Geology Exam #2
10. Which of the following are part of the process of lithification? SELECT ALL THAT APPLY A. Cementation B. Compaction C. Recrystallization D. Crystallization E. Melting F. Deposition
A. Cementation B. Compaction F. Deposition
24. Which of these can indicate a paleocurrent direction? SELECT ALL THAT APPLY A. Ripple marks B. Mudcracks C. Imbrication D. Cross bedding E. Raindrop impressions F. Bioturbation
A. Ripple marks C. Imbrication ****
17. Match the sedimentary rock type shale with the corresponding grain size below: A. clay B. silt C. sand D. pebble E. boulder F. none of the above
A. clay
4. If we see a sedimentary bed that has a fault cutting through it as well as a dike that cuts through both the bed and the fault, we can use the principle of cross-cutting relationships to infer: A. the bed formed first, then the fault, then the dike B. the bed formed first, then the dike, then the fault C. the fault formed first, then the bed, then the dike D. the fault formed first, then the dike, then the bed E. the dike formed first, then the bed, then the fault F. the dike formed first, then the fault, then the bed
A. the bed formed first, then the fault, then the dike
1. The movement of material by moving wind, water, or ice is a process called (1)________ whereas the process that breaks down solid rock into loose sediment is called (2)________. A. (1) mechanical weathering (2) chemical weathering B. (1) chemical weathering (2) mechanical weathering C. (1) erosion (2) weathering D. (1) weathering (2) erosion E. (1) deposition (2) weathering F. (1) weathering (2) deposition
C. (1) erosion (2) weathering
3. Which of the following forms of weathering does NOT involve a mechanical weathering process? SELECT ALL THAT APPLY A. oxidation B. frost wedging C. salt expansion D. exfoliation E. root wedging F. Dissolution
B. frost wedging C. salt expansion D. exfoliation E. root wedging
3. Which of the following statements about metamorphism is FALSE? A. metamorphic rocks form from existing sedimentary, igneous, or metamorphic rocks B. metamorphism involves melting of existing rocks to form new minerals C. during metamorphism, existing minerals are transformed into new minerals D. metamorphism is controlled by pressure, temperature, fluids, and time E. metamorphic means "change of form" F. A protoliths metamorphoses into a metamorphic rock.
B. metamorphism involves melting of existing rocks to form new minerals
15. When rock undergoes very high directed stress because of tectonism, the rock will be "squished" in one direction. This metamorphic process is called _____. A. contact metamorphism B. regional metamorphism C. shock metamorphism D. burial metamorphism E. fault metamorphism F. impact metamorphism
B. regional metamorphism
20. The remains of sea organisms with shells made of silica accumulate on ocean bottoms as biogenic sediment that eventually forms a type of rock called: A. rock salt B. limestone C. chert D. fossiliferous limestone E. peat F. chalk
C. chert
2. Which of the following are examples of chemical weathering? SELECT ALL THAT APPLY A. Exfoliation B. Salt expansion C. Dissolution D. Frost wedging E. Hydrolysis F. Oxidation
C. Dissolution E. Hydrolysis F. Oxidation
28. Which of the following depositional environments has the least water? A. Fluvial B. Lacustrine C. Eolian D. Abyssal E. Paludal F. Littoral
C. Eolian
14. Which of the following is the largest geologic time unit? A. Period B. Era C. Eon D. Epoch E. Age
C. Eon
10. Which of these would likely produce the most reliable absolute age of formation from radiometric dating techniques? A. High-grade metamorphic rock B. Low-grade metamorphic rock C. Igneous rock D. Clastic sedimentary rock E. Chemical sedimentary rock F. Sediments
C. Igneous rock
23. Which of these indicate changing water conditions, from wet to dry, in an arid land? A. Graded bedding B. Cross bedding C. Mud cracks D. Ripple marks E. Bioturbation
C. Mud cracks
22. What is the most likely cause of a sediment with highly rounded grains? A. Stronger bedrock B. Shorter time since weathering C. Lack of water in environment D. Longer distance transported E. Higher temperatures in environment F. Glacial transport
D. Longer distance transported
13. What does a phase diagram show? A. Various minerals that are grouped in different metamorphisms B. Tectonic settings for different mineral phases C. Depositional environments for different mineral phases D. Pressure and temperature ranges at which different minerals form E. The progression of phases from low grade to high grade metamorphism F. Minerals that form in different terranes
D. Pressure and temperature ranges at which different minerals form
1. In stratigraphy, the principle of stratigraphic superposition states that: A. all sedimentary beds start off being horizontal B. all sedimentary beds are separated by bedding planes C. a sedimentary bed is younger than the bed above it and older than the bed below it D. a sedimentary bed is older than the bed above it and younger than the bed below it E. a sedimentary bed must be older than any feature that cuts through it or disrupts it F. a sedimentary bed is younger than any adjacent igneous rock
D. a sedimentary bed is older than the bed above it and younger than the bed below it
4. Minerals like halite and calcite are particularly prone to chemical weathering through the process of dissolution. As a result, the following type of rock is prone to this type of weathering: A. limestone B. rock salt C. marble D. all of the above E. none of the above
D. all of the above
19. Into what category of sedimentary rocks does the type of rock fall that forms by the evaporation of water and consequent precipitation of minerals like halite? A. organic B. detrital C. clastic D. chemical E. biochemical F. none of the above
D. chemical
16. Match the sedimentary rock type conglomerate with the corresponding grain size below: A. clay B. silt C. mud D. pebble E. sand F. none of the above
D. pebble
27. Sediment particles in quartz sandstone that formed in an eolian environment are typically: A. poorly sorted and angular B. poorly sorted and well rounded C. well sorted and angular D. well sorted and well rounded E. made of feldspar F. made of lithic fragments
D. well sorted and well rounded
12. Which of these fits polymorphism? A. Same mineral, different crystal structures B. Same mineral, different chemical formulas C. Same crystal structure, different chemical formulas D. Same crystal structure, different minerals E. Same composition, different crystal structures F. Same composition, different chemical formulas
E. Same composition, different crystal structures
11. Which of the following statements about sedimentary rocks is TRUE? A. sedimentary rocks only make up about 5% of the crust B. sedimentary rocks are the type of rock we see most often at the Earth's surface C. sedimentary rocks indicate the past environment D. the process of turning loose sediment into rock is called lithification E. all of the above F. none of the above
E. all of the above
4. Which of the following statements regarding lithostatic pressure is correct? A. it is caused by the weight of the overlying rocks B. it is equal in magnitude from all directions C. it causes rocks to decrease in volume but it does not change the rock shape D. it causes minerals to recrystallize E. all of the above F. none of the above
E. all of the above
26. The correct combination of ripple shape and potential environment in which the ripple developed is: A. symmetric / single direction wind flow B. symmetric / river channels C. asymmetric / ocean waves D. asymmetric / beaches E. asymmetric / river channels F. none of the above is correct
E. asymmetric / river channels
18. Which of the following pairs of words about sedimentary rocks belong together? A. detrital and evaporites B. chemical and pebbles C. biochemical and coal D. chemical and chalk E. detrital and sandstone F. clastic and chert
E. detrital and sandstone
33. The global climate changes in geologic past resulted from: A. Rivers changing course B. Glaciers advancing and retreating C. Lakes swelling and evaporating D. Deserts migrating and growing E. Sea level rising and falling F. Earth changing its movements
F. Earth changing its movements
13. An example of a trace fossil: SELECT ALL THAT APPLY A. fossilized shells B. fossilized bones C. dinosaur footprint D. Fossil poop (coprolites) E. worm trails F. fossilized seeds
C. dinosaur footprint D. Fossil poop (coprolites) E. worm trails
5. A foliation develops in a metamorphic rock because: A. platy minerals always align with each other during any type of metamorphism B. the original rock that got metamorphosed must have had a foliation in it C. directed stress causes minerals to align parallel to each other D. high temperatures during metamorphism always cause minerals to recrystallize with a foliation E. a platy form is the optimal shape when mineral crystals recrystallize F. this is what defines a metamorphic rock in the first place
C. directed stress causes minerals to align parallel to each other
1. Heat promotes recrystallization by __________. A. separating ultramafic elements from mafic ones B. causing minerals to melt C. increasing atomic vibration D. stripping away electrons E. adding catalysts to reactions F. increasing pressure
C. increasing atomic vibration
15. Match the sedimentary rock type arkose with the corresponding grain size below: A. clay B. silt C. sand D. pebble E. boulder F. none of the above
C. sand
14. What makes a shale different from a mudstone? A. Denser B. Darker colored C. Thinly bedded D. Different minerals E. Coarser grained F. Less dense
C. Thinly bedded
2. The result of differential stress on rocks can: A. cause the rocks to partially erode. B. cause new minerals to grow randomly in the protolith. C. cause mineral crystals to align parallel to each other. D. cause mineral crystals to dissolve. E. cause mineral crystals to melt. F. cause mineral crystals to shrink.
C. cause mineral crystals to align parallel to each other
12. In sedimentary rock types, the term clastic means the same thing as: A. chemical B. biochemical C. organic D. detrital E. lithic F. biogenic
D. detrial
5. When initially flat-lying beds get tilted and eroded, then new flat-lying beds get deposited on top, the type of unconformity that results is called a/an: A. paraconformity B. nonconformity C. nondepositional unconformity D. disconformity E. angular unconformity
E. angular unconformity
11. Which of the following are index minerals? SELECT ALL THAT APPLY A. Chlorite B. Garnet C. Quartz D. Kyanite E. Staurolite F. Biotite
A. Chlorite B. Garnet D. Kyanite E. Staurolite F. Biotite
14. When magma intrudes pre-existing country rock, the rock will be cooked by the magma. This metamorphic process is called _____. A. contact metamorphism B. regional metamorphism C. shock metamorphism D. burial metamorphism E. fault metamorphism F. impact metamorphism
A. Contact metamorphism
30. A bed with a mix of sandstone and conglomerate sedimentary rocks with ripple marks, cross beds, and leaf fossils likely formed in which depositional environment? A. Fluvial B. Alluvial C. Paludal D. Eolian E. Glacial F. Abyssal
A. Fluvial
11. Why is the mineral zircon good for absolute dating? SELECT ALL THAT APPLY A. It is durable B. It contains uranium C. It reacts easily D. It contains potassium E. It forms in all igneous rocks F. It is widespread.
A. It is durable B. It contains uranium C. It reacts easily *****
29. Which of the following depositional environments are characterized by fine-grained sediment (mud)? SELECT ALL THAT APPLY A. Lacustrine B. Alluvial C. Abyssal D. Eolian E. Fluvial F. Glacial
A. Lacustrine C. Abyssal
12. Why are fossils so uncommon in older rocks? A. Life had not developed hard body parts yet B. Early organisms were so small that the fossils are hardly discovered C. Fossilized early organisms resemble mineral grains D. The older rocks that include fossils are too deep in the crust to collect and study E. Early organisms were not widespread enough to be found
A. Life had not developed hard body parts yet
15. About 540 million years ago, _____. SELECT ALL THAT APPLY A. The Proterozoic ended B. The Precambrian ended C. The Paleozoic began D. The Phanerozoic began E. The Paleogene began
A. The Proterozoic ended C. The Paleozoic began *****
6. What are the components of soil? SELECT ALL THAT APPLY A. Weathered rock B. Unweathered rock C. Eroded rock D. Organic material (humus) E. Water F. Air G. Regolith
A. Weathered rock D. Organic material (humus) E. Water F. Air G. Regolith
31. A typical feature of the sediment particles in glacially produced tillite is that they: A. are poorly sorted and angular B. are poorly sorted and well rounded C. are well sorted and angular D. are well sorted and well rounded E. are fine grained F. thinly laminated
A. are poorly sorted and angular
5. Which of the following directly causes sinkholes? A. dissolution B. frost wedging C. salt expansion D. exfoliation E. hydrolysis F. oxidation
A. dissoultion
8. Which of the following metamorphic rocks does not belong in the same list as the others? A. quartzite B. schist C. phyllite D. gneiss E. slate
A. quartzite
9. Which sequence list shows metamorphic rocks in order from low-grade to high-grade? A. slate→phyllite→schist→gneiss B. slate→phyllite→gneiss→schist C. phyllite→slate→schist→gneiss D. schist→slate→gneiss→phyllite E. gneiss→schist→slate→phyllite F. gneiss→schist→phyllite→slate
A. slate→phyllite→schist→gneiss
8. If the half-life of an isotope is 1 million years, and 100 of the isotopes are in an igneous rock when it first forms, how old will the rock be when there are only 25 of these isotopes left in the crystal? A. 1 million years old B. 2 million years old C. 3 million years old D. 4 million years old E. 5 million years old F. 25 million years old
B. 2 million years ago
2. A rock stratum is tiled noticeably from horizontal. What is the most reasonable conclusion you can draw? A. The stratum was deposited on the angle of the continental slope B. A tectonic event has occurred in the area since deposition of the stratum C. A meteorite struck that region, and the stratum is bowed up near the margin of the crater D. A volcano punched through the region deforming the stratum E. The layers have slowly rotated as the ground around them has been compressed with lithification F. Erosion removed the base strata, tilting the overlying strata.
B. A tectonic event has occurred in the area since deposition of the stratum
9. What mainly causes agents of transport, like wind or water, to deposit sediment? A. Increases speed B. Decreased speed C. Increased temperature D. Decreased temperature E. Increased weathering F. Decreased weathering
B. Decreased speed
21. Which of the following are biochemical sedimentary rocks? SELECT THREE A. Coal B. Fossiliferous limestone C. Chalk D. Peat E. Shale F. Coquina G. Conglomerate H. Sandstone
B. Fossiliferous limestone C. Chalk F. Coquina
10. Index minerals are ______. A. Any minerals that grow in metamorphic rocks. B. Minerals that only form at certain temperatures/pressures. C. Minerals that help classify metamorphic rocks. D. Minerals that form at high pressure. E. Minerals that grow in magma F. Minerals found in foliated rocks.
B. Minerals that only form at certain temperatures/pressures.
13. What is the most common material found in sandstones? A. Feldspar B. Quartz C. Lithic fragments D. Chemical sediments E. Pebble F. Granule
B. Quartz
3. If we see a sedimentary bed that has a dike cutting through it as well as a fault that cuts through both the bed and the dike, we can use the principle of cross-cutting relationships to infer: A. the bed formed first, then the fault, then the dike B. the bed formed first, then the dike, then the fault C. the fault formed first, then the bed, then the dike D. the fault formed first, then the dike, then the bed E. the dike formed first, then the bed, then the fault F. the dike formed first, then the fault, then the bed
B. the bed formed first, then the dike, then the fault
