Materials: labeled rock set, 5% HCl, streak plate, hand lens, goggles, paper towels, water, cloth towel, rock hammer, steel nail, unknown rocks, glass plate, magnet, copper penny.

1. Carefully break off a small piece of each labeled rock sample using a hammer.
2. Test a fresh surface of each rock for hardness and reaction to HCl. "Bubbling" indicates the presence of a carbonate mineral.
3. Observe and record the presence of crystals, layers or openings, texture, odor, and ability of each sample to mark paper.
4. Use a streak plate, steel nail, glass plate, magnet, and penny to identify the minerals you see in the rocks.
5. Classify each rock as igneous, sedimentary, or metamorphic.
6. Repeat Steps 1 through 4 for the unknown samples.
7. Use the rock tables to give each rock a name based on characteristics you observe.

Sample Data Table:

Sedimentary Rock Table                      Metamorphic Rock Table                  Igneous Rock Table

Sedimentary Rock Information

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