PHYS 102 Ultimate Study Guide
True or False: Quartz forms at a lower temperature than olivine.
True
True or False? A mineral can be composed entirely of one element.
True
True or False? Covalent bonds have low melting points
True
True or False? Electrically neutral atoms have equal numbers of electrons and protons
True
True or False? Ions have an unequal number of protons and electrons.
True
True or False? Minerals have a crystalline/geometric structure
True
True or False? Minerals have a fixed chemical formula
True
Under the right circumstances, any rock can be transformed into another type of rock in the rock cycle.
True
the most abundant sedimentary rock is shale
True
True or False: A mineral can be composed entirely of one element
True Ex: Gold, Silver
12) What two factors speed up rates of chemical reaction and weathering in rocks and soils?
warm temperatures; very moist
What two factors speed up rates of chemical reaction and weathering in rocks and soils?
warm temperatures; very moist
What two factors speed up rates of chemical reaction and weathering in rocks and soils?`
warm temperatures; very moist
Assume that water filling a crack in a rock undergoes cycles of freezing and melting. Which of the following statement is true?
water expands as it freezes, causing the crack walls to be pushed apart
Assume that water filling a crack in a rock undergoes cycles of freezing and melting. Which of the following statement is true?
water expands as it freezes, causing the crack walls to be pushed apart.
How do the strength and cohesion of clay-rich regolith or soil change with the addition of water?
water lowers the strength and cohesion
What is infiltration?
water soaking into the ground
The first step in turning a rock into a sediment is ________.
weathering alters the rock
the first step in turning a rock into a sediment is
weathering alters the rock
In your own words, describe the difference between weathering, erosion, and mass wasting.
Weathering generally restricted to material breakdown in place. The physical and chemical changes that occur in rocks happens at the interface of the Earth's hydrosphere and atmosphere. Mass Wasting is when material falls under influence of gravity with little or no transporting agent. And erosion refers to processes that move material to another site under the influence of transporting agents such as water, ice, and/or wind.
Compaction
weight of overlying material
Detrital Sedimentary Rock
Weathering- disintegration and decomposition of rock at or near the earth's surface.
Which of the following is�not�a common rock forming mineral?
Which of the following is�not�a common rock forming mineral?
What process creates desert blowouts?
Wind
From a climatological perspective, a region is a desert if ________.
Yearly precipitation is less than evaporation
Are Covalent bonds stable in water?
Yes
Do Ionic Bonds dissolve in water?
Yes
Do Ionic Bonds have high melting points?
Yes
Do Metallic bonds conduct electricity?
Yes
Do metallic bonds conduct heat?
Yes
Which statement best describes slumping, a mass wasting process?
a block or blocks of unconsolidated regolith slide downhill along a curved slip surface
What is a stream's longitudinal profile?
a cross-sectional view of a stream from the headwaters to its mouth
A porphyritic texture where large crystals are embedded in a matrix of small crystal may form when ________.
a magma that has partially crystallized slowly moves to a different location where it then cools rapidly.
The atomic particle that carries a positive charge is called a(n)?
a proton
Limestone is composed almost entirely of calcite which has the chemical formula CaCO 3. As a result, limestone is classified as
a rock
The mass wasting process in steep mountain areas that causes accumulations of rock debris called talus is called ________.
a rock fall
Which of the following regions would you expect to exhibit the highest rates of weathering?
a tropical rainforest
25) Which carbonate mineral reacts readily with cool, dilute hydrochloric acid to produce visible bubbles of carbon dioxide gas? a) calcite b) gypsum c) quartz d) plagioclase
a) calcite
11) The resistance of a mineral to abrasion is known as ________. a) hardness b) luster c) cleavage d) streak
a) hardness
1) Atoms that have an electrical charge due to a gain or loss of electrons are called ____. a) ions b) isochrons c) isotopes d) periodic elements
a) ions
3) Which group of minerals are the most abundant in the Earth's crust? a) silicates b) carbonates c) sulfides d) halides
a) silicates
An atom's mass number is 13 and its atomic number is 6. How many neutrons are in its nucleus? a. 7 b. 6 c. 13 d. 19
a. 7
What happens when atoms form an ionic bond? a. Electrons are transferred to form positively and negatively charged atoms. b. Electrons are shared to form positively and negatively charged atoms. c. Electrons move freely and promote electrical conductivity. d. Electrons are transferred, but the atoms keep their original charge. e. Electrons are shared and are held together by positively charged nuclei.
a. Electrons are transferred to form positively and negatively charged atoms.
What is the basic foundation of Moh's hardness scale? a. If a mineral scratches an object, then the mineral is harder than the object. b. Crystal hardness is directly proportional to crystal size. c. Mineral hardness is comparable to mineral strength. d. Hardness is related to the amount of time a mineral takes to precipitate. e. Mineral hardness can be measured in absolute terms.
a. if a mineral scratches an object, then the mineral is harder than the object
a
abc
Mountain building causes metamorphism because ________.
all of the above
What is a possible way to decrease permeability?
all of these
26) All of the following are possible indicators that creep is occurring except for ________.
an extremely thick soil profile
All of the following are possible indicators that creep is occurring except for ________.
an extremely thick soil profile
34) In terrain with steep hill slopes, which crop and cultivation technique will minimize soil erosion?
apples; land between the trees is planted in grass and not cultivated
Igneous rocks with an andesitic composition ________.
are denser than granitic compositional rocks
Which of the following is not a type of limestone?
arkose
________ sandstone contains abundant feldspar, suggesting that the sand was derived by weathering and erosion of granitic bedrock.
arkosic
What is the smallest particle of matter that exhibits and defines the distinctive chemical characteristics of the individual elements?
atom
electron atom proton neutron
atom
transfer or sharing of electrons that results in a full valence shell [produce stable atomic arrangements]
atomic bonding
_____________ are the smallest particles of matter
atoms
b
b
How does deforestation by fire or human activity contribute to mass wasting? a) It allows excess rainfall runoff to erode the landscape, triggering mass wasting. b) It kills tree roots that help hold the slopes in place, allowing mass movement. c) It allows the wind to blow across the slopes, imparting a stress that triggers landslides. d) It allows farming activity that exposes soil to erosion and mass wasting.
b) It kills tree roots that help hold the slopes in place, allowing mass movement.
6) The strong tendency of certain minerals to break along smooth, parallel planes is known as ________. a) streak b) cleavage c) habit d) cracking luster
b) cleavage
12) What element is the most abundant in the Earth's crust by weight? a) carbon b) oxygen c) chlorine d) sodium
b) oxygen
Which of the following is most resistant to both chemical and physical weathering? a) clay minerals b) quartz c) a granite d) a limestone
b) quartz
The word topsoil is commonly used, but not always correctly. The proper definition is ________. a) the A, E and B horizons b) the dark, organic rich layers of O and A c) the entire soil down to the base of the C horizon d) only the O horizon
b) the dark, organic rich layers of O and A
The basic building block of a silicate is composed of ________. a. 2 oxygens and 1 silicon b. 4 oxygens and 1 silicon c. 3 oxygens and 1 silicon d. 1 oxygen and 1 silicon
b. 4 oxygens and 1 silicon
The most common group of rock forming minerals is ________. a. the halides b. the silicates c. the sulfates d. carbonate
b. the silicates
Why does magma rise toward the Earth's surface?
because it is less dense than the material around it
During wet weather or times when snow is melting, sometimes the downhill toe of a slump ________.
becomes an earth flow
Which part of a stream's sediment load moves the slowest?
bed load
Which of the following statements concerning mudflows is NOT true? a) Mudflows may be caused by heavy rains or melting snow. b) In hilly areas, mudflows move down the canyons and stream valleys. c) Mudflows deposit talus slopes. d) Mudflows can move and carry very large boulders and other coarse debris.
c) Mudflows deposit talus slopes.
15) Which of the following is correct for isotopes of the same element? a) The atoms have different numbers of protons and the same number of neutrons. b) The atoms have different numbers of electrons and the same number of neutrons. c) The atoms have different numbers of neutrons and the same number of protons. d) The atoms have different numbers of electrons and the same number of protons.
c) The atoms have different numbers of neutrons and the same number of protons.
24) Atoms of the same element, zinc for example, have the same number of _______. a) electrons in the valence bond level b) neutrons in the outer nuclear shell c) protons in the nucleus d) electrons in the nucleus
c) protons in the nucleus
21) Which of the following is NOT a fundamental particle found in atoms? a) protons b) neutron c) selectron d) electron
c) selectron (DUH!)
14) All silicate minerals contain which two elements? a) silicon, sodium b) oxygen, carbon c) silicon, oxygen d) iron, silicon
c) silicon, oxygen
Which one of the following statements best describes erosion? a) disintegration and decomposition of rocks and minerals at the surface b) movement of weathered rock and regolith toward the base of a slope c) the process by which weathered rock and mineral particles are removed from one area and transported elsewhere d) the combined processes of leaching, eluviation, and mass wasting
c) the process by which weathered rock and mineral particles are removed from one area and transported elsewhere
Which electrons are responsible for most chemical bonding? a. innermost electron shell because the electrons can be transferred to the nucleus b. middle electron shell because they are intermediate in distance between the nucleus and the adjacent atom that bonds with the atom c. outer electron shell because these electrons can be readily exchanged with adjacent atoms d. Any electron can exchange with adjacent atoms to form a bond; there is no preference.
c. outer electron shell because these electrons can be readily exchanged with adjacent atoms
Which of the following is/are most susceptible to chemical weathering by dissolution?
calcite
quartz olivine feldspar calcite
calcite
Detrital grains of which mineral(s) are extremely rare in detrital sediments? Why?
calcite; it is soft and relatively soluble
What material is coal primarily made of?
carbon
Chemical sedimentary rocks form from materials ________
carried in solution
Which of the following changes may occur during metamorphism?
certain minerals may recrystallize, the rock becomes more compact, and crystals may grow larger.
Which type of limestone consists mainly of tiny, marine fossils composed of calcite?
chalk
Clay minerals formed from gabbro or diorite bedrock illustrate which kind of weathering?
chemical
valence (outer shell) electrons are generally involved in ?
chemical bonding
Outer shell contains valence electrons which form?
chemical bonds
Atomic bonds: most minerals are ____________ which means two or more _________ bonded together
chemical compounds; elements
Rounding of angular edges of rock outcropping and formation of insitu, spherical boulders are both indications of ________.
chemical weather and associated spheroidal weathering
Clay minerals, silica (SiO2), and dissolved potassium bicarbonate in the soil water are products of which process?
chemical weathering of orthoclase feldspar
Minerals are naturally occurring substances with distinctive _________ & _________ configurations usually in crystalline form.
chemical; atomic
which pair of minerals is most common in detrital sedimentary rocks?
clay and quartz
cleavage produces?
clean breaks
The physical property denoting a mineral's tendency to crack along parallel, planar surfaces is known as _____________________.
cleavage
The strong tendency of certain minerals to break along smooth, parallel planes is known as
cleavage
__________ is the tendency of a mineral to break (cleave) along planes of weak bonding.
cleavage
Which of the following factors has the greatest influence on soil formation?
climate
Studies of deep-sea sediment cores have contributed greatly to scientific knowledge of ________.
climatic changes during the last four million years
Which of the following is an economically important sedimentary rock?
coal
The most unreliable (variable) diagnostic property of minerals such as quartz is
color
What is the most obvious property of a mineral?
color (color is used in mineral identification)
Specific gravity
compares the weight of a mineral to the weight of an equal volume of water.
which rock type is associated with a high-energy environment
conglomerate
which rock type is associated with a high-energy environment (such as a very turbulent stream)?
conglomerate
Which of the following sedimentary rocks would you expect to have originally been deposited by fast-moving streams?
conglormate
A lake is found in which type of sedimentary environment?
continental
Atoms that share electrons have a *blank* bond
covalent
Atoms that share electrons have a(n) ________ bond.
covalent
________________ bonding: electrons are shared; generally very _______ bonds
covalent; strong
Which mass wasting process has the slowest rate of movement?
creep
Organization of minerals is reflected in the ___________?
crystal shape
Minerals are naturally occurring substances with distinctive chemical & atomic configurations usually in _____________?
crystalline form
_________________ and ______________ of minerals give them unique properties
crystalline structure; chemical composition
The mineral fluorite is commonly sold in mineral shops as octahedral (8-sided) objects. This shape originates from
cutting a larger crystal along four perfect cleavage planes. forming a cleavage fragment
7) An atom's mass number is 13 and its atomic number is 6. How many neutrons are in its nucleus? a) 13 b) 6 c) 19 d) 7
d) 7
Name the hardest and softest mineral on the Moh's scale. a. Diamond (hardest) and gypsum (softest) b. Corundum (hardest) and talc (softest) c. Topaz (hardest) and calcite (softest) d. Diamond (hardest) and talc (softest) e. Quartz (hardest) and calcite (softest)
d. diamond (hardest) and talc (softest)
Hardness describes a mineral's __________. a. powdered form when rubbed on a streak plate b. crystalline structure c. quality of reflectivity d. resistance to being scratched e. strength
d. resistance to being scratched
When a mineral fractures along a cleavage plane, what does this suggest about the crystal structure of the mineral? a. The atoms are arranged in a simple orderly arrangement with uniform bonding. b. The crystal grows only planar faces that become weak zones that form cleavage. c. The crystal contains warped planes called twin planes that weaken the crystal structure and allow it fracture along a planar surface, causing cleavage. d. The crystal structure contains planes along which chemical bonding is much weaker than other directions.
d. the crystal structure contains planes along which chemical bonding is much weaker than other directions
Metallic minerals have a ________, _________ streak
dense; dark
18) Features like rock ledges in badlands or rock fins standing above adjacent valleys are all examples of ________.
differential weathering
Which one of the following materials has the maximum, sustainable, slope angle, as determined by the angle of repose?
dry sand
What does Polar mean?
each end of the molecule or bond has a different electric charge.
_______ surrounds nucleus in a cloud of principe shells (orbits)
electrons
Most minerals are __________ compounds.
element
A compound is a stable chemical substance that exhibits and defines the distinctive chemical characteristics of the individual elements?
elements
______________ are atoms with the same atomic number
elements
What are rows in the lewis dot diagram?
energy levels
which of the following best describes bedded gypsum and rock salt?
evaporates; chemical, sedimentary rocks
According to the hydrologic cycle, once precipitation has fallen on land, what paths might the water directly take?
evaporation/transpiration runoff into a river infiltration into the ground runoff into the sea
Death Valley is a site where ________ sedimentary rocks are common.
evaporite
Rock salt and rock gypsum are common examples of a group of chemical sedimentary rocks called ______
evaporites
Metamorphism occurs when a rock ________.
experiences conditions that are significantly different from those that formed the rock
A brown mineral specimen and a green mineral specimen have identical hardness; therefore, they are the same mineral but just happen to be a different color
false
A triggering mechanism, such as heavy rains or an earthquake, are necessary for mass wasting to occur.
false
All minerals exhibit cleavage
false
An atom with 30 protons always has 30 neutrons and 30 electrons
false
An element is defined by the number of electrons that orbit the nucleus
false
As stream velocity slows, the smallest particles get deposited first.
false
Boulder conglomerates suggest deposition by strong winds in a desert.
false
Chalk, coquina, and ancient coral reefs are primarily composed of microcrystalline quartz.
false
Clastic particles in a sedimentary breccia are rounded and are about the same size as fine-grained sand.
false
Crystal size is controlled by temperature.
false
Electrons orbit the nucleus of an atom much like planets around the Sun, with inner orbitals fixed and outer orbitals subject to exchange with other atoms to make compounds
false
Ferromagnesian minerals (like olivine and pyroxene) that crystallize at high temperatures in Bowen's reaction series are generally much less susceptible to chemical weathering than quartz.
false
Fracture and cleavage both constitute the breaking of chemical bods. but fracture represents the breakage because of weak bonding.
false
In the silicon-oxygen tetrahedron, there are more silicon atoms than oxygen atoms
false
Lava always erupts violently, but magma often flows quietly.
false
Like most other liquids, water decreases in volume when it freezes.
false
Metals are good conductors of electricity because their protons can roam freely throughout the material
false
Mineral luster is broadly classified as either being metallic or opaque
false
Mud cracks in a shale or mudstone indicate that the mud or clay was deposited in deep waters of an offshore marine environment.
false
Nonmetallic minerals like halite and gypsum have no industrial uses
false
Point bars are locations where erosion occurs whereas cutbanks are locations where deposition occurs.
false
Quartz weathers readily to aluminum-rich clay minerals
false
Quartz weathers readily to aluminum-rich clay minerals.
false
Slump describes the very slow, downhill movement of soil and regolith.
false
Submarine landslides are generally much smaller than similar mass wasting events on land.
false
The Gros Ventre slide of 1925 was actually a mudflow triggered by an earthquake.
false
The Octet rule states that atoms tend to gain, lose, or share electrons until they are surrounded by six valence electrons
false
The chemical sedimentary rock, conglomerate, is composed of gravel-size, rounded, calcite oolites.
false
The mass of an atom comes from its electrons
false
The steepest, stable, slope angle possible in unconsolidated, granular materials like sand and gravel is called the angle of retention.
false
compaction is most significant as a lithification process for sedimentary rocks composed of sand-sized particles
false
non-silicate minerals make up the vast majority of the earth's crust (t/f)
false
The most common/abundant group of silicates is?
feldspar
What is the most important silicate and most abundant?
feldspar
the most common group of silicates is
feldspar
When rocks experience high temperatures and differential stresses deep in the Earth, their grains tend to ________.
flatten and elongate
When rocks experience high temperatures and differential stresses deep in the earth, their grains tend to?
flatten and elongate
________ are flat areas along streams that are created by the deposition of alluvium and is subject to periodic inundation.
floodplains
During what periods would streams see the greatest erosion and transportation of sediment?
floods
________ is not a common cementing agent for sandstones.
fluorite
Sedimentary Rock
formed from "settled" material and chemical properties
Break along chemical bonds that are approximately equal in strength
fracture
Coal beds originate in ________.
freshwater coastal swamps and bogs
coal beds originate in _______
freshwater coastal swamps and bogs.
Clay minerals are light silicates that form
from chemical weathering of igneous rocks
What mechanical weathering process produces talus slopes?
frost wedging
Which one of the following is an important, mechanical weathering process for enlarging fractures and extending them deeper into large boulders and bedrock?
frost wedging
All of the following are factors affecting mass wasting except for ________.
geologic age
27) All of the following are factors that affect rates of weathering except for ________.
geologic age of earth materials
All of the following are factors that affect rates of weathering except for ________.
geologic age of earth materials
Obsidian exhibits a ________ texture.
glassy
obsidian exhibits a ___ texture
glassy
______ is composed of alternating bands of light and dark silicate minerals
gneiss
Rhyolite is the fine-grained equivalent of this igneous rock.
granite
Select from the list below the coarse-grained rock which is composed mainly of quartz and potassium feldspar.
granite
Which of the following generally is true about caves formed by dissolution?
groundwater removed material from limestone
mineralogists use the term crystal shape, or _________ to refer to the common or characteristic shape of individual crystals or aggregates of crystals.
habit
______________ defines how minerals grow without interference from other grains or materials and is associated with crystalline structure
habit: geometric shape (habit: geometric shape is used in mineral identification)
Which of the following is NOT a criterion for defining something as a mineral
hard
chalk forms from
hard parts of microscopic organism that accumulate on the sea floor
The resistance of a mineral to abrasion is known as:
hardness
_________ defines the strength of the atomic bonding
hardness
one of the most useful diagnostic properties, is __________, a measure of the resistance of a mineral to abrasion or scratching.
hardness
Granite and gabbro ________.
have a similar texture
In which part of a stream's course would one typically find bedrock channels?
headwaters
The most important agent(s) of metamorphism, according to your text, is (are) ________.
heat
Are neutrons with no electric charge heavy or light?
heavy
Are positive charged protons heavy or light?
heavy
Which characteristic is absolutely necessary for a sedimentary rock to have potential as a possible reservoir rock for oil or gas?
high porosity
Sedimentary Rocks ______
hold important clues to Earth's history, may be economically important, and may contain fossils.
Which of the following minerals would break down most quickly in a chemical weathering process?
hornblende
What caused the mudflows (1985) on the Nevado del Ruiz volcano?
hot ash fell onto snow near the summit
The ________ describes the path water takes as it moves between the land, the ocean, and the atmosphere.
hydrologic cycle
Where is most of Earth's freshwater?
ice caps, glaciers, and groundwater
Where are electrons located?
in a cloud forming the outer surface of the atom
Which of the following best defines a mineral and a rock?
in a mineral the constituent atoms are bonded in a regular, repetitive, internal structure; a rock is a lithified or consolidated aggregate of different mineral mineral grains
chemical weathering would be most effective
in a warm, humid climate
1) In which area would weathering by frost wedging probably be most effective?
in moist, temperate climates
water expands as it freezes, causing the crack walls to be pushed apart
in moist, temperate climates
In which area would weathering by frost wedging probably be most effective?
in moist; temperate climates
An important condition for the formation of coal is ________.
incomplete decomposition of organic matter due to a lack of oxygen
What two chemical constituents cannot form by chemical weathering of the feldspar minerals?
insoluble iron oxides and soluble magnesium bicarbonates
What two, chemical constituents cannot form by chemical weathering of the feldspar minerals?
insoluble iron oxides and soluble magnesium bicarbonates
36) Which one of the following statements concerning mechanical weathering is not true?
involves a major change in the mineral composition of the weathered material
Which one of the following statements concerning mechanical weathering is not true?
involves a major change in the mineral composition of the weathered material
What is the name given to an atom that gains or loses electrons in a chemical reaction?
ion
The bond between sodium (Na) and Chlorine (Cl) to form halite (salt) is a(n) ________ bond.
ionic
The bond between sodium (Na) and Chlorine (Cl) to form halite (salt) is an *blank* bond.
ionic
elements from opposite ends of periodic table generally form ________ bonds -tendency to lose/gain electrons -forms neutral compound -transfer of electron from donor to acceptor -generally weaker bonds
ionic
_____________: electrons are transferred
ionic bonding
_____________ bonding: electrons are transferred; generally ________ bonds
ionic; weak
Which of the following describes a characteristic process in the formation of a pedalfer soil?
iron oxides and aluminum-rich clays are precipitated in the B-horizon
Fracture
irregular breakage ex: Muscovite (cleavage in 1 direction) ex: Feldspar (cleavage in 2 directions at 90 degree angles) ex: Hailite (Cleavage in 3 directions at 90-degree angles) ex: Quartz (Fracture)
Two Types of Fractures: ______________ fracture: uneven broken surface ______________ fracture: smooth, curved broken surface
irregular; conchoidal
What is required for igneous rock to weather
it must be exposed at the surface of the earth
Consider a weathered rock or soil particle lying on a slope. How will the gravitational force pulling the particle downward along the land surface vary with the inclination of the slope?
it will decrease as the slope angle is lessened
A geologist wants to locate a horizontal coal bed on a soil-covered slope where soil creep is active. A distinctive sandstone bed underlies the coal bed. On the basis of weathered sandstone fragments in the soil, where is the coal bed?
just above the highest piece of sandstone seen in the soil
Potassium feldspar chemically weathers to produce _____ in great quantities.
kaolinite
2) A geologist is looking at deposits along a river below a large volcano. She finds large boulders mixed with sand and mud, and all of the material is comprised of volcanic rocks, particularly the mud which is volcanic ash. She quickly realizes these deposits represent an ancient ________.
lahar
A geologist is looking at deposits along a river below a large volcano. She finds large boulders mixed with sand and mud, and all of the material is comprised of volcanic rocks, particularly the mud which is volcanic ash. She quickly realizes these deposits represent an ancient ________.
lahar
For a geologist, the most important characteristic of a sedimentary rock is its ________.
layering
probably the single most characteristic feature of sedimentary rocks is ______
layering
Are negative charged electrons heavy or light?
light
nonmetallic minerals have a _________ streak
light
The most abundant chemical in sedimentary rock is ____.
limestone
29) Limestone and marble weather faster than granite because ________.
limestone and marble can be dissolved by weak acids in rain
Limestone and marble weather faster than granite because ________.
limestone and marble can be dissolved by weak acids in rain
Nonclastic textures are common in which of the following sedimentary rocks?
limestones
According to scientists and engineers, which of the following is the best type of flood control?
limiting the amount of development within a flood plain
Which of the following beds would be easiest for a stream to erode?
lined with silt
_____ refers to the processes by which unconsolidated sediments are transformed into solid sedimentary rocks
lithification
A soil that has nearly equal amounts of clay, silt and sand is called ________.
loam
Climate change and human activity like overgrazing of grasslands is leading to large areas subject to "desertification" where native grass cover dies out during drought periods, exposing soil to erosion. What is potentially the greatest initial soil erosion potential during this type of an event?
loss of topsoil by wind erosion on a large scale
Which of the following statements about acidic precipitation is likely to be false?
lowered taxes and relaxed governmental regulations will result in more private and public sector spending to reduce emissions of acid-forming gases to the atmosphere
Which of the following describes the light reflecting and transmission characteristics of a mineral?
luster
distinguishes the way light reflects of the surface of a mineral
luster (luster is used in mineral identification)
The common rock produced by the metamorphism of limestone is ________.
marble
the common rock produced by the metamorphism of limestone is
marble
Which type of sediment undergoes the most compaction as it lithifies to sedimentary rocks?
marine mud
Which term best describes those processes that move weathered rock materials and soils downslope?
mass wasting
7) Most stream valleys have a V shaped cross section because ________.
mass wasting of weathered rocks on the slope maintain an angle of repose slope.
Hardness
measure of the resistance of a mineral to abrasion or scrathching
The property of cleavage reflects:
mechanical breakage along planes of weakness within the mineral.
Physical breakdown of rock into smaller pieces is called ______.
mechanical weathering
10) One important relationship between chemical and mechanical weathering is ________.
mechanical weathering can produce smaller pieces of rock that have more surface area for chemical weathering to work on.
One important relationship between chemical and mechanical weathering is ________.
mechanical weathering can produce smaller pieces of rock that have more surface area for chemical weathering to work on.
When electrons are shared among all atoms, the resulting bond is a(n) ________ bond.
metallic
______________ bonding: electrons move around.
metallic
what are the two types of lusters?
metallic vs non-metallic
Which one of the following mineral groups exhibits a sheet-like silicate structure?
micas
20) Which of the following is not a significant factor triggering mass wasting events?
mine tailings filling a valley
What is the study of minerals?
mineralogy
Naturally occurring substances with distinctive chemical & atomic configurations usually in crystalline form
minerals
_________________ are the building blocks of rocks?
minerals
Transporter
movement of sediment and particles through agents of transportation
Compaction is a very important part of the lithification process for which of the following sediments?
mud
Which of the following sedimentary features would typically be found in shales but not in sandstones?
mud cracks
Which source of drinking water is most likely to be pure and safe to drink?
municipal water
Minerals are naturally occurring because they form by?
natural geologic processes
Where is the zone of sediment production in a stream?
near the headwaters
electrons have a __________ charge
negative
neutrons have a ___________ charge
neutral
non-metallic luster=
non-shiny
Synthetic materials such as cubic zirconia are?
not considered minerals
The septic tank in this figure will probably:
not contaminate the well
Protons & neutrons are in the?
nucleus
Where are neutrons located?
nucleus
Where are protons located?
nucleus
What are elements defined by?
number of protons
What is an atomic number?
number of protons
The columns of the periodic table divide atoms by their ________.
number of valence electrons
What does the # of protons equal?
# of electrons
atomic number means?
# of protons
What is element form?
# of protons= # of electrons
Streak
* color of a mineral in its powdered form. *more diagnostic than color. * uses a streak plate.
Spheroidal Weathering
*sheeting+hydrolysis* (mechanical + chemical) -hydrolysis converts feldspar into clays, rounding any jagged edges
When Calcium (Ca) bonds with oxygen, it gives up two electrons. What is the charge of the Ca ion in this compound?
+2
Characteristics of a mineral
- Naturally occurring - Inorganic -Crystalline Solid -Has a definite chemical composition.
Metamorphic Rocks
-Rocks that somehow change form - When sedimentary rocks are buried deep, the heat and pressure transforms it into a metamorphic rock
Depositional Environments
-Terrestrial -Rivers -Alluvial Fans -Floodplains -Shoreline -Beaches -Reefs
Agents of Transportation (Transporter)
-Water -Wind -Ice -Biological -Gravity
A __________ makes a smooth break, and a _______ makes an unclean break.
-cleavage -fracture
Thermal Expansion
-cool nights; hot days *daily expansion(day) and contraction(night) results in spalling and fragmentation of rocks*
Chemical Weathering
-decomposition of rocks *result in a compositional change of the original rock* --water is an important agent
Salt Crystal Growth
-mineral formation due to evaporation of water *typical in coastal and arid regions*
Generally speaking, which of the following characteristics must a substance have in order to be a mineral? CHOOSE ALL THAT APPLY -cohesive aggregate of materials -naturally occurring -regular internal crystalline structure -a combination of mineral and non-mineral matter -definite chemical composition
-naturally occurring -definite chemical composition
Oxidation
-oxygen is the 2nd most common element in air *oxidation occurs when an ion in a crystalline structure loses an electron to an oxygen atom*
Mechanical Weathering
-physical breakdown of rock into smaller pieces *result in small fragments of rock from larger rock*
Weathering
-physical disintegration and chemical decomposition *major role of the rock cycle*
Sheeting
-plutonic rocks form at depth under great pressures *when exposed by erosion, they expand* --caused by removal of great pressures or unloading
what are atoms composed of?
-protons -neutrons -electrons
What are the 2 major mineral groups?
-silicates -non-silicates
Hydrolysis
-to separate, by adding H+ and OH- ions into mineral's crystalline structure will cause it to be ripped apart *result in complete decomposition of original mineral, as long as there is enough water to drive reactions*
Erosion
-transportation of weathered materials to a different location *Weathering-->Erosion-->Deposition*
Frost Wedging
-when liquid H2O freezes, its volume increases by 9% *common in high latitudes/altitudes/*
31) From the land surface downward to the unweathered bedrock, which of the following is the correct order of the different soil horizons?
0, A, E, B, C, bedrock
Of these four lakes, which ones are above the water table?
1 and 4
What are the 3 types of atomic bonding?
1-ionic bonding 2-covalent bonding 3-metallic bonding
The Mineral Group (8 most abundant elements)
1. Oxygen 2. Silicon 3. Aluminum 4. Iron 5. Calcium 6. Sodium 7. Potassium 8. Magnesium
What 4 things define a mineral?
1. naturally occurring 2. in-organic solid 3. definite chemical composition 4. orderly crystalline structure
Traditionally, a region is defined as a desert if it receives less than ________ inches of rain per year.
10
MOH's Relative hardness Scale
10- Diamond 9- Corundum 8- Topaz 7- Feldspar 6- Quartz 5.5 Glass- anything above can scratch glass/ below cannot 4- fluorite 3- calcite 2- fingernail 1 - Talc
Gold has a specific gravity of 20. If a 1-liter pail of water weighs 1 kg, what does 1-liter pail of gold weigh?
20 kg
Most dry lands exist between ________ degrees on either side of the Equator.
20-30
Silicon (Si) makes up ___________ of rock-forming minerals.
27.7 %
What percentage of the Earth's land area is covered by deserts and steppes?
30%
The basic building block of a silicate is composed of
4 oxygens and 1 silicon
There are over _______________ named minerals, but only a few dozen are abundant in Earth's crust and are known as ______________ minerals
4000; rock-forming
Oxygen (O) makes up _____________ of rock-forming minerals
46.6%
Sedimentary rocks compromise approximately __ percent of Earth's outermost 10 miles.
5
An atom's mass number is 13 and its atomic number is 6. How many neutrons are in its nucleus?
7
Rock-forming minerals are __________ made of oxygen (O) and silicon (Si)
75%
Major mineral group/Silicates make up ____________ of the Earth's crust.
79%
Major mineral group/Non-silicates make up __________ of Earth's Crust
8-10%
non-silicate materials make up _________ percent of the earth's crust
8-10%
There are approximately _________ naturally occurring elements arranged in the periodic table
90
Limestone is composed almost entirely of calcite which has the chemical formula CaCO3. as a result, Limestone is classified as?
A Rock
19) A mass wasting process that involves rotational motion of material sliding above a distinct slip surface is called ________.
A Slump
What is the geologic definition of a stream?
A channelized body of water flowing down gradient
How does isostatic rebound affect a glacial landscape?
A depressed crust will rise after glacial retreat
Why are urban areas susceptible to flash floods?
A high percentage of the surface area is covered with cement, asphalt, and other impervious materials
A porphyritic texture where large crystals are embedded in a matrix of small crystals may form when ________
A magma that has partially crystallized slowly moves to a different location where it then cools rapidly
Ore
A naturally occurring concentration of one or more metallic minerals that can be extracted economically is a(n) ________.
Clay is an example of
A silicate that forms from weathering of other silicates
Which mechanical weathering process will be most common in an arid environment?
Abrasion
Which one of the following statements about landforms is correct?
Alluvial fans typically rim desert valleys
Chemical Weathering
Alters erosion or disintegration of rocks - Chemical reactions - Rainwater forms a weak carbonic acid - weak acid reacts w/ minerals to alter their internal structure
calcite, cement
Although it is relatively common, limestone is an economically important rock type because its major constituent mineral, ________, is used in the production of ________.
Which of the following statements about deserts is true?
Although rainfalls are infrequent, erosional and deposition related to water is important in deserts
7
An atom's mass number is 13 and its atomic number is 6. How many neutrons are in its nucleus?
11) Engineers refer to any loose material on the surface of the Earth as soil. How does this differ from the definition used in Earth sciences?
An engineer's "soil" is equivalent to what Earth scientists call regolith; soil has a more specific meaning.
cleavages
Angles are important when looking at which physical properties of minerals?
Slate is ________ than shale?
Denser
What mineral is the hardest known substance in nature?
Diamond
A(n) ________ is a sharp, knife-edged ridge that forms between two valley glaciers.
Arete
What is the difference between an atom and an ion?
Atoms have equal numbers of protons and electrons, resulting in no charge. Ions have gained or lost electrons, resulting in an overall charge.
Which of the following is an accurate description of ionic bonding?
Atoms of different elements, having gained or lost electrons, form negative and positive ions that are bonded together by attractive forces between ions with opposite charges.
protons in the nucleus
Atoms of the same element, zinc for example, have the same number of ________.
Covalent
Atoms that share electrons have a(n) ________ bond.
What is an element?
Atoms with different properties.
Which one of the following is NOT true about mechanical weathering?
Does not affect metamorphic rocks
the major role of thermal energy in meta morphism is
Driving chemical reactions that lead to recrystallization
What are the lightest in weight or least massive of the basic atomic particles?
Electrons
Bowen's reaction series predicts the sizes of the different mineral grains that grow from crystallizing magmas
False
Chemical compounds retain most of the characteristics of their constituent elements
False
Diamond and quartz are both minerals composed of a single element
False
True or False: Silicon-oxygen bonds are weak and cause cleavage to be common in the silicate minerals
False
True or False? Metals will become negatively charged ions?
False
True or False? Minerals do not have to be naturally occuring
False
True or False? Minerals have to be organic?
False
True or False? The Octet rule states that atoms tend to gain, lose, or share electrons until they are surrounded by six valence electrons.
False
True or false: An atom with 30 protons has 30 neutrons, and 30 electrons.
False
evaporates have a biochemical origin
False
the particles in breccia are primarily silt sized
False
The most common group of silicates is
Feldspar
Which of the following minerals is a silicate
Feldspar
Which set of characteristics would best fit a geologically recent fault block mountain uplift?
Flat upland surface, steep slopes, and small alluvial fans
Which of the following is the least likely place to find hot springs?
Florida, surrounded by warm sea water
Which of the following locations is a likely place to find a braided stream?
Flowing from the terminus of a glacier
3) Which one of the following is an important, mechanical weathering process for enlarging fractures and extending them deeper into large boulders and bedrock?
Forest Wedging
Igneous Rocks
Formed from fire Molten Material that Cools
The silicon-oxygen tetrahedran, the most fundamental basis of forming minerals contains:
Four Oxygen atoms and one Silicon atom
1822 German mineralogist: ______________ -noticed certain minerals could put a scratch other minerals, but not visa versa -developed a scale still used today
Fredrich Mohs
The most important mechanical weathering proceas is ____.
Frost action
Which one of the following is NOT related to chemical weathering?
Frost wedging
Sulfides
Galena and Sphalerite
Which of the following has the highest specific gravity?
Gold
Native Elements
Gold, silver, platinum
select from the list below the coarse grained rock which is composed mainly of quartz and potassium feldspar
Granite
Igneous rocks that contain mostly quarts and feldspar with small amounts or would be described as having a __________ composition.
Granitic
Feel
Graphite _________s greasy Talc _________s soapy
Halides and Fluorides
Halite (NaCl) and Fluorite
Which of the following is not a criterion for defining something as a mineral?
Hard
Which of the following is�not�a criterion for defining something as a mineral?
Hard
The resistance of a mineral to abrasion is known as?
Hardness
Which location in the United States contains examples from all three stages of desert landscape evolution?
Basin and Range Province
Limestone is formed primarily through
Biochemical sediments secreted by marine organisms
What is the name of dark-colored mica?
Biotite
What is the main difference between a conglomerate and a sedimentary breccia?
Breccia clasts are angular; conglomerate clasts are rounded.
Mechanical Weathering
Broken into smaller pieces Pieces of Quartz Pieces of K-Feldspar
Dissolution
occurs when rocks are dissolved by H2O
Atoms tend to gain, lose, or share electrons until they are surrounded by eight valence electrons
octet rule
Consider a steep highway cut made by removing slightly weathered to fresh, fractured, granite bedrock. Which of the following situations is most stable against rockslides?
one set of widely spaced, sub-horizontal fractures
Breccia, a rock with angular particles, is likely to have traveled ________.
only a short distance
Breccia, a rock with angular particles, is likely to have traveled _________.
only a short distance
When does the deposition of solid particles occur?
only when the fluid transporting the sediments slows down or when glacial ice melts
What are ionic bonds?
opposite charge attractions between 2 ions.
Minerals are orderly crystalline structure because their atoms are arranged in an _________________, ______________ manner which is called _______________.
organized; repetitive; chemical bonds
Which of the following best defines a mineral and a rock?
In a mineral the constituent atoms are bonded in a regular, repetitive, internal structure; a rock is a lithified or consolidated aggregate of different mineral grains.
Which of the following best defines a mineral and a rock?
In a mineral, the constituent atoms are bonded in a regular, repetitive, internal structure; a rock is a lithified or consolidated aggregate of different mineral grains
Chemical weathering would be more effective ______.
In a warm, humid climate
quartz
In the field, you find an unidentified mineral that is clear, exhibits conchoidal fracture, and can scratch glass. This mineral is most likely: View Available Hint(s)
What is the major distinction between internal and external Earth processes?
Internal processes are driven by things like Plate Tectonics, and external processes are driven by the sun.
Which electrons are responsible for most chemical bonding?
outer electron shell
What does a Lewis Dot Diagram show?
outer most layer of electrons
Valence means?
outer shell
What element is the most abundant in Earth's crust by weight?
oxygen
Detrital sedimentary rocks are classified primarily on the basis of _______
particle size
Detrital sedimentary rocks are typically classified on the basis of their ________.
particle size
What is the main criterion for classifying detrital sedimentary rocks?
particle size
Which of the following is Not a product of the chemical weathering of potassium feldspar?
Iron oxide
What is the difference between "magma" and "lava"?
It is just a name change, and lava is what magma is called if it reaches the surface of the Earth.
what Is the difference between magma and lava
It is just a name change, and lava is what magma is called if it reaches the surface of the earth
9) How does deforestation by fire or human activity contribute to mass wasting?
It kills tree roots that help hold the slopes in place, allowing mass movement.
What is required for an igneous rock to weather?
It must be exposed at the surface of the Earth.
32) Consider a weathered rock or soil particle lying on a slope. How will the gravitational force pulling the particle downward along the land surface vary with the inclination of the slope?
It will decrease as the slope angle is lessened.
What is the chemical formula for dolomite, the major mineral in dolostones?
CaMg(CO3)2
Which carbonate mineral reacts readily with cool, dilute hydrochloric acid (HCl) to produce visible bubbles of carbon dioxide gas?
Calcite
Which mineral reacts readily with cool, dilute hydrochloric acid to produce visible bubbles of carbon dioxide gas?
Calcite
Carbonates
Calcite and Dolomite (Limestone)
Which minerals have 3-planes of cleavage
Calcite and Halite
Reaction to hydrochloric Acid
Calcite bubbles when exposed to HCL
Although it is relatively common, limestone is an economically important rock type because its major constituent mineral _________, is used in the production of _________.
Calcite, Cement
Which of the following is not one of the 8 most abundant elements in the earth's crust?
Carbon
Be is to Mg as
K is to Rb
How might a forest fire influence mass wasting?
Large scale mass wasting events frequently follow forest fires because their were sudden changes made to the vegetative cover. The vegetative cover refers to trees, bunchgrasses and grasslands, legumes, and shrubs with an expected life span of at least 5 years. After the vegetative cover is destroyed by a forest fire, it leaves the hillsides bare which causes normal rainstorms to saturate the ground and cause mudslides that do tremendous damage.
the partial decomposition of plant remains in an oxygen-poor swamp creates a layer of soft, brown material that is not yet coal. this material is known as _____
peat
for a geologist, the most important characteristic of a sedimentary rock is its
Layering
the most abundant chemical sedimentary rock is _______>
Limestone
Chemical Sedimentary Rocks
Limestone, Chert, Evaporates (Rock salt, and Rock Gypsum)
Biological Sedimentary Rocks
Limestone, Coqina, Coan, Chalk, and Diatomaceous Earth
16) A soil that has nearly equal amounts of clay, silt and sand is called ________.
Loam
Glacial rock flour carried by blowing winds is referred to as ________.
Loess
Which of the following describes the way light reflects from the surface of a mineral?
Luster
Steps of the Rock Cycle (Step 1)
Magma --> Crystallization
Oxides
Magnetite and Ice
Which of the following scenarios represents the best nonstructural approach to flood control?
Managing a floodplain to limit development in sensitive areas
Non- Foliated Metamorphic Rocks
Marble, Quartzite, Anthracite Coal
41) As an erosional process, how is mass wasting unique compared to wind, water, and ice?
Mass wasting does not require a transporting medium.
Steps of the Rock cycle (Step 3)
Metamorphic Rocks More heat and pressure turns it into magma can become sedimentary
Which one of the following mineral groups exhibits a sheet-like silicate structure?
Micas
Fredrich Mohs created the __________, which is arranged in order of hardness
Mohs scale
38) Haiti is a mountainous island nation that has terrible problems with landslides. Which of the following explanations would best explain the problem?
Most of the forests have been cut down for charcoal, leaving barren slopes subject to mass wasting during heavy tropical rainstorms and earthquakes.
Which of the following minerals is a silicate?
Muscovite
Which of the following minerals is in the mineral group known as mica?
Muscovite
Which minerals have one plane of cleavage
Muscovite and biolite
Biological Activity
physical weathering produced by *organic* processes
Which igneous texture is characterized by two distinctively different crystal sizes?
porphyritic
protons have a __________ charge
positive
Most Common Hydrolysis
potassium feldspar
Kaolinite
potassium feldspar chemically weathers to produced in great quantities
The finely divided, red, brown, and yellow soil-coloring minerals originate by what process?
precipitation of iron oxides during the chemical weathering process
Which common mineral is composed entirely of silicon and oxygen?
quartz
________, a common mineral found in igneous rocks, is the most abundant mineral in detrital sedimentary rocks.
quartz
what is the 2nd most important and abundant silicate?
quartz
Flint, chert, and jasper are microcrystalline forms of ________.
quartz (SiO2)
What are the chief constituents of detrital sedimentary rocks?
quartz and clay
The texture of an igneous rock ________.
records the rock's cooling history
the texture of an igneous rock
records the rock's cooling history
What type of drainage pattern develops on highly jointed bedrock?
rectangular
In the Rocky Mountain region of the United States, north-facing slopes (downhill direction is toward the north) are typically moister and more heavily forested than south-facing slopes. Why?
North-facing slopes receive about the same amount of precipitation as south-facing slopes; less moisture evaporates from north-facing slopes.
From the land surface downward to the unweathered bedrock, which of the following is the correct order of the different soil horizons?
O, A, E, B, C, bedrock
ionic bonds produce ions but covalent and metallic bonds do not produce ions
One significant difference between an ionic bond, where electrons are taken from one atom and added to another atom, and a covalent or metallic bond, where electrons are shared, is ________.
which electrons are responsible for most chemical bonding?
Outer electron shell because these electrons can readily exchange with adjacent atoms
Would you call the loose, unconsolidated, surface material on Mars regolith or soil?
regolith
Which term describes a soil formed by weathering of the underlying bedrock?
residual
37) Deforestation of rain forests exposes tropical soils that are famous for their low fertility, despite the fact that they had previously hosted a lush tropical forest. Which soil type would describe these soils?
Oxisols-Soils that occur on old land surfaces unless parent materials were strongly weathered before they were deposited. Rich in iron and aluminum oxides, Oxisols are heavily leached, hence are poor soils for agricultural activity
Which of the following sedimentary features can each be used to determine paleocurrent directions?
ripple marks and cross stratification
Naturally occurring solid aggregate of one or more minerals
rock
39) Of the following, which one would most likely be triggered by an earthquake?
rock avalanche
Of the following, which one would most likely be triggered by an earthquake?
rock avalanche
The most rapid type of mass movement is a ________.
rock avalanche
Which of the following is a mineral as defined by a geologist?
salt
detrital sediments would predominate in all of the following environments except ______.
salt flat
When sand lithifies, the resulting rock is commonly called ________.
sandstone
________ denotes the exposed, crescent-shaped rupture surface at the head of a slump.
scarp
Deforestation of rain forests exposes tropical soils that are famous for their low fertility, despite the fact that they had previously hosted a lush tropical forest. Which soil type would describe these soils?
Oxisols—Soils that occur on old land surfaces unless parent materials were strongly weathered before they were deposited. Rich in iron and aluminum oxides, Oxisols are heavily leached, hence are poor soils for agricultural activity
What is the most abundant element found near the surface of the earth?
Oxygen
hardness is the difficulty/ease with which a mineral can be?
scratched
What is the ultimate base level?
sea level
metallic luster =
shiny
What is a Bohr diagram?
shows all electrons side by side and are in an orbital.
A cherty limestone would contain which major constituents?
silica; calcite
Silicon-oxygen tetrahedron is the building block of all?
silicate minerals
Detrital sedimentary rocks are typically classified on the basis of their ______?
Particle size
Bituminous Coal process
Peat (plant material compressed) -> Lignite -> Final product Bituminous Coal
Which one of the following is sodium and calcium-rich feldspar with twinning striations?
Plagioclase
Which of the following can contain large quantities of evaporite minerals such as borate and halite?
Playa
Which of the following denotes the massive, positively charged, nuclear particles?
Protons
Which two elements combine to make most of the common rock forming minerals in the crust?
silicon and oxygen
which two elements combine to make most of the common rock forming minerals in the crust
silicon and oxygen
Which mineral is composed of silicon dioxide (SiO2)?
Quartz
Which of the following is not a dark silicate mineral?
Quartz
Which common mineral is composed entirely of silicon and oxygen?
Quartz (SiO2)
28) ________ denotes the exposed, crescent-shaped rupture surface at the head of a slump.
Scarp
The low-grade meta morphism of shale produces _______.
Schist
Which of the following is not a fundamental particle found in atoms?
Selectron
Which group does feldspar, one of the most common minerals near the surface of the Earth, belong to?
Silicates
Which 2 elements combine to make most of the common rock forming minerals in the crust?
Silicon and Oxygen
Which two elements are found in all silicate minerals?
Silicon and oxygen
Foliated Metamorphic Rock
Slate, Phyllite, Schist, Gneiss
What physical property denotes the color of a powdered mineral?
Streak
Oxygen, Sulfur, Aluminum, iron. What should not be categorized in this group?
Sulfur (Not one of the 8 most abundant elements)
Rotten eggs
Sulfur smells like ________.
All atoms of the same element have the same atomic number
TRUE
Electrical attractions between atoms lower the total energy of the bonded atoms and make them more stable
TRUE
Electrically neutral atoms have equal numbers of electrons and protons
TRUE
Most substances are electrically neutral
TRUE
What does the tendency of micas to produce thin cleavage flakes suggest about it's crystal structure?
The atoms are arranged in orderly arrangements that form strongly bonded sheets separated by weak bonds between the sheets
Which of the following is correct for isotopes of the same element?
The atoms have different numbers of neutrons and the same number of protons
The low grade metamorphism of shale produces ________.
slate
list the rocks in the order of increasing grain size and increasing grade of metamorphism?
slate, phyllite, schist
30) A rancher overgrazes his land in an area underlain by heavy clay soils and regolith developed from weathering of claystone. After a series of heavy rains small creeks develop deep gullies along their length. A light steady rain develops and continues for several days. What should the rancher be concerned about on his overgrazed lands?
slumps along the creeks
A rancher overgrazes his land in an area underlain by heavy clay soils and regolith developed from weathering of claystone. After a series of heavy rains small creeks develop deep gullies along their length. A light steady rain develops and continues for several days. What should the rancher be concerned about on his overgrazed lands?
slumps along the creeks
Which of the following physical properties is not generally used to identify most minerals?
smell
Which of the following was a major factor leading to the Gros Ventre, WY slide?
soils and shallow bedrock were very wet and locally saturated
Which one of the following operates primarily in areas of permafrost?
solifluction
ionic bonds transfer to gain?
stability
What physical property denotes the color of a powdered mineral?
streak
Color of mineral in a powdered form -may be different from its color -but, is generally consistent
streak (streak is used in mineral identification)
Streak is obtained by rubbing the mineral on an unglazed porcelain tile known as a?
streak plate
oxygen sulfur aluminum iron
sulfur
Which term best describes an accumulation of angular rock fragments at the base of a steep, bedrock slope or cliff?
talus slope
Frost wedging is the major weathering process contributing to the formation of which regolith material?
talus slopes
what kind of time span is required to produce most mineral deposits?
tens of thousands to millions of years
Silicate groups are the most important because _______________ can form.
tetra hedra silicates
The permeability of a material refers to:
the ability of water to flow through a material
Luster
the appearance of quality of light reflected from the surface of a mineral. ex: Metallic's must look like a metal and have a dark streak ex: Non-Metallic's are earthy, grassy, and pearly
Transpiration moves water from _______.
the biosphere to the atmosphere
What portion of an angular, fracture-bounded granitic block shows the highest rate of weathering?
the edges and corners
Under similar warm, moist climatic conditions, why would basalt and gabbro generally have higher chemical weathering rates than rhyolite and granite?
the ferromagnesian minerals in the gabbro and basalt are subject to oxidation and chemical breakdown
Chalk forms from ________
the hard parts of microscopic organisms that accumulate on the sea floor
Ionic
The bond between sodium (Na) and Chlorine (Cl) to form halite (salt) is a(n) ________ bond.
What is the longitudinal profile?
The cross-sectional area from the headwaters to the mouth
What is base level?
The downward limit of erosion.
25) Which one of the following statements best describes erosion?
the process by which weathered rock and mineral particles are removed from one area and transported elsewhere
Which one of the following statements best describes erosion?
the process by which weathered rock and mineral particles are removed from one area and transported elsewhere
Why can Metals bend?
they have a sea of electrons
Which of the choices below is not a factor that causes infiltration and runoff to vary from place to place and from time to time?
time of the day
Lithification
transformation of sediment into a rock
Which of the following applies to the basic constituents of halite, gypsum, and sylvite?
transported as dissolved ions; deposited by evaporation
A feldspar-rich sandstone is called an arkose.
true
A mineral can be composed entirely of one element
true
A scarp is the exposed portion of the rupture surface beneath a slump block.
true
Abundant moisture and warm temperatures result in high rates of chemical weathering.
true
Although fluorite and native sulfur are not metallic minerals, deposits of these materials are still called ore deposits
true
Bedding planes and fractures can both act as slip surfaces for rockslides.
true
Calcite, a major component of some monumental and building stones, slowly dissolves in weakly acidic waters
true
Calcite, a major component of some monumental and building stones, slowly dissolves in weakly acidic waters.
true
Chemical weathering in bedrock below the land surface often begins along joints and sheeting fractures.
true
Clay and muddy sediments lithify to form shales and mudstones.
true
Cleavage is related to the internal structure of a mineral
true
Decomposition of pyrite is an important factor in generating acidic mine drainage.
true
Detrital sedimentary rocks are classified according to clastic particle size; chemical sedimentary rocks are named according to the most abundant minerals.
true
Detrital sedimentary rocks have clastic textures.
true
During metamorphism, the material undergoing deformation remains a solid.
true
Earthflows and slumps generally involve movement of unconsolidated or weakly consolidated soil and regolith.
true
Electrical attractions between atoms lower the total energy of the bonded atoms and make them more stable
true
Electrically attractions between atoms lower the total energy of the bonded atoms and make them more stable
true
Electrically neutral atoms have equal numbers of electrons and protons
true
Every metamorphic rock has a parent rock from which it formed.
true
Feldspars commonly decompose during weathering to clay minerals, silica, and soluble constituents.
true
Glassy igneous rocks form when magma cools too fast for mineral grains to grow.
true
Lahars are essentially mudflows associated with volcanoes and volcanism.
true
Many limestones are of biochemical origin.
true
Most substances are electrically neutral
true
One magma can produce several different igneous rocks having different mineral compositions
true
Oxidation of iron is an important chemical weathering process for ferromagnesian silicate minerals like olivine and biotite.
true
Peat is thought to be the original material from which coals are formed.
true
Quartz forms at a lower temperature than olivine
true
Quartz is quite resistant to weathering and is an important component of sands in riverbeds and on beaches
true
Quartz is quite resistant to weathering and is an important component of sands in riverbeds and on beaches.
true
Repeated freezing and thawing can be important in soil creep movements.
true
Rocks are aggregates of minerals
true
Sedimentary rocks are an important source of information about the Earth's history.
true
Sheeting fractures and exfoliation domes commonly develop in areas with highly fractured bedrock.
true
Sheeting is mainly a process of mechanical weathering
true
Sheeting is mainly a process of mechanical weathering.
true
Solifluction is an important mass wasting process in areas of permafrost.
true
Solifluction occurs during the warmer summer months.
true
The Nile River in Africa is a stream.
true
The change from a sediment to a sedimentary rock typically involves burying the sediment.
true
The micas, biotite and muscovite, both exhibit one direction of cleavage
true
The mineral dolomite, which is the major mineral of the sedimentary rock dolostone, is a carbonate of calcium and magnesium.
true
Water is gradually expelled from compacting clay and mud sediments.
true
most limestone has a biochemical origin
true
particle size is the primary basis for distinguishing among various detrital sedimentary rocks
true
the single most characteristic feature of sedimentary rocks is strata, or beds
true
What is an ion?
unequal # of protons and electrons (positive and negative charges.
Centuries ago quarrymen learned that when quarrying granite it was usually easiest to break the rock along a nearly horizontal surface. We now know this arises because ________.
uplift and exhumation of granites produces an unloading, which produces sheeting joints like the quarrymen used
ionic metallic valence covalent
valence
Which of the following best describes bedded gypsum and halite?
vaporates; chemical, sedimentary rocks
Intrusive igneous rocks are often characterized as coarse- grained because...
The slow cooling at depth allows large crystals to grow.
Which of the following would retain the most detailed impressions of fossilized organisms?
very fine-grained volcanic ash deposited in an ancient lake
If magma or lava cools quickly, the resulting igneous rock will have _______?
very small crystals
What will happen to the water level in the stream if the water table is below the level of the stream channel?
The stream will lose water to the groundwater system.
If magma or lava cools quickly, the resulting igneous rock will have ________.
very small crystals
Cleavage
The tendency of a mineral to cleave, or break along lines of weak bonding (not to be confused with crystal form
After the drought of the 1930's farmers in the Great Plains were encouraged to plant rows of trees across fields to decrease soil erosion. How would this reduce soil erosion?
The trees can serve as windbreaks to slow wind erosion.
Erosion
The weathering away of the land surface by mechanical action of transported debris. Can be: -Biological - Ice - Wind - Water
Why is it so difficult for wind to pick up clay-sized particles?
The wind has a near-zero velocity closest to the surface and can't pick them up
Which of the following best characterizes ferromagnesian silicates?
They are black to dark-green silicate minerals that contain iron and magnesium
How do electrons behave in a mineral with metallic bonding?
They can move relatively easily from atom to atom inside the mineral.
Why are boulders not a mineral?
They do not have a well-defined chemical composition
Why are boulders�not�a mineral?
They do not have a well-defined chemical composition.
why do crystals in a magma stop growing during cooling?
They run out of space
Which statement concerning sedimentary rocks is not true?
They were originally deposited at depth below the bottom of the sea.
Silts and Clays are commonly deposited in lakes, lagoons, swamps and marine environments because___________?
Those settings have relatively still water
Which of these factors influence the type and rate of weathering?
Topography, mineral content, and climate.
17) Sheeting is mainly a process of mechanical weathering.
True
24) Earthflows and slumps generally involve movement of unconsolidated or weakly consolidated soil and regolith.
True
Many metals are extracted from ores that contain sulfide minerals
True
Minerals must have a solid STP (standard temp and pressure)
True
The micas, biotite and muscovite, both exhibit one direction of cleavage
True
Quartz sand is a useless commodity unless you want to rebuild a beach
FALSE
The mass of an atom comes from its electrons
FALSE
13) Like most other liquids, water decreases in volume when it freezes.
False
22) Quartz weathers readily to aluminum-rich clay minerals.
False
8) A triggering mechanism, such as heavy rains or an earthquake, are necessary for mass wasting to occur.
False
The strong tendency of certain minerals to break along smooth, parallel planes in known as?
Cleavage
The strong tendency of certain minerals to break along smooth, parallel planes is known as
Cleavage
What is the tendency of certain minerals to break along smooth, parallel planes called?
Cleavage
Which of the following is an economically important sedimentary rock
Coal
In which type of chemical bonding are electrons shared between adjacent atoms?
Covalent
Which mass wasting process has the slowest rate of movement?
Creep
Which of the following best describes sets of fractures in relatively fresh bedrock, such as granite, that are roughly parallel to the land surface?
sheeting fractures
5) Clay minerals formed from gabbro or diorite bedrock illustrate which kind of weathering?
Chemical
Which of the following pairs are likely products of weathering granite?
Clay and Quartz
Which one of the following mineral groups exhibits a sheet-like silicate structure?
Clay minerals
from chemical weathering of igneous rocks
Clay minerals are light silicates that form ________.
Detrital Sedimentary Rocks
Conglomerate, Breccia, Sandstone, Arkose, Siltstone, Shale
Which of the following describes the correct order for relative solubility of minerals in sedimentary rocks?
Evaporate minerals are more soluble than calcite and quartz.
Which of the following best describes bedded gypsum and rock salt
Evaporates; chemical, sedimentary rocks
21) You buy land in the tropics on steep mountain slopes covered by large trees and deep soil. You want to build a house on the land. Which of the following building plans is a very bad idea because of the danger of triggering mass wasting?
Excavate a flat bench on the slope for the house, pushing the debris to the slope below and leave a cut bank above the flat bench with grass planted on the steep slope.
Crystal Form
External expressions of a minerals internal orderly arrangement
All minerals exhibit cleavage
FALSE
An element is defined by the number of electrons that orbit the nucleus
FALSE
In the silicon-oxygen tetrahedron, there are more silicon atoms than oxygen atoms
FALSE
The most important agent(s) of metamorphism, according to your text, is (are)
Heat
Which of the following minerals is a ferromagnesian silicate?
Hornblende
4) Chemical weathering rates are highest in ________.
Hot Wet Climates
Which of the following is a renewable resource?
Ice
One significant difference between an ionic bond, where electrons are taken from one atom and added to another atom, and a covalent or metallic bond, where electrons are shared, is
Iconic bonds produce ions but covalent and. metallic bonds do not produce ions
Steps of the Rock cycle (step 2)
Igneous Rocks Weathering, erosion, transportation, and deposition Heat and pressure are applied it can skip right to the metamorphic step *when molten rock deep in the earth meets with the upper mantle and cools/ solidifies/ crystalline
Examples of Natural Crystal Faces
Quartz and Pyrite
which of the following is an igneous rock
Rhyolite
15) Which of the following poses the greatest risk of massive loss of life and property along its path?
Rock Avalanche
6) A mass wasting process that involves rapid down-slope movement of debris aided by a cushion of air is called ________.
Rock Avalanches
23) Which of the following mass movements is most likely to occur in a geologic setting where the rock strata are inclined?
Rock Slide
The central United States is covered with extensive deposits of loess. Where did this loess come from?
Rock flour from the braid plains of Pleistocene glacial streams and rivers
33) In the late 1950's the Hebgen Lake earthquake outside of Yellowstone triggered a mass wasting event. The landslide originated on steep mountains slopes where rocks slid off a surface and descended to the valley floor in a few seconds, burying a campground and many people staying there. This type of landslide would be called ________.
Rockslide34
What Do Ionic Bonds form?
Salt
Which of the following is a mineral as defined by a geologist?
Salt
________ refers to the bouncing motion sands will display when transported by moving water or wind.
Saltation
its crystal form
The external expression of a mineral's orderly internal arrangement of atoms is referred to as
14) Under similar warm, moist climatic conditions, why would basalt and gabbro generally have higher chemical weathering rates than rhyolite and granite?
The ferromagnesian minerals in the gabbro and basalt are subject to oxidation and chemical breakdown.
Under similar warm, moist climatic conditions, why would basalt and gabbro generally have higher chemical weathering rates than rhyolite and granite?
The ferromagnesian minerals in the gabbro and basalt are subject to oxidation and chemical breakdown.
In the late 20th century most metal prices were very low but metal prices increased dramatically in the early 21st century. Simultaneously, the early 21st century saw extensive "brown fields exploration" in which companies went to old mining areas and extracted old mine wastes or reopened old mine workings. What is the primary explanation for this activity?
The increase of metal prices made mineral resources that were previously uneconomic into ones that could potentially be extracted profitably
What atomic particle in an atom is the same for each element?
The number of protons in the nucleus
Quartz has a characteristic conchoidal fracture, yet rock shops often sell Quartz as elongate 6 sided objects with a pointed termination. What causes this shape?
The planar faces that form the object are crystal faces that grow when the crystals grew into a void.
Which disaster was triggered by a huge mass of soil and rock that suddenly slid into a water-filled reservoir?
Vaiont Canyon, Italy, 1963
How will channel velocity change along the longitudinal profile of a stream?
Velocity will start low and gradually increase toward the mouth due to increasing discharge downstream
A(n) ________ is a smooth, polished rock that has been abraded by the wind.
Ventifact
Assume that water filling a crack in a rock undergoes cycles of freezing and melting. Which of the following statement is true?
Water expands as it freezes, causing the crack walls to be pushed apart.
Cementation
Water percolates into the pore spaces between the particles
A ________ stream consists of a complex network of converging and diverging channels that weave around channel bars.
braided stream
Which detrital sedimentary rock is made up of gravel-sized, angular fragments?
breccia
when a sedimentary rock consists of angular, gravel-sized particles, it is called _____
breccia
Igneous rock is formed ________.
by crystallization of magma
igneous rock is formed
by the crystallization of magma
8) Which of the following best defines a mineral and a rock? a) A mineral consists of constituent atoms arranged in a geometrically repetitive structure; in a rock, the atoms are randomly bonded without any geometric pattern. b) A rock consists of atoms bonded in a regular, geometrically predictable arrangement; a mineral is a consolidated aggregate of different rock particles. c) A rock has an orderly, repetitive, geometrical, internal arrangement of minerals; a mineral is a lithified or consolidated aggregate of rocks. d) In a mineral the constituent atoms are bonded in a regular, repetitive, internal structure; a rock is a lithified or consolidated aggregate of different mineral grains.
d) In a mineral the constituent atoms are bonded in a regular, repetitive, internal structure; a rock is a lithified or consolidated aggregate of different mineral grains.
10) What mineral is the hardest known substance in nature? a) native gold b) muscovite c) silicate d) diamond
d) diamond
All of the following are factors that affect rates of weathering except for ________. a) rock characteristics b) surface area c) climate d) geologic age of earth materials
d) geologic age of earth materials
16) Which mineral is easily soluble in water at room temperature conditions? a) diamond b) olivine c) talc d) halite
d) halite
Which one of the following statements concerning mechanical weathering is NOT true? a) reduces grain sizes of rock particles b) allows for faster rates of chemical weathering c) is important in the formation of talus slopes d) involves a major change in the mineral composition of the weathered material
d) involves a major change in the mineral composition of the weathered material
Which one of the following statements concerning mechanical weathering is not true? a) reduces grain sizes of rock particles b) allows for faster rates of chemical weathering c) is important in the formation of talus slopes d) involves a major change in the mineral composition of the weathered material
d) involves a major change in the mineral composition of the weathered material
What two factors speed up rates of chemical reaction and weathering in rocks and soils? a) low temperatures; very dry b) low temperatures; very moist c) high temperatures; very dry d) warm temperatures; very moist
d) warm temperatures; very moist
Most sediment is formed by ________.
settling out of a fluid
Compaction would probably be most significant as a lithification process for ______.
shale
The most common sedimentary rock is ________.
shale
Which one of the following is not a chemical sedimentary rock or evaporite?
shale
Oolitic limestone is most likely to form in what type of depositional environment?
shallow, clear, marine waters with vigorous current activity
Intrusive igneous rocks are often characterized as coarse-grained because ________.
the slow cooling at depth allows large crystals to grow
How do freezing, thawing, wetting, and drying contribute to soil creep?
the soil expands and contracts, lifting particles and dropping them a slight distance downslope
40) Mass wasting, a process that often occurs between weathering and erosion, involves ________.
the transport of material due to gravity
Mass wasting, a process that often occurs between weathering and erosion, involves ________.
the transport of material due to gravity
The common source of pressure during compaction of sediments is ________.
the weight of the sediments deposited above the compacting sediments
What are the three main zones of a river system from highest to lowest?
zone of sediment production, zone of transportation, and zone of deposition