Earth

In the above diagram of a river system where are most sedimentary clasts/grains produced? 1 2 3

1 (Higher elevation)

If you see a sequence of sedimentary rocks that changes from bottom to top: 1) conglomerate, 2) sandstone, and 3) limestone containing marine fossils, what is a plausible sequence of ancient depositional environments for that area? 1) River bed, 2) Beach, 3) Reef 1) Deep ocean far from land, 2) Beach, 3) Reef 1) Reef, 2) River bed, 3) River bed 1) River bed, 2) River bed, 3) Mountains

1) River bed, 2) Beach, 3) Reef

Use the labels on the above cross section of a delta and associated sedimentary deposits to answer the following question. Where would you most likely find sedimentary deposits composed of the smallest clasts/sedimentary grains? 1 2 3 4

4 (lowest elevation - further out in the sea)

You walk up to this outcrop of sedimentary rocks. You know from previous observations that they have not been rotated or overturned. Using the principle of superposition, which of the labeled layers is the oldest? D C B A

A (Bottom of rock face)

How would you characterize this volcano based on its shape and eruptive style? A composite volcano A shield volcano that dominantly erupts basalt

A composite volcano (White tip volcanoe with dark smoke, steep and no vegetation)

Which of the following is not a mineral? Ice (H2O) crystals in a snow flake A cubic zirconia (ZrO2) crystal grown in a laboratory Diamond (C) extracted from a kimberlite Quartz (SiO2) crystals extracted from a granite

A cubic zirconia (ZrO2) crystal grown in a laboratory

The point where oceanic crust begins sinking in subduction zones is marked by what type of topographic feature? A deep canyon known as a 'trench' There is no topographic expression of this process An extremely high mountain range

A deep canyon known as a 'trench'

Which of the following is least likely to trigger a mass wasting event from a steep slope? An earthquake Removing all of the slope's vegetation Weeks of heavy rain A drought

A drought

Continental collisions lead to the development of what type of topographic feature at the surface of the Earth? An ocean basin A continental rift valley A major mountain range

A major mountain range

Geological shortening during collisions between continents frequently leads to what topographic feature? A deep sea trench A mountain range

A mountain range

Each letter in the above diagram represents a species and the adjacent line represents the period of time it was present on Earth before it speciated or went extinct. Use this information to determine which of the following sedimentary rocks is the oldest. A sedimentary rock containing fossils of species D, E, and F. A sedimentary rock containing only fossils of species C. A sedimentary rock containing fossils of species C and B A sedimentary rock only containing fossils of species A.

A sedimentary rock only containing fossils of species A.

Alfred Wegener proposed that the continents had once been joined into a super continent and then drifted apart. Which of the following was a line of evidence that he used to make this proposal? The coastlines of continents look like they fit together in the past. Fossils of certain species seem to form continuous habitat zones if continents were once joined Locations where there is evidence for tropical or glacial environments could be restored to low and high latitudes, respectively, if the continents were once joined together and had drifted apart All of the above

All of the above

The above photograph shows two groups of sedimentary rocks, one that is vertical and the other that is shallowly dipping. James Hutton observed this outcrop and realized that an enormous of amount of time was required to deposit sedimentary rocks, rotate them to a vertical orientation, erode them, and deposit new sedimentary rocks. This realization kicked off the modern efforts to quantify the history of the Earth. What do we call surface (outlined in white) between the two groups of sedimentary rocks? Bedding plane Fossil Organism Magmatic dike Angular unconformity

Angular unconformity

Ionic bonding occurs when ______? Please fill in the blank with the best answer choice. Atoms share electrons Atoms are arranged in a lattice within which electrons can move freely Atoms gain or lose protons from their nucleus Atoms lose or gain valence electrons to make positively or negatively charged ions that can then bond

Atoms lose or gain valence electrons to make positively or negatively charged ions that can then bond

_______ is a rock formed from solidification of magma that forms during partial melting of the Earth's mantle? Please fill in the blank with the best answer choice. Shale Limestone Basalt Sandstone

Basalt

Plate tectonics modulates Earth's climate through all of the following processes except which one? Changing the distribution of land and water between different latitudes as the continents move Leading to uplift and weathering during continental collisions Burning fossil fuels Changing the amount of volcanic gases that are emitted into the atmosphere

Burning fossil fuels

The process through which loose sediment becomes a rock is known as lithification. _______ is the process that occurs when fluids precipitate new minerals in the pore spaces between sedimentary clasts/grains and leads to lithification. Accumulation Dissolution Cementation Compaction

Cementation

Clastic rocks are distinguished from crystalline rocks in that they are composed or weathered bits of rock (clasts) that have been transported as sediment and deposited in a location that is different from where their constituent rocks formed. What is one feature of clastic rocks that you could use to distinguish them? Large minerals in clastic rocks always exhibit their preferred habit Clastic rocks never consist of rounded clasts Crystals in a clastic rock are interlocking as if they grew together Clastic rocks are typically composed of rounded clasts

Clastic rocks are typically composed of rounded clasts

You observe the volcanic eruption above. Based on the shape of the mountain and the eruptive style, what tectonic setting are you in? Close to a subduction zone Close to a mid-ocean ridge

Close to a subduction zone (White tip volcanoe with dark smoke, steep and no vegetation)

Coal is a sedimentary rock composed of organic matter and frequently contains plant fossils. Which of the following statements can we infer to be true about the depositional environment in which coal formed? Coal was originally deposited in a biologically productive terrestrial ecosystem. Coal was deposited in deep ocean water. Coal was originally deposited in high mountains with that contain little plant life. Coal was originally deposited in an area with little biologic productivity.

Coal was originally deposited in a biologically productive terrestrial ecosystem.

The above photograph shows a vertical magmatic dike cutting across horizontal sedimentary layers. Which of the labeled rocks is the youngest based on the principle's of superposition and cross cutting relationships? B D A C

D (the Dike)

The above diagram shows how the number of parent and daughter atoms change through time during radioactive decay. Which of the following statements is true? Parent atoms accumulate as daughter atoms decay Daughter atoms accumulate as parent atoms decay There is no relationship between the number of parent and daughter atoms

Daughter atoms accumulate as parent atoms decay

Samples of the Earth's mantle are brought to the Earth's surface through rare volcanic eruptions. One example of this process are kimberlite eruptions, which erupt from deep in the Earth's interior and can breach the surface with extremely high eruption velocities. We have studied these type of volcanic eruptions in detail because they also transport the mineral _________, which only forms at extremely high pressures, to the Earth's surface. Please fill in the blank with the best answer choice. Diamond Sandstone Feldspar Quartz

Diamond

The organisms that produce shells made out of calcium carbonate are utilizing what component of seawater? Quartz sand Dissolved ions Clay Granite boulders

Dissolved ions

What process causes the Hawaiian islands to go from high volcanic mountains to very low-lying, small islands over long periods of time? Continental collision Excessive mining Erosion Transform boundary

Erosion

The Alaska volcano observatory is one of the largest observatories in the United States, despite the fact that Alaska does not have any major cities adjacent to a major volcano. Why is so much effort put into monitoring Alaskan volcanoes? Explosive eruptions can disrupt international air travel and Alaska lies along a common flight path between North America and Asia There are concerns about the effects of volcanic eruptions on the local fisheries

Explosive eruptions can disrupt international air travel and Alaska lies along a common flight path between North America and Asia

Alfred Wegener's proposal for continental drift was rejected during his own lifetime (b. 1880, d. 1930) for which of the following reasons? He did not effectively share his results through twitter and instagram He did not have a explanation for how the continents had moved It wasn't rejected during Alfred Wegener's own lifetime

He did not have a explanation for how the continents had moved

What are the three main types of rock? Steel, drywall, lithium Igneous, metamorphic, sedimentary Granite, meteorite, limestone Silicon, oxygen, potassium

Igneous, metamorphic, sedimentary

Chemical weathering is a major process during which rock is broken down through chemical reactions and dissolved ions are incorporated into natural waters. Which of the following parameters will lead to increased chemical weathering if all other variables are kept the same? Increasing surface area Decreasing surface area

Increasing surface area

Heating a magma will ________ crystallization and solidification into a rock. Please fill in the blank with the best answer choice. Have no affect on Increase Promote Inhibit

Inhibit

The above limestone contains fossil shells from marine organisms. What is not a reasonable inference about the environment in which this sedimentary rock was originally deposited? It was originally deposited adjacent to a reef. It was originally deposited high in the mountains. It was originally deposited in the ocean

It was originally deposited high in the mountains.

What is the name for a mud flow that is composed of volcanic debris? Pyroclastic flow Lava flow Lahar Ash fall

Lahar

What magma property listed below would not lead to explosive volcanic eruptions? Low viscosity (flows with relative ease) High viscosity (flows with difficulty) High gas content

Low viscosity (flows with relative ease)

What process leads to partial melting of the Earth's mantle and the production of large volumes of basaltic magma at mid-ocean ridges? Melting triggered by decompression as the Earth's mantle flows upward Melting triggered as the Earth's mantle is cooled Melting triggered by higher pressures as the Earth's mantle flows downward Melting as the Earth's mantle is heated

Melting triggered by decompression as the Earth's mantle flows upward

What is the key process that causes the ocean crust to be pulled into the Earth's mantle? Metamorphism transforms the basalt that forms ocean crust into a rock that is less dense than the Earth's upper mantle. Metamorphism transforms the basalt that forms ocean crust into a rock that is more dense than the Earth's upper mantle. This transition pulls oceanic crust downward as it sinks.

Metamorphism transforms the basalt that forms ocean crust into a rock that is more dense than the Earth's upper mantle. This transition pulls oceanic crust downward as it sinks.

We now use radioactive decay to determine the age of geological materials. What is one feature of an ideal material for radiometric dating? No radioactive isotopes within the material No initial daughter isotope when the material formed A high concentration of initial daughter isotope when the material formed

No initial daughter isotope when the material formed

Do volcanoes that dominantly erupt basaltic magma tend to pose an acute threat to human life? Yes, basaltic lava flows move so quickly that people cannot get out of the way. No, people can typically get out of the way of lava flows. However, infrastructure might be damaged.

No, people can typically get out of the way of lava flows. However, infrastructure might be damaged.

The San Andreas fault marks a transform boundary between the North American and Pacific tectonic plates. Los Angeles lies to the west of this fault and is part of the Pacific plate. Based on the lecture materials, where will Los Angeles be transported over the next ~50 million years? South towards Mexico Southwest toward Australia Northwest towards Alaska East causing a continental collision with the rest of North America

Northwest towards Alaska

Which location would be the safest place to build a house on the Big Island of Hawaii. Remember, this island has several active volcanoes that produce basaltic lava flows? In a valley immediately adjacent to one of the active volcanoes On the side of one of the active volcanoes On a ridge on a non-volcanically active part of the island

On a ridge on a non-volcanically active part of the island

Mid ocean ridges are underwater mountain ranges, where new oceanic crust is produced. If you were to dredge pieces of rock from a modern mid-ocean ridge, which of the rocks below would be most likely? Pillow basalt Sedimentary rocks that are very old (>100 million years)

Pillow basalt

Which of the following best describes the force that drives plate tectonics? Oceanic crust is pulled into the Earth's mantle at hotspots Changes in the Earth's magnetic field push the plates apart Plates are pulled by oceanic crust that is metamorphosed into very dense rock during subduction The force from volcanic eruptions pushes plates apart

Plates are pulled by oceanic crust that is metamorphosed into very dense rock during subduction

Which of the following processes is not an example of mechanical weathering? Rainwater infiltrating a crack and dissolving rock Tree roots growing into a crack within a cliff and splitting rock Sand carried in wind abrades a cliff face Ice expanding in a crack and wedging a rock off of a cliff

Rainwater infiltrating a crack and dissolving rock

Minerals do not have _________? An orderly arrangement of atoms that can be defined by a unit cell Randomly arranged atoms Specific macroscopic (things that you can see with your eye) properties that are linked to the geometry of the mineral's unit cell A relatively fixed chemical composition

Randomly arranged atoms

A cooling magma begins to grow crystals. We can say that this magma is ________ the crystallizing mineral. Please fill in the blank with the best answer choice below. Saturated with respect to Undersaturated with respect to Making clasts of Increasing the temperature of

Saturated with respect to

Since one continent cannot easily sink beneath another continent when two continental plates collide they accommodate the differential motion between them through the process of 'shortening'. This process is similar to when the hood of a car is smashed in a wreck, leading to a shorter total length of the car. Which of the following is not a mechanism through which geological shortening occurs? Seafloor spreading Faulting of rocks Folding of rocks

Seafloor spreading

What is the most common class of mineral within the Earth's crust? Hint: Remember the most common elements in the Earth's crust. Native Metals Silicate Minerals Sulfide Minerals Carbonate Minerals

Silicate Minerals

What are the two most common elements in Earth's crust? Silicon (Si) and Oxygen (O) Iron (Fe) and Nickel (Ni) Potassium (K) and Silicon (Si) Carbon (C) and Oxygen (O)

Silicon (Si) and Oxygen (O)

Which of the following areas is most at risk for the development of a debris flow?

Steep sides and no vegetation

Diamonds are made from carbon with an isotopic signature that is consistent with an origin as ancient life-forms. What process could have brought organic carbon deep into Earth's interior to provide the carbon needed to create diamonds? Transform boundaries Seafloor spreading at mid-ocean ridges Hotspots Subduction

Subduction

Hotspot volcanism typically makes linear chains of volcanoes that get progressively younger in one direction. What would best describe the orientation of these features? The chain of volcanoes is perpendicular to the direction of motion for the tectonic plate on which they are built The chain of volcanoes shows no relationship to the direction of motion for the tectonic plate on which they are built The chain of volcanoes lies parallel to the direction of motion for the tectonic plate on which they are built

The chain of volcanoes lies parallel to the direction of motion for the tectonic plate on which they are built

When a continent is pulled into a subduction zone it will __________? Please fill in the blank with the best answer choice. The continent will easily be pulled into the Earth's deep interior. The continent will resist being pulled into the Earth's deep interior because it is composed of rocks that are much less dense than the rocks that compose Earth's mantle.

The continent will resist being pulled into the Earth's deep interior because it is composed of rocks that are much less dense than the rocks that compose Earth's mantle.

Sandstone is a sedimentary rock largely composed of sand-sized sedimentary clasts/grains. Which of the following environments is not a place where you would expect sand to be deposited and eventually form sandstone? The deep ocean far from any land Along a major river In a large sandy desert Near the shoreline on a beach

The deep ocean far from any land

The 'Cambrian Explosion' occurred between 541-519 million years ago. What happened during this period of time? The first macroscopic (things that you could see without the aid of a microscope) animals evolved The dinosaurs went extinct Hominids evolved Large quantities of coal were deposited

The first macroscopic (things that you could see without the aid of a microscope) animals evolved

Volcanoes that are associated with subduction zones are frequently associated with explosive volcanic eruptions. All of the following are qualities of subduction zone magmas that lead to this characteristic behavior except which one? The magmas evolve towards very high silica (SiO2) content The magmas have an extremely low viscosity (meaning that they can flow with relative ease) The magmas have large amounts of water in them

The magmas have an extremely low viscosity (meaning that they can flow with relative ease)

Magma is dominantly produced in subduction zones through which of the following processes? The Earth's mantle is heated as the oceanic crust sinks in subduction zones The mantle decompresses during upwelling and causes melting to occur The melting point of the mantle is lowered by the addition of water released as the sinking oceanic crust undergoes metamorphic reactions

The melting point of the mantle is lowered by the addition of water released as the sinking oceanic crust undergoes metamorphic reactions

You observe the sequence of sedimentary rocks in the above photograph. Using the principle of original horizontality, what can you infer about the history of this location? The sedimentary rocks have been rotated from their original orientation. The sedimentary rocks were originally deposited as vertical layers.

The sedimentary rocks have been rotated from their original orientation.

Locations where tectonic plates slide past one another along a vertical plane are known as what type of plate boundary? Transform Boundary Divergent Boundary Convergent Boundary - Subduction Zone Convergent Boundary - Continental Collision Zone

Transform Boundary

We now think that plate tectonics is largely driven by 'slab pull', meaning that the ocean crust that is metamorphosed into very dense rock during subduction pulls the other tectonic plates as it sinks. True False

True

The smallest repeatable unit in a crystalline sold is known as the _________? Please fill in the blank with the best answer choice. Atomic arrangment Ionic bonding Crystalline core Unit cell

Unit cell

You work at the a volcano observatory. Over the past several days you have monitored GPS data indicating that the volcano is inflating. Over the same period of time you have monitored numerous small earthquakes. Another scientist at the observatory reports that the gases emitted from several hot springs have changed to different chemical compositions. Do you recommend that the government evacuate the towns that are adjacent to the volcano? Yes, the risk of eruption is elevated No, the risk of eruption is low

Yes, the risk of eruption is elevated

In the above photograph is the fault older or younger than the sedimentary rocks? Younger Older

Younger

Geologists think that hotspots form over what type of feature? transform boundaries subduction zones a 'plume' of hot material that has risen from deep within the Earth, potentially from the boundary between the Earth's mantle and core mid-ocean ridges

a 'plume' of hot material that has risen from deep within the Earth, potentially from the boundary between the Earth's mantle and core

The above photograph shows a mountain composed of sedimentary rock. The principle of lateral continuity allows you to assume that a single layer represents ________ as you trace it across the photograph. vastly different periods of time approximately the same period of time

approximately the same period of time

A river requires _______ to transport large pieces of rock (i.e., sedimentary clasts) when compared to smaller clasts. Please fill in the blank with the best answer choice. hotter water calmer water faster flowing water colder water

faster flowing water

Lava flows, pyroclastic flows, and lahars are all different types of volcanic hazards. All of these hazards will ________ to minimize their gravitational potential energy. Please fill in the blank with the best answer choice. flow uphill flow downhill explode

flow downhill

The thickness of sedimentary rocks on the seafloor _________ with distance from mid-ocean ridges. This observation indicates that the seafloor gets progressively older with distance from the mid-ocean ridge and is one of the lines of evidence for seafloor spreading. Please fill in the blank with the most appropriate answer choice. does not change increases decreases

increases

Seafloor spreading at mid-ocean ridges is a mechanism that produces new oceanic crust. This process also allows adjacent tectonic plates to __________. Please select the best answer choice to fill in the blank. slide past one another move apart converge

move apart

Subduction zones are places where oceanic crust is ___________. Please fill in the blank with the most appropriate answer choice. pulled back into the Earth's mantle formed at mid ocean ridges

pulled back into the Earth's mantle

Which of the following locations on the surface of the Earth has the lowest gravitational potential energy? Hint: Where is most sediment ultimately deposited? the bottom of the ocean the beach a mountain stream the top of a mountain

the bottom of the ocean

The Earth's mantle is composed of a rock called peridotite. It can begin melting through which of the following processes? Decreasing pressure, while keeping temperature constant Increasing pressure, while keeping temperature constant Decreasing temperature, while keeping pressure constant

Decreasing pressure, while keeping temperature constant

Which of the following is not a line of evidence used to support the idea of seafloor spreading? Magnetic striping on the seafloor Earthquakes that occur far from mid-ocean ridges Evidence for recent basaltic eruptions at mid-ocean ridges The thickness of sediment on the seafloor increases away from mid-ocean ridges

Earthquakes that occur far from mid-ocean ridges

Is the following statement true or false? The remains of most plants and animals eventually form fossils. True False

False

The unit cell leads to all of the following mineral properties except which one? Mineral habit A relatively fixed chemical composition Mineral size The planes along which a mineral will break (cleavage)

Mineral size

All of the following, except which answer choice, might indicate that magma is moving beneath a volcano? A change in the composition of gases emitted from the volcano Several consecutive sunny days Lot's of small earthquakes Inflation of the volcano

Several consecutive sunny days

What feature would not make a fossil useful for determining relative geologic ages? The species had a very small population The population of the species was very large The species only existed for a short period of time

The species had a very small population

Researchers have documented that magnetic minerals within the seafloor form zones that sometimes point toward the modern north pole and sometimes point toward the modern south pole. These zones form linear belts parallel to mid-ocean ridges. Which of the following is an observation regarding these zones that supports the idea of seafloor spreading? The zones are symmetrical about the mid-ocean ridge The zones are not symmetrical about the mid ocean ridge

The zones are symmetrical about the mid-ocean ridge

What process is constantly removing material from mountain ranges? Hint: Think back to earlier in the course. After answering this question take a moment to think about what it would take to completely destroy a mountain range. Volcanism Weathering and Erosion Seafloor spreading

Weathering and Erosion