GEOL1114 Quizzes Part 2/3 (and Midterm 2)
According to the moment magnitude scale (Mw), the amplitude of ground shaking during a magnitude 8 earthquake would be 1,000 times greater than a magnitude ________ earthquake. a) 5 b) 9 c) 4 d) 7
a) 5
The earliest known rocks that are silica-rich (felsic and intermediate) date to the a) Archean Eon. b) Phanerozoic Eon. c) Proterozoic Eon. d) Hadean Eon.
a) Archean Eon.
Increases in heat flow, gas emissions and nearby earthquakes are all signs that a volcano _______. a) has erupted in the past b) is extinct c) may soon erupt d) is dormant
c) may soon erupt
Chemical sedimentary rocks are classified primarily on the basis of a) grain size b) degree of sorting c) mineral composition d) angularity
c) mineral composition
During metamorphism, new mineral grains can form that are not found in the protolith. This process is called _________. a) elongation b) pressure solution c) neocrystallization d) foliation
c) neocrystallization
Why are earthquakes on continents most likely to occur above the brittle-plastic transition depth? a) Below the transition, the rocks respond to stress by changing shape without breaking b) Below this transition, the rocks respond to stress by cracking and breaking c) Below the transition, the rocks are molten. d) Below the transition, there are not stresses that could cause earthquakes.
a) Below the transition, the rocks respond to stress by changing shape without breaking
Which earthquake scale is used to assess the effects of an earthquake on humans and human-made structures? a) Mercalli scale b) surface-wave magnitude scale c) moment magnitude scale d) Richter scale
a) Mercalli scale
A large, violent, explosive eruption is termed a __________________ eruption. a) Plinian b) Hawaiian c) Vulcanian d) Strombolian
a) Plinian
________ commonly serves as a protolith in the formation of quartzite. a) Sandstone b) Shale c) Limestone d) Slate
a) Sandstone
Earthquakes that occur in a band called the ________ can be used to track the motion of subducted oceanic lithosphere. a) Wadati-Benioff zone b) Richter zone c) Wegener belt d) seismic gap
a) Wadati-Benioff zone
Rocks resulting from shock metamorphism are likely to reveal minerals that underwent _______. a) a phase change b) plastic deformation c) recrystallization d) hydrothermal alteration
a) a phase change
Basaltic lavas that have rough, rubbly surfaces are called _____. a) a'a' b) pumice c) ignimbrite d) pahoehoe
a) a'a'
The difference between accretionary lapilli and pumice lapilli is that ________. a) accretionary lapilli are formed when ash mixes with water in the air b) accretionary lapilli are formed at stratovolcanoes, while pumice lapilli are formed at cinder cones c) accretionary lapilli are always felsic to intermediate, whereas pumice lapilli are always mafic d) accretionary lapilli are always created in ash falls, whereas pumice lapilli are created in pyroclastic flows
a) accretionary lapilli are formed when ash mixes with water in the air
Which environment would most likely produce sedimentary deposits characterized by poorly to moderately sorted, angular to subangular grains that consist of feldspar, quartz, and lithics (rock fragments)? a) alluvial fan b) glacier c) river d) beach
a) alluvial fan
Because the velocity of sediment settling (deposition) is positively related to grain size for waterborne sediments, fluvial deposits are more likely than glacial deposits to a) be well sorted b) include coarse grains, such as cobbles. c) have angular grains. d) include fine grains, such as clay.
a) be well sorted
Body waves include a) both S- and P-waves. b) P-waves only. c) both L- and R-waves. d) both surface and interior waves.
a) both S- and P-waves.
Identify the correct sequence of processes in the rock cycle that could create a metamorphic rock and eventually transform it into a sedimentary rock. a) burial → melting → weathering, erosion, deposition, and lithification b) erosion, deposition, and lithification → burial → melting c) burial → erosion, deposition, and lithification→ melting d) melting → erosion, deposition, and lithification→ melting
a) burial → melting → weathering, erosion, deposition, and lithification
Of the three primary forms of subaerial volcanoes, ________ consist of a cone-shaped pile of tephra often formed in a single eruption. a) cinder cones b) shield volcanoes c) fissure volcanoes d) stratovolcanoes
a) cinder cones
Mountain ranges formed along subduction zones are formed, in part, by ___________ in the crust. a) compression b) extension c) elongation d) stretching
a) compression
The image below shows an outcrop of coarse-grained sedimentary rock. Note the rock hammer for scale. What is the name of this rock type? a) conglomerate b) breccia c) sandstone d) shale
a) conglomerate
The mineral assemblage within metamorphic rock is a) dependent on both the mineral assemblage of its protolith and the temperature and pressure of formation. b) dependent only on the temperature and pressure of formation. c) dependent only on the mineral assemblage of its protolith. d) always identical to that found within its protolith.
a) dependent on both the mineral assemblage of its protolith and the temperature and pressure of formation.
Which of these is NOT one of the components of deformation? a) dissolution b) displacement c) distortion d) rotation
a) dissolution
If a volcano lies along a convergent boundary but has not erupted in over 100,000 years, the volcano is considered ________. a) dormant b) active c) extinct d) dead
a) dormant
Designing and retrofitting building to withstand the effects of earthquakes is a type of a) earthquake engineering. b) seismic hazard mapping. c) seismic retrofitting. d) earthquake zoning.
a) earthquake engineering.
Slaty cleavage, schistosity, and compositional banding are all examples of a) foliation. b) metamorphic facies. c) mineral cleavage. d) recrystallization.
a) foliation.
Regional metamorphism a) is another name for dynamothermal metamorphism. b) takes place at low temperatures and low pressure. c) takes place at low temperatures but high pressure. d) is another name for thermal metamorphism.
a) is another name for dynamothermal metamorphism.
A ________ is a type of ore deposit that forms when sulfide minerals crystallize in lenses or bands directly from magma. a) massive sulfide deposit b) Mississippi-Valley-Type deposit c) placer d) hydrothermal ore
a) massive sulfide deposit
Volcanism is least likely to occur in which of the following geologic settings? a) passive margin b) mid-ocean rift c) oceanic hot spot d) subduction zone
a) passive margin
A mixture of air, hot ash, and pumice lapilli that rushes down the side of a volcano in a scalding avalanche is termed a(n) ________. a) pyroclastic flow b) lahar c) ash fall d) convective plume
a) pyroclastic flow
During the Cenozoic Era, __________ rapidly diversified to fill the ecological niches left by the K-Pg mass extinction. a) crocodiles b) dinosaurs c) mammals d) birds
c) mammals
Which of the following describes the progression of rock types through increasing metamorphic grade from left to right? a) shale --> slate --> phyllite --> schist b) migmatite --> slate --> eclogite --> schist c) sandstone --> gneiss --> hornfels --> zeolite d) basalt --> andesite --> rhyolite --> granite
a) shale --> slate --> phyllite --> schist
Olympus Mons, the largest known volcano in our Solar System, is an example of a ________. a) shield volcano b) fissure volcano c) cinder cone d) stratovolcano
a) shield volcano
A long delay between the arrival of P-waves and S-waves at a seismometer means that a) the seismometer is located far from the earthquake. b) the focus of the earthquake was very deep in the Earth's crust. c) the earthquake only produced P-waves. d) the earthquake had a very small displacement.
a) the seismometer is located far from the earthquake.
The pillow basalts in the photo below most likely formed ____________. a) underwater at a mid-ocean ridge b) on dry land at a continental hotspot c) underwater at a subduction zone d) on dry land at a continental rift
a) underwater at a mid-ocean ridge
Tsunamis are most commonly generated by sudden _________ movement of the seafloor during an earthquake. a) vertical b) horizontal c) strike-slip d) circular
a) vertical
An earthquake occurs with an epicenter in the town of New Madrid, Missouri, in the interior of the North American Plate. What is the most likely location of the hypocenter? a) 200 km beneath New Madrid b) 20 km beneath New Madrid c) 20 km south of New Madrid d) in New Madrid (hypocenter and epicenter mean precisely the same thing)
b) 20 km beneath New Madrid
In 79 C.E., the citizens of Pompeii and Herculaneum in the Roman Empire were buried by pyroclastic debris derived from an eruption of ________. a) Mt. Olympus b) Mt. Vesuvius c) Mt. St. Helens d) Olympus Mons
b) Mt. Vesuvius
Which type of seismic wave has the fastest velocity? a) S-wave b) P-wave c) L-wave d) R-wave
b) P-wave
The vast majority of earthquakes occur a) along passive margins. b) along any plate boundary. c) along transform-plate boundaries only. d) near hot spots.
b) along any plate boundary.
Consult the figure below. The region of thermally metamorphosed rock surrounding a cooled pluton is called a(n) a) shear zone. b) aureole. c) oriole. d) metamorphic ring.
b) aureole.
Marble and quartzite are non-foliated metamorphic rocks because a) both are dominated by minerals with crystalline structures that cannot be dissolved. b) both are dominated by minerals that produce equant grains. c) they are never found beneath fault zones or collisional mountain ranges. d) dynamothermal metamorphism can break down the structures of their constituent minerals, but the minerals are unstable in that metamorphic environment.
b) both are dominated by minerals that produce equant grains.
In the formation of gneiss from a granite protolith, distinctive compositional bands form because of a) crystals melting, with new crystals solidifying in color bands. b) crystals dissolving, with atoms and ions migrating and reorganizing as new crystals. c) crystals migrating within the rock. d) chemical reactions with groundwater.
b) crystals dissolving, with atoms and ions migrating and reorganizing as new crystals.
The application of ________ during metamorphism causes elongated crystals to align parallel with each other. When this happens, the rock develops ________. a) pressure; a homogeneous texture b) differential stress; foliation c) high temperatures; foliation d) pressure; foliation
b) differential stress; foliation
Columnar joints form when ________. a) a lava flow erupts under deep water b) during the final stages of cooling, a lava flow contracts, forming tall polygonal fractures c) a lava flow cools very rapidly, causing the flow to shatter in a chaotic pattern d) a lava flow encounters groundwater, which causes the flow to rapidly fracture
b) during the final stages of cooling, a lava flow contracts, forming tall polygonal fractures
The Hawaiian island chain is an example of a(n) ________. a) continental volcanic arc b) hot spot island chain c) stratovolcanic assembly d) island volcanic arc
b) hot spot island chain
Which sequence correctly shows an increase in coal rank from lowest to highest? a) bituminous, lignite, anthracite b) lignite, bituminous, anthracite c) bituminous, anthracite, lignite d) anthracite, bituminous, lignite
b) lignite, bituminous, anthracite
On average, there are _______occurrences of light and minor earthquakes compared to the number of major and great earthquakes each year. a) approximately ten times as many b) many thousands more c) many fewer d) about the same number of
b) many thousands more
Foliated metamorphic rocks possess a) leafy plant fossils (ancient foliage). b) mineral grains in preferred orientations or patterns of association. c) minerals precipitated directly from seawater. d) a homogeneous texture resulting from randomly oriented grains.
b) mineral grains in preferred orientations or patterns of association.
During metamorphism, new mineral grains can form that are not found in the protolith. This process is called _________. a) foliation b) neocrystallization c) pressure solution d) elongation
b) neocrystallization
The textural term for a basaltic lava flow that has a smooth, ropy appearance is ________. a) a''a' b) pahoehoe c) ignimbrite d) pumice
b) pahoehoe
Two common metamorphic rocks that typically lack foliation are ________ and ________. a) gneiss; migmatite b) quartzite; marble c) schist; metaconglomerate d) slate; phyllite
b) quartzite; marble
During metamorphism, small mineral grains can reform into larger, interlocking grains of the same mineral. This process is called _________. a) pressure solution b) recrystallization c) elongation d) foliation
b) recrystallization
What magma properties would most likely lead to the formation of a shield volcano? a) any magma composition so long as it contains a large portion of dissolved volatiles b) high viscosity and felsic composition c) low viscosity and mafic composition d) an intermediate composition magma that encounters seawater in the magma chamber
c) low viscosity and mafic composition
The fossil fish Tiktaalik made headlines in 2005 because it a) was found alive in the modern deep ocean; previously, the fish was thought to be extinct. b) represents a transitional form between lobe-finned fish and terrestrial vertebrates. c) was the largest shark ever recovered from the fossil record. d) was preserved with a hook in its mouth and represents the oldest evidence of human fishing.
b) represents a transitional form between lobe-finned fish and terrestrial vertebrates.
Dynamothermal (regional) metamorphism occurs when a) a pluton causes metamorphism in a small surrounding region. b) rock becomes deeply buried during continental collision and mountain building. c) regression of the sea leads to erosion of sedimentary cover on a body of rock. d) the upper surface of a body of rock develops a thick soil profile.
b) rock becomes deeply buried during continental collision and mountain building.
Identify the correct steps in the transformation of a sedimentary rock into a metamorphic rock. a) rock eroded away and deposited in alluvial fan → rock buried deeply and melted by intrusion b) rock weathered and eroded away and deposited in ocean basin → rock buried under many layers of sediments c) rock eroded away and deposited in ocean basin → rock pulled into subduction zone and melted d) rock eroded away and deposited in ocean basin → volcano erupts through ocean floor and melts rocks
b) rock weathered and eroded away and deposited in ocean basin → rock buried under many layers of sediments
A preferred orientation of large, flaky mica crystals within metamorphic rock is termed a) phyllitic luster. b) schistosity. c) slaty cleavage. d) compositional banding.
b) schistosity.
The displacement that occurs during the largest earthquakes can be as long as a) several centimeters. b) several meters. c) several millimeters. d) several kilometers.
b) several meters.
Regions where Precambrian metamorphic rocks are exposed at the surface are termed ________. a) domes b) shields c) cratonic platforms d) convergent margins
b) shields
A long delay between the arrival of P-waves and S-waves at a seismometer means that a) the earthquake had a very small displacement. b) the seismometer is located far from the earthquake. c) the focus of the earthquake was very deep in the Earth's crust. d) the earthquake only produced P-waves.
b) the seismometer is located far from the earthquake.
Grains become rounded primarily during a) lithification. b) transportation. c) weathering at the outcrop. d) deposition.
b) transportation.
The breakdown of exposed rock into small fragments and dissolved ions is termed a) erosion. b) weathering. c) deposition. d) lithification.
b) weathering
Which of the following circumstances is most likely to preserve a fossil? a) Bacteria living in the ocean die near the shoreline and sink to the bottom. b) A mammoth dies of starvation in the middle of a vast dry plain. c) An oyster bed is buried by a submarine landslide. d) Leaves from an ancient oak tree fall to the ground in a forest.
c) An oyster bed is buried by a submarine landslide.
Why is the preservation potential of an organism higher if it dies in an anoxic (oxygen-poor) environment? a) Anoxic environments contain abundant amounts of amber. b) Oxygen decreases the rate of permineralization. c) The organism decays slowly in an anoxic environment. d) The organism will die more quickly without oxygen.
c) The organism decays slowly in an anoxic environment.
Faults that have moved recently or are likely to move in the future are referred to as ________ faults. a) normal b) passive c) active d) reverse
c) active
The image below of Death Valley, CA, shows a road that curves around a(n) a) delta. b) glacial till. c) alluvial fan. d) turbidite.
c) alluvial fan.
Consult the figure below. Compared with low-grade metamorphic rocks, high-grade rocks a) always contain more quartz and feldspar. b) are produced at cooler temperatures but greater pressures. c) are produced at greater temperatures and pressures. d) are produced closer to the surface.
c) are produced at greater temperatures and pressures.
Precambrian metamorphic rocks are exposed at the surface a) at the bottom of the deep sea. b) at places in continental interiors called platforms. c) at places in continental interiors called shields. d) on Mars and Venus but not on the Earth.
c) at places in continental interiors called shields.
A well-sorted sandstone with ripple marks was most likely deposited as sand by a a) glacier. b) river (near source). c) beach. d) alluvial fan.
c) beach.
Where would you be most likely to find an example of the earliest continental crust? a) the ocean floor b) southern California c) central Canada d) Iceland
c) central Canada
Lithified detritus (breakdown products of preexisting rocks) forms which kind of sedimentary rock? a) chemical b) organic c) clastic d) biochemical
c) clastic
Sediments deposited in a beach environment are typically a) poorly sorted. b) very fine grained. c) composed of rounded grains. d) composed of mostly travertine.
c) composed of rounded grains.
Most medium- and deep-focus earthquakes occur at a) transform-plate boundaries. b) divergent-plate boundaries. c) convergent-plate boundaries. d) hot spots.
c) convergent-plate boundaries.
Nonviolent eruptions characterized by extensive flows of basaltic lava are termed ________. a) pyroclastic b) Plinean c) effusive d) explosive
c) effusive
The characteristic "rotten egg" smell of many active volcanoes is derived from ________. a) carbon dioxide gas b) iron and magnesium within lava c) hydrogen sulfide gas d) stale water within the magma chamber
c) hydrogen sulfide gas
In the picture below, when the ship is filled with cargo it sinks into the water until the mass of water displaced is equal to the mass of the cargo. The ship is then said to be ________. a) in freeboard balance b) equal to the geoid c) in isostatic equilibrium d) an equipotential surface
c) in isostatic equilibrium
Diagenesis refers to a) the act of deposition of sediment that will determine the characteristics of and, ultimately, form a sedimentary rock. b) the development of layering within sedimentary rocks. c) physical and chemical alterations, including compaction and cementation, that occur as sediment is transformed into rock. d) the natural process of separating sediment by grain size.
c) physical and chemical alterations, including compaction and cementation, that occur as sediment is transformed into rock.
Surface waves a) are the first waves to arrive at a seismograph station after an earthquake. b) travel more rapidly than body waves. c) produce most of the damage to buildings during earthquakes. d) are the first waves produced in an earthquake.
c) produce most of the damage to buildings during earthquakes.
During an earthquake, if the hanging wall slides upward relative to the footwall, the fault is termed a ________ fault if the fault is steep (closer to vertical than horizontal). Refer to the figure below for an example of such a feature. a) normal b) strike-slip c) reverse d) thrust
c) reverse
An impermeable rock, regardless of lithology, is a good candidate to serve as a(n) ________ in an oil-producing scenario. a) unconventional rock b) source rock c) seal rock d) reservoir rock
c) seal rock
Geologists who specifically study earthquakes are called a) volcanologists. b) speleologists. c) seismologists. d) paleontologists.
c) seismologists.
Seismic retrofitting is the process of a) predicting future earthquakes. b) mapping areas prone to earthquakes. c) strengthening existing buildings and structures. d) fitting earthquake data after an event to see if it should have been predicted.
c) strengthening existing buildings and structures.
A positive magnetic anomaly is produced when the measured magnetic field strength is ________ the expected magnetic field strength. a) the same as b) weaker than c) stronger than d) the opposite of
c) stronger than
Earthquake waves that travel along the Earth's surface are termed a) body waves. b) interior waves. c) surface waves. d) S-waves.
c) surface waves.
As compared with metamorphism, diagenesis a) takes place at greater depths that are well within the mantle. b) takes place at higher temperatures and pressures. c) takes place at lower temperatures and pressures. d) means exactly the same thing.
c) takes place at lower temperatures and pressures.
A radiometric age for a mineral crystal within an igneous rock measures the amount of time that has passed since the a) crystal solidified. b) temperature of the crystal became equal to surface temperatures. c) temperature of the crystal became equal to the closure temperature for the mineral. d) atoms within the crystal were part of a body of molten magma.
c) temperature of the crystal became equal to the closure temperature for the mineral.
The transformation of protoliths into metamorphic rocks solely through transfer of heat is termed ________ metamorphism. a) dynamic b) shock c) thermal d) regional
c) thermal
Tsunamis are more destructive than wind-driven storm waves primarily because a) the tides that cause tsunamis can be very erratic and unpredictable. b) tsunamis also generate seismic waves that can destroy buildings. c) tsunamis have longer wavelengths and thus larger volumes of water are involved. d) tsunamis always have larger heights (amplitude).
c) tsunamis have longer wavelengths and thus larger volumes of water are involved.
_________ is a construction product formed by heating limestone, sandstone, and shale in a kiln, driving off CO2, and forming a material that hardens when mixed with water. a) Drywall b) Dimension stone c) Aggregate d) Cement
d) Cement
Which of the following is a brachiopod? a) Figure 1 b) Figure 3 c) Figure 2 d) Figure 4
d) Figure 4
Which of the following is true of the geologic column? a) It is the complete record of the Earth's history that is preserved in the rocks at any given location. b) It is an interval of strata composed of a specific rock type or group of rock types that together can be traced over a broad region. c) It portrays the spatial distribution of rock units at the Earth's surface. d) It is a composite stratigraphic column created by correlating strata from millions of locations around the world.
d) It is a composite stratigraphic column created by correlating strata from millions of locations around the world.
________ commonly serves as a protolith in the formation of marble. a) Sandstone b) Gneiss c) Shale d) Limestone
d) Limestone
Which of the following is the correct abbreviation for "millions of years ago"? a) Myr b) ka c) Ga d) Ma
d) Ma
In 1902, a famous pyroclastic flow killed approximately 28,000 people on the Caribbean island of ________. a) Puerto Rico b) Aruba c) Jamaica d) Martinique
d) Martinique
________ metamorphism affects the greatest volumes of rock and produces the greatest variety in metamorphic rock types. a) Dynamic b) Thermal c) Shock d) Regional
d) Regional
________ commonly serves as a protolith in the formation of slate. a) Basalt b) Limestone c) Sandstone d) Shale
d) Shale
Which of the following statements is true regarding the clasts (labeled 5) inside the granite pluton? a) The inclusions are younger than the pluton. b) The inclusions are the same age as the pluton. c) The relative age of the inclusions and the pluton cannot be determined. d) The inclusions are older than the pluton.
d) The inclusions are older than the pluton.
Which of the following is true about regressions? a) Coastal environments will migrate landward. b) They are typically well-preserved in the sedimentary record. c) They occur when the climate warms and continental ice sheets melt. d) They occur when the land is uplifted by tectonic processes.
d) They occur when the land is uplifted by tectonic processes.
How can uplift of metamorphic rocks during mountain building lead to the formation of sedimentary rocks? a) When pressure is reduced, metamorphic rocks convert to sedimentary rocks. b) Metamorphic rocks turn into sedimentary rocks when exposed to oxygen. c) Percolating groundwater can change metamorphic rocks to sedimentary rocks. d) Weathering and erosion create sediments from metamorphic rocks, which in turn may become sedimentary rocks.
d) Weathering and erosion create sediments from metamorphic rocks, which in turn may become sedimentary rocks.
Earthquake early warning systems a) do not yet exist, but the technology is something seismologists are working on. b) are based on long-term predictions of earthquakes, allowing planners to schedule evacuations. c) alert people just before an earthquake takes place, allowing them to evacuate buildings. d) alert people when an earthquake has taken place, possibly giving them seconds to get to a safer place.
d) alert people when an earthquake has taken place, possibly giving them seconds to get to a safer place.
Which of the following is a metallic mineral resource? a) gypsum b) phosphate c) gravel d) bauxite
d) bauxite
Earthquake waves that pass through the Earth's interior are termed a) surface waves. b) interior waves. c) R-waves. d) body waves.
d) body waves.
Which of the following components of animals' bodies are most likely to form fossils? a) internal soft tissue b) external soft tissues such as skin, feathers, and fur c) internal organs d) bones, teeth and shells
d) bones, teeth and shells
A shale differs from a mudstone in that it a) has larger grains. b) has smaller grains. c) is compositionally richer in quartz. d) breaks into platy sheets.
d) breaks into platy sheets.
The Cambrian explosion not only produced an abundance of new animal species but also gave rise to the first shells, spines, and active swimmers. This suggests the important influence of ________ in driving animal evolution. a) filter-feeding organisms b) photosynthetic organisms c) climate d) carnivorous predators
d) carnivorous predators
Grains of sediments and fossils in the deep ocean tend to be ___________-sized because of the low amount of energy in the environment. a) sand b) gravel c) cobble d) clay
d) clay
The quantity of motion that occurs along a fault is termed a) accumulation. b) the fault gauge. c) fault gouge. d) displacement.
d) displacement.
The point on the Earth's surface directly above the point where an earthquake occurs is termed the a) vertex. b) hypocenter (focus). c) eye of the fault. d) epicenter.
d) epicenter.
What is term for a fold in which layers bend without changing thickness, indicating slip between layers during folding? a) foliation b) plunging fold c) passive flow fold d) flexural slip fold
d) flexural slip fold
The Moon's lunar maria are believed to be ancient __________. a) ash deposits b) hot spots c) lahars d) flood basalts
d) flood basalts
Sedimentary basins that form on the continental side of mountain ranges are called _________ basins. a) passive-margin b) intracontinental c) rift d) foreland
d) foreland
Which method of correlation is most reliable for determining age equivalence among bodies of rock that are physically separated by vast distances? a) lithologic correlation b) unconformity correlation c) inclusion correlation d) fossil correlation
d) fossil correlation
Regularly spaced joints in an outcrop may indicate that an area ________. a) is underlain by a magma body b) is under intense shear stress c) is underlain by a thrust fault d) has experienced tension
d) has experienced tension
Which transport medium carries the largest particles? a) wind b) water in rivers c) water in lakes d) ice in glaciers
d) ice in glaciers
Within a single mountain range, a) only high-grade metamorphic rocks are likely to be found. b) only non-foliated metamorphic rocks are likely to be found. c) only low-grade metamorphic rocks are likely to be found. d) it is possible to find a variety of metamorphic rocks including high-, intermediate-, and low-grade rocks.
d) it is possible to find a variety of metamorphic rocks including high-, intermediate-, and low-grade rocks.
Volcanic bombs are ________. a) used by geologist to set off small eruptions in volcanoes that are deemed potentially dangerous b) volcanic fragments that were already solid rock before being ejected during an eruption c) explosive bodies of lava with high volatile content d) large pyroclastic fragments that acquire streamlined, polished surfaces in flight
d) large pyroclastic fragments that acquire streamlined, polished surfaces in flight
A protolith a) is always igneous rock. b) is always metamorphic rock. c) is always sedimentary rock. d) may belong to any of the three primary rock types.
d) may belong to any of the three primary rock types.
Foliated metamorphic rocks possess a) minerals precipitated directly from seawater. b) leafy plant fossils (ancient foliage). c) a homogeneous texture resulting from randomly oriented grains. d) mineral grains in preferred orientations or patterns of association.
d) mineral grains in preferred orientations or patterns of association.
Two major sources of energy, coal and oil shale, are considered ________ sedimentary rocks. a) biochemical b) chemical c) clastic d) organic
d) organic
The Earth's magnetic field is produced in the ________. a) crust b) inner core c) mantle d) outer core
d) outer core
The Great Oxygenation Event was a time in the middle Proterozoic when a) the oxygen concentration in the atmosphere reached its present concentration of 21 percent. b) excessively high concentrations of oxygen in the atmosphere caused a mass extinction. c) organisms that produce oxygen first originated. d) oxygen began to accumulate as a gas in the atmosphere.
d) oxygen began to accumulate as a gas in the atmosphere.
What is the term for a fold in which layers show thickened hinges and thinned limbs, indicating plastic deformation during folding? a) flexural slip fold b) foliation c) plunging fold d) passive flow fold
d) passive flow fold
Diagenesis refers to a) the act of deposition of sediment that will determine the characteristics of and, ultimately, form a sedimentary rock. b) the natural process of separating sediment by grain size. c) the development of layering within sedimentary rocks. d) physical and chemical alterations, including compaction and cementation, that occur as sediment is transformed into rock.
d) physical and chemical alterations, including compaction and cementation, that occur as sediment is transformed into rock.
Biochemical limestones are dominated by carbonate mud and fragments of a) the organic breakdown products of wood and leaves from trees. b) the phosphatic bones of fish. c) siliceous shells of planktonic diatoms and foraminifera. d) skeletons of marine invertebrates made of calcite and aragonite.
d) skeletons of marine invertebrates made of calcite and aragonite.
Most ores belong to which mineral class(es)? a) phosphates b) sulfates and halides c) silicates d) sulfides and oxides
d) sulfides and oxides
Which earthquake severity scale varies from locality to locality for a single earthquake? a) the moment magnitude scale b) the Richter scale c) the surface-wave magnitude scale d) the Mercalli scale
d) the Mercalli scale
The image below shows ancient dunes exposed in Zion National Park in Utah. Using the interpreted portion of the image at the left, what was the dominant wind direction that formed these sedimentary structures? a) vertical, both up and down b) toward the left c) toward both the left and right d) toward the right
d) toward the right
It is unusual for ________ to carry grains larger than sand. a) water in rivers b) ice in glaciers c) water at a seaside beach d) wind
d) wind
On a geologic map, cratonic basins, where thick sequences of sedimentary rocks overly the Precambrian basement, show the _________ rocks toward the center of the basin. a) thinnest b) most deformed c) oldest d) youngest
d) youngest
