Naming Igneous Rocks

Dexter Perkins
,
University of North Dakota
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Summary

This project is intended to introduce students to the IUGS rock classification scheme.
Samples come from the Wards Collections (which many schools have). Students are provided with both hand specimens and thin sections. They also get a brief rock description - so this project can be done even if their mineral ID skills are not honed.

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Context

Audience

This exercise is used in a sophomore or junior level required course in petrology.

Skills and concepts that students must have mastered

Students should have an understanding of basic petrology and classification/identification techniques as well as how to use a microscope.

How the activity is situated in the course

This activity is a stand-alone exercise.

Goals

Content/concepts goals for this activity

This project is intended to introduce students to the IUGS rock classification scheme.

Higher order thinking skills goals for this activity

This activity involves identifying and classifying rocks.

Other skills goals for this activity

This activity may involve group work and operation of analytical equipment (a microscope).

Description of the activity/assignment

This project is intended to introduce students to the IUGS rock classification scheme.
Samples come from the Wards Collections (which many schools have). Students are provided with both hand specimens and thin sections. They also get a brief rock description - so this project can be done even if their mineral ID skills are not honed.
This is a lab activity - it requires a microscope. It is best done as a group project.

Determining whether students have met the goals

Students have met the goals of this assignment if they are able to complete the exercise accurately and completely.

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