Geology exam

What is the scientifically accepted age of the Earth? 4,000 years 550 million years 1 billion years 4.6 billion years

4.6 billion years

Which of the following statements is a hypothesis? Water freezes at 0℃. All birds can fly. The Mississippi River carries sediment. All these statements are hypotheses.

?

Which of the following was evidence used to support the Continental Drift hypothesis in 1915? -Magnetic mineral align with magnetic south -Glacial deposits in the tropics -Deep ocean trenches -All of the above

?

Why does Earth have different layers? -Element densities, more dense elements sank to the center -Change of material added from meteorite impacts changed during formation of layers -Volcanic rocks formed first, then sedimentary rock crust -Earth's magnetic field

?

Most silicate minerals form by ______________. Precipitating out of fluid -Crystallizing out of molten rock -Secreted from biological life -All of the above

crystallizing out of molten rock

Which of the following is a type of mechanical weathering? -Dissolution -Spheroidal Weathering -Oxidation -Frost Wedging

frost wedging

What is the study of Earth? -Geology -Planetology -History -Uniformitarianism

geology

Which of the following was NOT evidence that supported continents moving after WWII? -Very young oceanic crust -Magnetic minerals in oceanic crust -Glacial deposits found in oceanic crust -Mid-ocean ridges

glacial deposits found in oceanic crust

Which metamorphic texture has segregation of light and dark minerals into bands? -Gneissic texture -Phyllite texture -Schistosity -Slaty Cleavage

gneissic texture

Which igneous rock is felsic and has phaneritic texture? -Basalt -Granite -Obsidian -Rhyolite

granite

Which sediment grain is the largest? -Clay -Silt -Sand -Gravel

gravel

What is the most important agent of chemical weathering? -Water -Heat -Salt -Wind

heat

Intraplate volcanism usually occurs at ____________, like Hawaii and Yellowstone. A. Faults B. Hot Spots C. Subduction D. Craters

hot spots

Which of the following is a type of chemical weathering? -Frost wedging -Sheeting -Hydrolysis -Salt crystal growth

hydrolysis

The movement of tectonic plates is thought to be the result of __________ cycles in the mantle. A. Hot spot B. Conduction C. Convection D. Magma

convection

Which tectonic plate boundary has the most volcanism? A. Convergent B. Divergent C. Transform D. Both convergent and transform

convergent

Which of the following is a way minerals can form in nature? Lithification Metamorphism Crystallization All of the above

crystallization

What is the cooling history of porphyritic igneous rock? -Intrusive -Extrusive -Extrusive followed by intrusive -Intrusive followed by extrusive

intrusive followed by extrusive

What are the two most abundant elements in the Earth's crust? Iron and magnesium Quartz and olivine Carbon and oxygen Silicon and oxygen

oxygen and silicon

The rock produced by metamorphism is called a _____________. -Parent rock -Sedimentary Rock -Metamorphic Rock -Foliated Rock

parent rock

Which of the following do NOT drive metamorphism? -Parent Rock -Heat -Confining Pressure -Chemically Active Fluids

parent rock

Which igneous rock texture is associated with intrusive origins? Aphanitic Pegmatitic Glassy Pyroclastic

pegmatitic

Porphyritic igneous rocks contain large mineral crystals called ____________. -Phenocrysts -Porphyroblasts -Pryoclasts -Groundmass

phenocrysts

The lithosphere is broken up into _____________. A. Crusts B. Faults C. Plates D. Volcanoes

plates

What is an unusually large grain surrounded by a fine-grained matrix of other minerals called? -Pangea -Phenocryst -Phyllite -Porphyroblast

porphyroblast

A mixture of hot gases infused with pyroclastic material that flows down a volcanic slope at high speeds is a _____________. A. Tsunami B. Pahoehoe C. Lahar D. Pyroclastic flow

pyroclastic flow

What is the spontaneous decay in the structure of an atom's nucleus? A. Radioactivity B. Half-life C. Heat D. Isotope

radioactivity

Which of the following conditions is necessary for a fossil to be preserved? A. Rapid burial B. Live in the ocean C. Be less than 1 million years old D. Have teeth

rapid burial

which rock-forming mineral class is most abundant in igneous rocks? accessory minerals, silicate minerals, non-silicate minerals, tetrahedron minerals

silicate minerals

What is a rotating cloud of dust and gases? -Star -Solar nebula -Supernova -Protosun

solar nebula

Which of the following is a main component of magma? Phenocrysts, Groundmass, Solid, Sediment

solid

What is the study of layered rock successions? A. Radiometric Dating B. Stratigraphy C. Relative Dating D. Unconformity

stratigraphy

What is physical geology? Study of Earth materials and processes on the surface and interior, Study of the origin and development of Earth through time, Study of all human interactions with the physical environment, Study of the structure of the earth's crust and the interaction of rigid lithospheric plates that move slowly over the underlying mantle

study of earth materials and processes on surface and interior

Which of the following does NOT influence the rates of weathering? -Temperature -Rock composition -Sunlight -Precipitation

sunlight

What is viscosity? A. A material's resistance to flowing B. Dissolved gases in molten rock C. Pulverized rock, lava fragments, and ash material D. Vesicles produced from escaping gases

A material's resistance to flowing

What is tenacity? The characteristic shape of a mineral's crystal A mineral's resistance to breaking or deforming The color of a mineral in powdered form The resistance of a mineral to abrasion or scratching

A mineral's resistance to breaking or deforming

The Principle of Inclusion states _____________ A. Sedimentary layers were originally deposited as horizontal layers B. A rock layer that has fragments of another rock in it is younger than the rock fragments contained in it C. Sedimentary layers are older than the layers above it D. Sedimentary layers extend in all directions until they thin out

A rock layer that has fragments of another rock in it is younger than the rock fragments contained in it

What is deformation? A. A stress that is applied unequally in different directions B. Large, step-like fold C. Features that result from the forces generated by the interactions of tectonic plates D. Any changes in the shape or size of a rock body in response to stress

Any changes in the shape or size of a rock body in response to stress

What is an evaporite? -Chemical sedimentary rock composed of salt -Detrital sandstone composed of gravel sediment -Biochemical limestone composed of shells from organisms -Chemical limestone in caves

Chemical sedimentary rock composed of salt

What is the difference between cleavage and conchoidal fracture? Cleavage produces irregular broken surfaces while conchoidal fractures produce smooth curved broken surfaces Cleavage produces smooth curved broken surfaces while conchoidal fractures produce smooth flat broken surfaces Cleavage produces smooth flat broken surfaces while conchoidal fractures produce smooth curved broken surfaces Cleavage produces smooth flat broken surfaces while conchoidal fractures produce irregular broken surfaces

Cleavage produces smooth flat broken surfaces while conchoidal fractures produce smooth curved broken surfaces

Alfred Wegener proposed which of the following ideas? -Theory of Plate Tectonics -Continental Drift Hypothesis -Big Bang Theory -Nebula Theory

Continental Drift Hypothesis

Which type of convergence resulted in the formation of the Himalayan Mountains? A. Continental-oceanic B. Oceanic-oceanic C. Continental-continental D. Himalayan Mountains were formed at a divergent plate boundary

Continental-continental

Varying magnetic intensities recorded in the ocean crust suggests which of the following? -Magnetic minerals have been altered -Earth's magnetic field has reversed in the past -Changes in oceanic crust composition -Oceanic crust is very old

Earth's magnetic field has reversed in the past

Which of the following is a type of volcanic eruption? A. Mt. St. Helens-type B. Hawaiian-type C. Fuji-type D. Vesuvius-type

Hawaiian-type

Describe an ultramafic igneous rock? Igneous rock with mostly light silicate minerals Igneous rock with vesicular texture Igneous rock with mostly dark silicate minerals Igneous rock with phaneritic texture

Igneous rock with mostly dark silicate minerals

Which metamorphic environment is produce when meteoroids strike Earth's surface? -Burial Metamorphism -Regional Metamorphism -Contact Metamorphism -Impact Metamorphism

Impact Metamorphism

Which of the following is a reason that a mineral would exhibit cleavage? It has weak chemical bonds It was formed by precipitation It has a hardness of less than 5.5 It has iron and magnesium in its chemical composition

It has weak chemical bonds

What are the two types of weathering? -Mechanical and chemical -Detrital and chemical -Compaction and cementation -Erosion and sedimentation

Mechanical and chemical

At a continental and oceanic convergent plate boundary, which tectonic plate crust will subduct beneath the other and why? A. Continental crust because it is thicker B. Continental crust because it is less dense C. Oceanic crust because is thinner D. Oceanic crust because it is more dense

Oceanic crust because it is more dense

How can foliation form during metamorphism? -Rotation of platy minerals aligned perpendicular to the direction of stress -Interlocking mineral crystals formed from cooling magma -Randomly oriented mineral crystals formed due to confining pressure -All of the above

Rotation of platy minerals aligned perpendicular to the direction of stress

Which of the following are in correct order of the metamorphism of shale from highest to lowest grade metamorphism? -Slate, Gneiss, Schist, Phyllite -Phyllite, Schist, Slate, Gneiss -Gneiss, Schist, Phyllite, Slate -Slate, Phyllite, Schist, Gneiss

Slate, Phyllite, Schist, Gneiss

What is crystallization? The liquid component of a molten rock The linking of tetrahedra unit cells in a variety of configurations An igneous rock texture The cooling of molten rock that results in the systematic arrangement of atoms into orderly patterns

The cooling of molten rock that results in the systematic arrangement of atoms into orderly patterns

What is grain shape? -The flattening of spherically shaped grains -The degree of similarity of in particle size -The roundness of grains -Breaking of rock into smaller particles

The roundness of grains

What is salt crystal growth? -Weathering results in the mechanical breakup of rock caused by the expansion of freezing water in cracks -Weathering results from minerals precipitating from seawater in the cracks of rocks in arid environments -Weathering results in concentric slabs breaking loose from large masses of igneous rock due to release of confining pressure -Weathering that produces a spherical shape from a blocky shape

Weathering results from minerals precipitating from seawater in the cracks of rocks in arid environments

Which type of lava flow produces a sharp, jagged texture that you wouldn't want to walk barefoot on it after it has cooled? A. Aa B. Pahoehoe C. Pillow D. Block

aa

After the mid-1800s, uniformitarianism was accepted by most scientists. Which of the following did uniformitarian scientists believe? -Scientists thought the Earth formed from catastrophic events -Scientists thought the Earth was very old -Scientists thought the Earth was the center of the Universe -All of the above

all of the above

Based on the rock cycle, a metamorphic rock can be transformed into what other type of rock(s)? Igneous Rock Metamorphic Rock Sedimentary Rock All of the above

all of them

What is a hypothesis? -An educated guess for the explanation of observable facts that is testable -A question based on an observation -Well-tested and widely accepted view that explains certain observable facts --An incorrect assumption of natural occurrences

an educated guess for the explanation of observable facts that is testable

Which igneous rock texture exhibits only microscopic crystals? Vesicular Aphanitic Phaneritic Porphyritic

aphanitic

What is the most abundant oceanic crust igneous rock? Basalt Granite Obsidian Rhyolite

basalt

How do we determine the name of an igneous rock? Based on texture and compositional group Based on if it is intrusive or extrusive Based on percent of light and dark silicate minerals Based on if it is found in continental or oceanic crust

based on texture and compositional group

Which type of sediment is produced from the direct precipitation from water? -Chemical -Biochemical -Detrital -Crystalline

chemical

Which of the following affects the viscosity of a magma? -Depth of magma -Eruption type -Host rock around the magma -Composition

composite

Foliation is produced by which type of differential stress? -Tensional stress -Shear stress -Compressional stress -Confining stress

compressional stress

A parent isotope decays into a ____________. A. Daughter product B. Son isotope C. Child product D. Sibling isotope

daughter product

What is elastic deformation? A. Deformation in rocks that will return to their original shape after the stress is removed B. Deformation that causes rocks to melt C. Deformation that causes rocks to permanently deform without breaking the rocks D. Deformation that causes rocks to permanently deform by breaking the rocks

deformation in rocks that will return to their original shape after the stress is removed

Acid rain will chemically weather and dissolve marble statues and headstones. Of what type of weathering is this an example? -Sheeting -Hydrolysis -Dissolution -Oxidation

dissolution

True or False. A crater is larger than a caldera

false

Which of the following is NOT a type of volcano? A. Cinder Cone B. Composite C. Fissure D. Shield

fissure

What do we call igneous rocks that cool and crystallize deep inside the Earth? -Intrusive igneous rocks -Magma igneous rocks -Extrusive igneous rocks -Lava igneous rocks

intrusive igneous rocks

What is an atom that has gained or lost a neutron called? A. Isotope B. Half-life C. Daughter Product D. Ion

isotope

Mt. Rainer near Seattle has a large snow field on top of the volcano. If Mt Rainer erupts, melting the vast snow field, which volcanic hazards will form from the water mixing with the volcanic debris? A. Pyroclastic flow B. Acid Rain C. Lahar D. Tsunami

lahar

Which type of silicate minerals are most commonly found in continental crust? Dark silicate minerals Light silicate minerals Dark and light silicate minerals are equally common in continental crust Silicate minerals are not found in continental crust

light silicate minerals

Which of the following is an example of a biochemical sedimentary rock? -Sandstone -Marble -Limestone -Travertine

limestone

Which physical property layer of the Earth is composed of cold, brittle, and strong rocks at Earth's surface? -Crust -Lithosphere -Asthenosphere -Mantle

lithosphere

What is the first step in the scientific method? Analyze data, Write a hypothesis, Perform an experiment, Make observations

make observations

Which of the following is an igneous rock compositional group? -Phaneritic -Glassy -Mafic -Aphanitic

mafic

Which of the following rocks exhibits a nonfoliated texture? -Phyllite -Limestone -Marble -Sandstone

marble

Which of the following are types of luster? Opaque, Translucent, Transparent Irregular, Conchoidal Metallic, Nonmetallic Brittle, Malleable, Sectile, Elastic

metallic and non-metallic

Which type of rock is formed when a pre-existing rock is changed into a new rock by heat and pressure without melting the rock? ______ Igneous Rock Metamorphic Rock Sedimentary Rock All of the above

metamorphic rock

What is magma? A. Molten rock that has been erupted B. Dissolved gases in molten rock C. A material's resistance to flowing D. Molten rock found at depth

molten rock found at depth

What is lava? Molten rock at Earth's surface Most common intrusive igneous rock Molten rock deep below Earth's surface Most common extrusive igneous rock

molten rock on earths surfaces

which of the following is included in the definition a mineral? Naturally occuring, specific color, unit cell, fracture planes.

naturally occurring

What is the name given to the theory that describe the formation of our solar system? -Big Bang Theory -Nebular Theory -Origins Theory -Theory of Evolution

nebular theory

What are the two types of geologic age dating in geology? A. Uranium and Carbon Dating B. Relative and Radiometric Dating C. Stratigraphy and Half-life Dating D. Parent Isotope and Daughter Product Dating

relative and radiometric dating

A thrust fault is a low angled fault of which type of fault? A. Normal fault B. Strike-slip fault C. Reverse fault D. A thrust fault is a type of differential stress

reverse fault

A __________ is a solid mass composed of one or more minerals. -Fossil -Uniformitarianism -Rock -Silicates

rocl

Sandstone is composed of which grain size? -Clay -Gravel -Silt -Sand

sand

What geological process occurs at a divergent plate boundary? -Subduction -Sea floor spreading -Plates move passed each other without creating or destroying crust -None of the above

seafloor spreading

Which type of rock is formed when sediments are cemented together? Igneous Rock Metamorphic Rock Sedimentary Rock All of the above

sedimentary rock

Which of the following rocks could be the parent rock for both phyllite and gneiss? -Sandstone -Shale -Limestone -Coal

shale

Which type of volcano is composed of successive lava flows? A. Cinder Cone B. Composite C. Shield D. None of the above

shield

What is the most abundant mineral class in Earth's crust? -Non-Silicate Minerals -Tetrahendron Minerals -Silicate Minerals -Accessory Minerals

silicate minerals

What is Pangea? -Rotating cloud of dust and gases -The compaction and cementation of sediments into rock -A supercontinent -Mechanical weathering that produces concentric slabs

supercontinent

What event produces nebula clouds? (hint: first step of solar system formation) -Supernova -Hydrogen fusion -Solar wind -Volcanic eruptions

supernova

What event caused the protosun to ignite and burn? -Supernova -Solar nebula -Solar wind -Hydrogen fusion

supernove

The movement of tectonic plates is thought to be the result of __________ cycles in the mantle. A. Compressional Stress B. Confining Pressure C. Shear Stress D. Tensional Stress

tensional stress

What is a description of a rock's constituent parts including the sizes, shapes, and arrangements of minerals? -Crystallization -Groundmass -Texture -Volatiles

texture

Which of the following is NOT a mineral property? -Color -Tenacity -Streak -Texture

texture

What is a unit cell? -The smallest particle of matter that cannot be chemically split -A mineral's resistance to breaking or deforming -Minerals that make up most of the rocks in Earth's crust -The basic building block of a mineral crystal

the basic building block of a mineral crystal

What is a silicon-oxygen tetrahedron? A type of crystal shape, The unit cell of silicates, A physical property of minerals, A rock-forming mineral class

the unit cell of silicates

In a strike-slip fault ____________. A. The footwall and hanging wall move up B. The footwall moves up and hanging wall moves down C. The footwall moves down and hanging wall moves up D. The walls move either to the right or the left

the walls move either to the right or left

Which tectonic plate boundary has plates moving past one another without production or destruction of a plate? A. Convergent B. Transform C. Divergent D. None of the above

transform

James Hutton proposed the Principle of ________________. Physical Geology Geological Time Catastrophism Uniformitarianism

uniformitarianism

What are sedimentary structures? -Layers of sedimentary rock -A sedimentary rock that can easily be split into thin layers -Chemical sediments with inorganic origins -Visible features within sedimentary rocks that formed at the time of deposition

visible features within sedimentary rocks that formed at the time of deposition

____is the physical breakdown and chemical alteration of rock at or near Earth's surface. -Metamorphism -Weathering -Lithification -Erosion

weathering

Which of the following is NOT a step in the formation of a sedimentary rock? A -Wedging of sediment -Deposition of sediment -Weathering of sediment -Compaction of sediment

wedging of sediment

Sand grains that have been transported a relatively long distance can be described by which of the following descriptions? -Poorly sorted, rounded grains -Poorly sorted, angular grains -Well sorted, angular grains -Well sorted, rounded grains

well sorted, rounded grains