

Mine Machines

Use the words and pictures at this site to find out as much as you can about a track drill, an electric drill, a haul truck, a head frame, a jumbo drill, an air-leg drill, a load-haul-dump, a continuous miner, a conveyor belt and a pump. Record your information using dot points and or pictures.

When We Mine

What happens when we mine? Read through this site to complete your worksheet. You might like to have a look at a mine.

Minerals to Metals

Minerals and rocks from the Earth make all sorts of useful things. We often change rocks and minerals that we mine and quarry to make them more useful. Look through this site to learn more.