THE GEOSPHERE

 Have you ever asked yourself what is underneath the ground you walk on every day? The solid part of the Earth is called the geosphere and it is made up of different layers:

The lithosphere is the solid outer part of the geosphere, including the crust and top part of the mantle.

The lithosphere is made up of rocks. These are solid materials which form naturally. Rocks are made up of minerals. Some rocks are made up of different minerals and others are made up of only one material. 

We can classify rocks into three main groups:

SEDIMENTARY ROCKS

IGNEOUS ROCKS

METAMORPHIC ROCKS

Sedimentary rocks are formed by sediments that are carried by rivers and settle at the bottom of lakes , seas or oceans. The sediments are compressed over millions of year. They solidify and become rocks.

LIMESTONE

SHALE

Fossils are commonly found in sedimentary rocks. 

Igneous rocks are formed by the magma in the Earth´s mantle. When magma comes to the surface through volcanic eruptions, it cools and forms igneous rocks. 

BASALT

GRANITE

Metamorphic rocks are originally sedimentary or igneous rocks. These rocks are transformed over time by intense heat and pressure below the Earth´s surface.

MARBLE

QUARTZITE

Watch the video below:

MINERALS are solid substances which form naturally. They are some of the most beautiful things on our planet. They are also some of the most useful things. Minerals are used to make things like computers, smartphones, light bulbs and even the path outside your house. 

We cna classify mineral by their characteristics: colour, lustre (shininess), cleavage and fracture, and hardness. 

AZURITE

QUARTZ

JADE

MICA

Hope you have learnt lots of things about minerals and rocks.