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Title: Making Sedimentary Rocks
Time: 1 class period
KERA Goals: 2.4, 2.6
Conclusion/Discussion:
Write or discuss the differences in the rocks that you made.

Objective:

Students should understand that sedimentary rocks like coal are formed by the cementing together of smaller pieces of rocks.  Or, like coal, from the accumulation of plant material.

Materials:

Activity:

In this activity we will be making three different sedimentary rocks.

Sandstone Coal Limestone
  1. Cut the top off of a milk carton
  2. Label the carton "A"
  3. Mix 3 teaspoons of cement with wet sand in the carton.
  4. Allow to dry.
  5. Remove carton to see the sandstone.
  1. Cut the top off of a milk carton.
  2. Label the carton "B"
  3. Mix 3 teaspoons of cement with wet mud and decomposed leaves in the carton.
  4. Allow to dry.
  5. Remove carton to see the coal.
  1. Cut the top off of a milk carton.
  2. Label the carton "C"
  3. Mix plaster with water in the carton.
  4. Allow to dry.
  5. Remove carton to see the limestone.

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Provided by The Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration, Inc.