Rock textures - Learning resource
Rock textures - Learning resource allows you to obtain interactive educational material aimed at ESO and Baccalaureate students
Rock textures as art: Gothic, Cubism, Abstract and Impressionism
Rock textures as a teaching resource is part of the dissemination of geological knowledge of Catalonia, which is one of the main functions of the ICGC.
The ICGC, in collaboration with the University of Barcelona, has developed the content and material for the traveling exhibition “Rock textures: Microscopic view of the geological substratum of Catalonia”. The objective of the exhibition is to illustrate a set of microscopic textures representative of the igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks that emerge in Catalonia. Apart from their meaning and utility, the microscopic view of rock textures gives rise to images of great aesthetic variability.
The exhibition is complemented by a technical monograph aimed at people who want to learn about and deepen their knowledge of the petrological substratum of Catalonia.
To facilitate access to the contents of the exhibition and spread knowledge of rock textures, within Science Week 2020, we present Textures of rocks - Educational resource that allows you to access the exhibition interactively and download related pedagogical material, aimed at ESO and Baccalaureate students.
Introduction
The origin, formation and evolution of rocks is one of the main objectives of Earth sciences, and the observation of rock textures and their components has been and is an essential source of information to advance the knowledge of these aspects and the applications that derive from them.
The observation of geological materials at different scales
In geology, the concept of rock texture refers to the geometric relationships between the mineral grains and the other components that make up the rock, as well as the analysis of the size and shape of the grains.
These relationships are generally established, in a first approximation, at the scale of a hand sample, but to determine in more detail characteristics imperceptible to the naked eye, it is necessary to make microscopic observation of thin sheets of rock samples.
Representative textures
From the map and interactive list you can consult representative textures of the igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks of Catalonia.
Map of location of rock textures (sensitive map by clicking on the signs and the legend you will obtain the sheet of the selected texture).
Educational activity. Microscopic view of rock textures
Based on the contents of the exhibition, which show the diversity of rocks in Catalonia, a didactic activity is offered that allows students to become familiar with the microscopic observation scale, based on the analysis of the parameters that define the texture of rocks (size, shape and geometric relationships between the components of the rock).
Using the material presented below, students will be able to recognize and relate the different images of textures with their meaning and the processes or environments of formation.
Objectives: Observe and identify characteristics of the textures of different types of rocks, at a microscopic scale, and relate them to the geological interpretation that is derived from them.
Educational levels: ESO, Baccalaureate, Training cycles.
Duration: 1 hour practical session.
Subject: Natural Sciences, Biology/Geology, Earth and Environmental Sciences.
Development of the activity:
Based on images of rock textures, at a microscopic scale, students must relate them to the geological descriptions and interpretations that are derived from them.
The activity can be done individually, in pairs or small groups.
Student material
The material for carrying out the activity consists of a file of images of rock textures and a text file of descriptions and interpretations of textures.
Student file images [3.2 MB]. 12 images of rock textures with indication of the observation scale, at a microscopic level. It includes the name and type of rock (sedimentary, igneous, metamorphic), the provenance of the sample and the type of image. The document can be printed for each student or group or projected on a screen.
Example image of the student file
Student texts dossier [527 Kb]. 12 text boxes with the name of the texture, its description and meaning. Students must relate each text to the correct image and indicate the number of the sample to which it corresponds. The document can be printed for each student or group.
Example of texts from the student file
Teacher Material
Teacher's Dossier [19 MB]: Document with the contents of the activity solved. It can be projected at the end of the session as a summary of the activity.