Exam One

The ion at the center of a silicate tetrahedron is surrounded by _____. A. 4 oxygen ions B. 6 oxygen ions C. 4 sodium ions D. 6 sodium ions

A. 4 oxygen ions

The volcanoes and deep valleys of east Africa are related to a ______ . A. Continental rift along which parts of the African continent are beginning to slowly separate. B. Fault allowing Arabia to slip westward past east Africa and penetrate into Turkey. C. Transform fault aligned with the Red Sea carrying the Arabian and African blocks in opposite directions. D. Continental collision zone between Africa and the Zagros Mountains along the southern margin of Eurasia.

A. Continental rift along which parts of the African continent are beginning to slowly separate.

The _____ is the thinnest layer of the Earth. A. Crust B. Outer core C. Mantle D. Inner core

A. Crust

New oceanic crust and lithosphere are formed at ____. A. Divergent boundaries by submarine eruptions and intrusions of magma. B. Convergent boundaries by submarine eruptions and intrusions of magma. C. Transform boundaries by continental eruptions and intrusions of magma.

A. Divergent boundaries by submarine eruptions and intrusions of magma.

The position of the Earth's surface directly above the earthquake source is called the ______. A. Epicenter B. Inertial point C. Focus D. Seismic zone

A. Epicenter

_____ have the highest velocities. A. Primary waves B. Secondary waves C. Surface waves D. Refracted S waves

A. Primary waves

Cooler, older, oceanic lithosphere sinks into the mantle at _____. A. Subduction zones along convergent plate boundaries. B. Transform fault zones along divergent plate boundaries. C. Rift zones along mid-ocean ridges. D. Sites of long-lived, hot spot volcanism in the ocean basins.

A. Subduction zones along convergent plate boundaries.

The lithosphere is defined as ______. A. A rocky layer having a relatively uniform chemical composition. B. A rigid layer of crustal and mantle material. C. A rocky layer composed mainly of crustal rocks. D. A plastic layer composed mainly of mantle material.

B. A rigid layer of crustal and mantle material.

All of the following are possible steps of scientific investigations EXCEPT A. The collection of scientific facts through observation and measurement. B. Assumption of conclusions without prior experimentation or observation. C. The development of one or more working hypotheses or models to explain facts. D. Development of observations and experiments to test the hypotheses.

B. Assumption of conclusions without prior experimentation or observation.

The strong tendency of certain minerals to break along smooth, parallel planes is known as _____. A. Streak B. Cleavage C. Cracking luster D. Crystal form

B. Cleavage

_____ was never proposed as evidence supporting the existence of Pangaea. A. Geometrical fit between South America and Africa. B. Islands of Precambrian rocks along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. C. Late Paleozoic glacial features. D. Similar fossils on different continents.

B. Islands of Precambrian rocks along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.

The ____ forms the relatively cool, brittle plates of plate tectonics. A. Asthenosphere B. Lithosphere C. Astrosphere D. Eosphere

B. Lithosphere

Which one of the following statements is NOT correct? A. Metamorphic rocks may melt to magma. B. Sedimentary rocks may weather to igneous rocks. C. Magma crystallizes to form igneous rocks. D. Igneous rocks can undergo metamorphism.

B. Sedimentary rocks may weather to igneous rocks.

Which one of the following is NOT true for minerals? A. They have a specific, internal, crystalline structure. B. They can be a liquid, solid, or gas. C. They have a specific, predictable chemical composition. D. They can be identified by characteristic physical properties.

B. They can be a liquid, solid, or gas.

The currently accepted age of the Earth is ____ years. A. 4.6 thousand B. 6.4 trillion C. 4.6 billion D. 6.4 million

C. 4.6 billion

In the early part of the 20th century, _____ argued forcefully for continental drift. A. Karl Wagner B. Peter Rommel C. Alfred Wegener D. Bill Kohl

C. Alfred Wegener

The Aleutian Islands occur at a _____. A. Divergent boundary where shield volcanoes are forming. B. Transform boundary where North America has moved towards Alaska. C. Convergent boundary on a volcanic arc above a northward-subducting Pacific plate. D. Convergent, continental margin with uplifted fault blocks, much like those of the Basin and Range Province.

C. Convergent boundary on a volcanic arc above a northward-subducting Pacific plate.

What mineral is the hardest known substance in nature? A. Silicate B. Native gold C. Diamond D. Muscovite

C. Diamond

The asthenosphere _____ . A. Is a subdivision of the outer core B. Is a zone of strong material C. Exists below a depth of 100 kilometers D. Exists below a depth of 700 kilometers

C. Exists below a depth of 100 kilometers

Which of the following energy sources is thought to drive the lateral motions of Earth's lithospheric plates? A. Gravitational attractive forces of the Sun and Moon. B. Electrical and magnetic fields localized in the inner core. C. Export of heat from deep in the mantle to the top of the asthenosphere. D. Swirling movements of the molten iron particles in the outer core.

C. Export of heat from deep in the mantle to the top of the asthenosphere.

Linear, magnetic patterns associated with mid-ocean ridges are configured as _____. A. Concentric circles about a rising plume of hot mantle rocks and magma. B. Reversed magnetization along the rift valleys and normal magnetization along the ridge. C. Normal and reversed magnetized strips roughly parallel to the slope. D. Normal and reversed magnetized strips roughly perpendicular to the ridge axis.

C. Normal and reversed magnetized strips roughly parallel to the slope.

The late Paleozoic supercontinent is known as ____. A. Pandomonia B. Pancakea C. Pangaea D. Panatopia

C. Pangaea

Most of our knowledge about Earth's interior comes from ____. A. Drill Holes B. Volcanic Eruptions C. Seismic waves D. Examination of deep mine shafts.

C. Seismic Waves

Which group of minerals are the most abundant in the Earth's crust? A. Sulfides B. Carbonates C. Silicates D. Chlorides

C. Silicates

On a typical seismogram, _______ will show the highest amplitudes. A. P Waves B. S waves C. Surface waves D. Body waves

C. Surface waves

The distance between a seismological recording station and the earthquake source is determined from the ____. A. Earthquake magnitude B. Intensity of the earthquake C. Length of the seismic record D. Arrival times of P and S waves

D. Arrival times of P and S waves

The continental shelf is located ______. A. Between the continental slope and continental rise. B. Between the continental rise and abyssal plains. C. Seaward of the continental slope. D. Landward of the continental slope.

D. Landward of the continental slope.

Which mineral is composed of silicon dioxide (SiO2)? A. Calcite B. Diamond C. Olivine D. Quartz

D. Quartz

A ____ is a well-tested and widely accepted view that best explains certain scientific observations. A. Hypothesis B. Generalization C. Law D. Theory

D. Theory

The San Andreas Fault in California is a good example of a(n) ______ plate boundary.

Transform