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Igneous Rock in Iowa

Igneous rocks in the form of granite rocks are all over Iowa, however there are no active volcanoes or active plates. These changes and rocks have occured through deposits from glaciers as well as changing landscapes during the Earth’s history. 

Location
Iowa

Driving Question

How are igneous rocks like granite formed?

Probing Questions

What other ways besides volcanoes could granite rocks move?

Classroom Suggestions

  • Use this phenomena to help introduce the concept of using rocks to determine Earth’s history. The use of the sedimentary rock in Iowa would be helpful as well but the novelty of igneous rocks being in a place with a lack of volcanic action can spark some interests. 
  • Use this phenomena as a way to introduce the rock cycle.

Resources

Iowa Core Alignment

MS-ESS1-4:
Construct a scientific explanation based on evidence from rock strata for how the geologic time scale is used to organize Earth’s 4.6-billion-year-old history.

Credit Info

Submitted by Scott Connolly

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