Facilitator: __________________________________

Process Analyst: ______________________________

Evolution of Earth’ s Crust Quality Control: ______________________________
Spokesperson: _______________________________
Other: ______________________________________
Why?
Earth’s crust is made of various elements and compounds that make up different types of rock. Most
rocks are formed from preexisting rocks through external and internal geologic processes. In this
activity, we will explore how igneous rocks form and how igneous rocks can be classified based on
the elements of which they are composed.

Graph 1:

Read This!
The abundance of elements that make up Earth’s crust is depicted in Graph 1. Beneath Earth’s crust
is the mantle, which is made of melted rock (molten) materials including silicates (SiO2), Iron (Fe),
and Magnesium (Mg). Each type of material has a unique melting point so the molten material will
cool at different temperatures. When the molten material cools and crystallizes, it forms igneous rock.

1. Compare the various percentages of the elements in Graph 1.

a. What are the two most abundant elements in the Earth’s crust?

b. What percent of Earth’s crust is made of each of the elements listed in 1a?

2. What does molten mean?

3. What is an igneous rock?

4. When does an igneous rock form?

5. The Facilitator may assign one group member to collect the following materials
from the front counter:
• 1 piece of construction paper • 45 Cheerios
• 3 baggies • 56 M&Ms

6. Spread the Cheerios and M&Ms out on the piece of construction paper. Make sure
you have the right number to start with. Let the teacher know if you need more of
either material.

Read This!
Silicate molecules (SiO2) are usually lighter in color and are known to have a lower mass. Iron (Fe)
and Magnesium (Mg) molecules are usually darker in color and have a higher mass.

7. Your mixture of Cheerios and M&M’s represents all of the molten materials in the
mantle.
 a. Which food item will represent the silicate material in the mantle? Justify
your answer.

b. Which food item will represent the iron and magnesium in the mantle?
Justify your answer.
Read This!
When the molten material in the mantle gets closer to the heat of the Earth’s core, the temperature
rises (this is usually accompanied with increasing pressure), and the molten material continues to melt
and turn into magma. The minerals in the mantle have different melting points due to being made of
different elements. Therefore, our first magma mixture does not have the same exact composition as
our original mantle mixture.

8. The first material to melt is rich in Iron and Magnesium. As this mixture of
magma gets closer to the surface of the Earth, it cools and crystallizes. Remove
the sample of materials listed below and set it aside in Baggie #1.
2 SiO2 molecules
15 Fe/Mg molecules

9. The materials in Baggie #1 will represent the rock called Basalt (Rock#1).

10. As the mantle material continues to melt, the next magma mixture has the
following composition (push these ingredients to the right side of your
construction paper):
39 SiO2 molecules
26 Fe/Mg molecules

11. The leftover ingredients are left in the mantle (geologists call this “depleted
mantle”). Push the leftovers to the left side of your construction paper, circle
them, and label them as “depleted mantle”.

12. Look at the magma from step #10. Part of this magma will cool just beneath
Earth’s surface and turn into a rock called Diorite (Rock #2). Remove the
following ingredients and place them into Baggie #2:
21 SiO2 molecules
19 Fe/Mg molecules

13. The rest of the sample of magma from step 10 reaches the surface of Earth. This
type of magma is called lava. It will cool and crystallize on or above Earth’s
surface. As it hardens, it is subject to erosion and chemical weathering. Some of
the iron and magnesium breaks down while the silicates don’t break down as
quickly. Remove 4 Fe/Mg molecules from the hardened lava mixture and place
them on the top of the construction paper. Circle them and label them as
“weathered Fe & Mg”.

14. If the remaining silica-rich material from the hardened lava is heated up again
beneath the Earth’s surface, it will eventually make its way back to the surface,
cool, harden and crystallize. We will call this rock Granite (Rock #3). Place this
new rock material into Baggie #3.

15. Look at your Granite rock.

a. How many SiO2 molecules do you have?

b. How many Fe/Mg molecules do you have?

 16. Which rock formed first?

17. Which rock formed second?

18. Which rock formed third?

Read This!
Classification of igneous rocks is based on mineral composition, crystal size, and texture. There are three
classifications of igneous rocks based on mineral composition alone. Mafic rocks are igneous rocks that are rich
in Iron and Magnesium. These rocks are typically dark in color and have a higher density. Felsic rocks are
igneous rocks that have high silicate compositions. These rocks are lighter in color and have lower densities.
Intermediate rocks are igneous rocks that have a more even composition of silicates, iron, and magnesium.

19. Compare your three rock samples (which should be in the baggies).
a. Which of your three rocks can be classified as a mafic igneous rock? Explain
how you knew it was a mafic rock.

b. Which of your three rocks can be classified as a felsic igneous rock? Explain
how you knew it was a felsic rock.

c. Which of your three rocks can be classified as an intermediate igneous rock?

Explain how you knew it was an intermediate rock.

d. Recall the original composition of mantle material (from Question #5).

Which of your three rocks reflects the rock type closest in composition to the
starting material in the mantle? Support your conclusion by explaining your
reasoning.

e. Still thinking about the original composition of mantle material, which of

your three rocks contains a more derived (most changed) rock composition?
Support your conclusion by explaining your reasoning.

20. Take a moment to organize the information you have learned thus far about the
three types of igneous rocks discussed in this activity. Complete the composition,
color, density, and formation portion of Data Table 1. Leave the last row of your
data table blank for the time being.

Data Table 1:
Felsic Intermediate Mafic

Composition
Color
 Density
Order of
Formation
(1st, 2nd, or 3rd)

Read This!
Scientists have learned that the mantle material cools and crystallizes in predictable patterns similar to those that
you just discovered above. Scientists are able to use this information to better understand the development and
evolution of Earth’s crustal material. Map 1 shows the general locations of mafic, felsic and intermediate rock
found on Earth. Use the information you have learned above to answer the questions about the map and Earth’s
crust below.

Map 1:

21. What type of crust is made of mafic rock?

22. What type of crust is made of felsic rock?

 23. Add “crustal type” to Data Table 1. Fill in the necessary information based on
the information you gathered from Map 1.

Extension Questions
24. Identify all patterns you notice that involve the locations where each rock type is
found and the other properties of each rock type. Be sure to clearly describe how
the properties relate to each other and how these relationships could result in the
locations of the rock types.

25. How do these patterns help us to compare and contrast oceanic crust and
continental crust?

*Place all of the ingredients back into the “mantle” baggie and then place all
the baggies into the large baggie.
Return the large baggie to your teacher and wait for further instructions.*