Final Exam - Geo 306
What are the 4 types of treated rock products and what are the sources for their constituent materials?
1) Cement - Lime, Aluminum, and Silica (Note: Concrete is 90% Aggregate and 10% Cement - results in a butt-load of CO2) 2) Plaster - Gypsum (CaSO4 and H2O) heated and hydrated. Forms drywall/Sheetrock. 3) Clay - Hydrated silica with crystal structure. Forms from insoluble feldspars/micas. 4) Glass - Quartz with different glass structure. Other types are borosilicate glass (Quartz + Silica) which is Pyrex and Aluminosilicate glass (Aluminum + Quartz) used for optics.
Base Metals and their qualities (6)
1) Copper (Cu) - Wiring 2) Lead (Pb) - High density; x-ray shielding; Galena (PbS) Highly toxic 3) Zinc (Zn) - Brass (Zn + Cu); Galvanized coating of steel; Sphalerite (ZnS) 4) Tin (Tn) - Bronze (TnCu); Pewter (TnPb) 5) Mercury (Hg) - Liquid at room temperature; Fluorescent Bulbs; Highly toxic. 6) Cadmium (Cd) - Swaps for Pb/Zn ores; Toxic, not many uses
The largest consumptive water globally is: A) Agriculture B) Households C) Mining D) Industry E) Hydroelectric power generation
A) Agriculture
The most valuable type of coal, due to its high rank and low sulfur content, is A) Anthracite B) Bituminous C) Lignite D) Peat
A) Anthracite
Photochemical smog involves reactions between all of the following pollutants EXCEPT A) CFCs B) Nitrogen oxides C) Volatile organic compounds D) Ozone
A) CFCs
Pearls have the same chemical composition (CaCO3) as what common mineral? A) Calcite B) Quartz C) Olivine D) Feldspar
A) Calcite
Most metallic mineral deposits are found near present or former plate boundaries because: A) Igneous and metamorphic processes that concentrate metals occur at plate boundaries B) Gaps between plates allow metal rich magmas from the mantle to rise to the surface C) Mountain building brings metal deposits close to the surface where they can be more easily mined D) Actually, most metallic mineral resources are found in the middle of plates and far from any plate boundary
A) Igneous and metamorphic processes that concentrate metals occur at plate boundaries
Zeolite minerals see a wide range of uses because of what unusual properties of zeolites? A) Porous crystal structure B) Water solubility C) High melting point D) Density and Magnetism
A) Porous crystal structure
The conflict over water use in the Klamath Basin can be thought of as a conflict between A) Reclamation and irrigation B) Prior appropriation and public trust C) Prior appropriation and riparian D) Surface and groundwater use
A) Reclamation and irrigation
Which of the following types of minerals are NOT used as ores for metals: A) Silicates B) Oxides C) Sulfides D) Native Metals
A) Silicates
The primary cause of climate change from 1920-1945 was A) Variations in Earth's orbital cycles B) Increased carbon emissions C) Increased solar energy output D) Increased sulfur emissions
A) Variations in Earth's orbital cycles
Conflicts between different instream water uses arise because A) different discharge patterns are needed for each instream use B) the same water cannot be used for more than one instream use C) conflicts between instream uses arise for all of the reasons listed here D) instream uses are consumptive uses
A) different discharge patterns are needed for each instream use
Abundant, Ferro-Alloy, Base, and Precious Metal Definitions
Abundant- >0.1% abundance. Scarce is <.01% Ferro-Alloy- Iron + Carbon + X (where x is a metal to give a specific property) Base- Metals with a variety of purposes Precious- Rare, usually expensive
Stainless Steel is an alloy of iron and: A) Cadmium B) Chromium C) Cobalt D) Copper
B) Chromium
Which of the following metals is NOT concentrated by sedimentary processes? A) Aluminum B) Copper C) Gold D) Iron E) Lead
B) Copper
To form a placer a mineral or metal must be A) Crystallized by evaporation B) Dense and chemically inert C) Oxidized and reduced D) present in the mantle at higher concentrations than it is in the crust E) Soft and water soluble
B) Dense and chemically inert
Changes in atmospheric CO2 on orbital timescales are mostly the result of A) Changes in biological uptake and ocean productivity due to iron fertilization by dust B) Mountain building and rock weathering C) Subduction and volcanism D) Fossil fuel use
B) Mountain building and rock weathering
An occurrence of a mineral that is sufficiently concentrated to be economically available is a A) Deposit B) Reserve C) Resource D) Rock
B) Reserve
The most abundant metal in the Earth's crust is: A) Iron B) Silicon C) Aluminum D) Magnesium E) Manganese
B) Silicon
The Potosi mining district in Bolivia is best known for ______ production. A) Copper B) Silver C) Molybdenum D) Nickel E) Lead
B) Silver
In what way(s) does the climate changing ability of carbon (as the greenhouse gas CO2) and sulfur (as sulfate particle) emissions from fossil fuel use differ? A) Sulfate particles are well mixed globally; greenhouse gases are concentrated near their sources B) Sulfate particles reflect solar radiation, greenhouse gases absorb terrestrial radiation C) Sulfate particles are long-lived in the atmosphere, while greenhouse gases are readily removed by precipitation D) Sulfate particles reflect terrestrial radiation, greenhouse gases absorb solar radiation
B) Sulfate particles reflect solar radiation, greenhouse gases absorb terrestrial radiation
The water problem that has developed in the Colorado River watershed is: A) Insufficient water due to decreased rainfall B) The allocation of greater amounts of water than normally available from the river C) Salt water intrusion into the aquifers due to excessive pumping D) Contamination due to acid runoff from mines E) Flooding due to excessive rainfall
B) The allocation of greater amounts of water than normally available from the river
The world's largest gold producer is the A) Sudbury, Canada B) Witwatersrand, South Africa C) Bingham, Utah D) Potosi, Bolivia
B) Witwatersrand, South Africa
Mississippi Valley type mineral deposits are produced when A) Changes in oxidation state affect metal solubility B) Running water in rivers sorts and concentrates dense metals C) Acidic groundwater containing dissolved metals is neutralized by limestone D) Evaporation causes dissolved minerals to crystallize
C) Acidic groundwater containing dissolved metals is neutralized by limestone
Which of the following is NOT a type of water pollution? A) Oxygen demanding waste B) Sediment C) Actually, these are all types of water pollution D) Thermal (increase in temperature) E) Nutrients
C) Actually, these (Oxygen Demanding Waste, Sediment, Thermal, Nutrients) are all types of water pollution
More people worldwide rely on energy from _____ than any other energy resource. A) Coal B) Petroleum C) Biomass D) Natural Gas
C) Biomass
Where riparian rights are used, landowners adjacent to a stream: A) Can take all the water he/she desires from the stream for any use B) Can sell water from the stream to anyone he/she desires C) Can only take water from the stream if there is no impact on downstream users D) Can take all the water he/she desires, but it must be for a beneficial use
C) Can only take water from the stream if there is no impact on downstream users
The largest supplier of oil to the US is A) Canada B) Iraq C) Mexico D) Russia E) Saudi Arabia
C) Canada
The most common reason counties don't meet Clean Air Act standards is ___________ in urban areas and _____________ in rural areas. A) Sulfur dioxide, particulates B) Nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide C) Carbon monoxide, particulates D) Ozone, particulates E) Ozone, sulfur dioxide
C) Carbon monoxide, particulates
How does fossil fuel use affect the carbon cycle? A) Climate change from fossil fuel use reduces photosynthesis in trees B) Fossil fuel use limits the amount of carbon that goes into the ocean C) Fossil fuel use releases carbon from long-term geologic storage far faster than natural processes D) Fossil fuel use reduces air quality and affects biological respiration
C) Fossil fuel use releases carbon from long-term geologic storage far faster than natural processes
Why does acid rain result from fossil fuel use? A) Particulates emitted from fossil fuel act as condensation nuclei B) Fossil fuels heat the atmosphere C) Fossil fuel use releases nitrogen and sulfur oxides that react with oxygen and water in the atmosphere to produce sulfuric and nitric acid D) Fossil fuel use transfers carbon from geologic materials to the atmosphere
C) Fossil fuel use releases nitrogen and sulfur oxides that react with oxygen and water in the atmosphere to produce sulfuric and nitric acid
Possible causes of temperature changes over the last 100 years include all of the following EXCEPT: A) Sulfur emissions from fossil fuel use B) Changes in solar energy output due to the sunspot cycle C) Orbital cycles D) Carbon emissions from fossil fuel use
C) Orbital cycles
Which of the following statements about perennial streams is NOT true? A) Perennial streams are also known as a gaining stream B) Perennial streams flow year round, even in dry weather C) Perennial streams are not in contact with the water table D) Perennial streams are sites of groundwater discharge
C) Perennial streams are not in contact with the water table
Temperature inversions affect the severity of air pollution because A) Cause more intense precipitation than normal B) Increase the amount of sunlight reaching the surface C) Reduce mixing of air and limit the dilution and dispersion of pollutants D) They increase the amount of pollutants emitted
C) Reduce mixing of air and limit the dilution and dispersion of pollutants
Which of the following air pollutants comes mostly from stationary sources? A) Ozone B) Carbon monoxide C) Sulfur dioxide D) Nitrogen oxides
C) Sulfur dioxide
Which of the following is a non-point pollution source? A) Hot water from a power plant B) A leaking underground storage tank C) Too much fertilizer applied to lawns D) Nutrient rich water from a wastewater treatment plant
C) Too much fertilizer applied to lawns
Iron Alloys and Constituent Metals (6)
Chromium - Stainless Steel Vanadium - Welding Metal Nickel - Variety of Uses Molybdenum - Steel Durability Cobalt - Super strong steel Tungsten - Density especially in tandem with carbon
Bushveld is rich in what 3 metals?
Chromium, Vanadium, and Platinum
Processes that result in climate change by altering the energy balance of Earth's atmosphere (radiative forcing) include all of the following EXCEPT A) Changes in the amount or seasonal distribution of solar energy recieved by the Earth B) Changes in the amount of sulfate particles in the atmosphere C) Changes in the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere D) Actually, everything listed here can change Earth's radiation budget and produce climate change E) Changes in the amount of the Earth's surface covered by snow, glaciers, or sea ice
D) Actually, everything listed here (Changes in seasonal solar energy, Changes in sulfate particles, Changes in GHG, Changes in albedo) can change Earth's radiation budget and produce climate change
Causes of eutrophication include all of the following EXCEPT A) Water from sewage treatment plants that's high in nitrate and phosphate B) Fertilizer runoff from farmland C) Livestock waste D) Increased upwelling of nutrient rich water in coastal regions D) Actually, these are all potential causes of eutrophication
D) Actually, these (Sewage Treatment Water, Fertilizer Runoff, Livestock Waste, Upwelling of Nutrient Rich water) are all potential causes of eutrophication
Information on how and why climate changes can come from A) Instrument-based observations B) Satellite measurements C) Natural archives like tree rings, sediments, and ice cores D) All of the choices listed here can provide information about how and why climate changes
D) All of the choices listed here (Instrument-Based Observations, Satellite Measurements, and Natural Archives) can provide information about how and why climate changes
Which of the following is a carbon sink? A) Reforestation B) Rock weathering and ocean sedimentation C) Photosynthesis D) Actually, all of these are carbon sinks
D) All of these (Reforestation, Weathering and Sedimentation, Photosynthesis) are carbon sinks
The principal source of iron being mined today is/are: A) Magnetite from mafic intrusions B) Ironstones C) Bog Iron D) Banded Iron Formations
D) Banded Iron Formations
Which of the following is NOT a disadvantage of coal as an energy source for the United States? A) Most US coal is low rank or high sulfur B) Using it causes acid rain C) Using it releases greenhouse gasses D) Coal has to be imported from other countries since US coal supply is insufficient to meet demand
D) Coal has to be imported from other countries since US coal supply is insufficient to meet demand
Silver may be found with which of the following metals that are also concentrated by the same processes? A) Platinum, Nickel B) Platinum, Chromium C) Copper, Platinum D) Copper, Lead
D) Copper, Lead
Oil use in the US increased rapidly after WWII for all of the following reasons except: A) Building of the interstate highway system B) Shifts in population patterns of US cities outwards from densely populated urban centers to larger and less densely populated suburban areas C) Reduced availability and use of mass transit in US cities, especially in the suburbs D) Decreased coal supplies and concerns about impacts of coal use on the environment
D) Decreased coal supplies and concerns about impacts of coal use on the environment
How is climate change affecting grizzly bears in Yellowstone National Park? A) Higher temperatures in summer has caused some bears to die of heat stroke B) Decreased water flow in streams and rivers had resulted in a decrease in salmon runs, a major food source for bears C) With warmer temperatures wolves have expanded their range into Yellowstone National Park, leading to more competition for food D) Fewer severe cold snaps in winter has led to a spread of bark beetles, higher tree mortality, and a decreased supply of pine nuts in fall, a major food source for bears E) Less snowpack in winter makes it harder for bears to dig dens
D) Fewer severe cold snaps in winter has led to a spread of bark beetles, higher tree mortality, and a decreased supply of pine nuts in fall, a major food source for bears
A consequence of eutrophication is A) An increase in the biodiversity of the body of water B) Sequestration of dissolved toxins in lake sediments C) Reduction of nutrient levels in a body of water D) Fish kills, because of the lowered dissolved oxygen in the water
D) Fish kills, because of the lowered dissolved oxygen in the water
Other than ice sheets and glaciers, the largest fraction of Earth's fresh water is found as A) Water vapor in the atmosphere B) Lakes C) Rivers and streams D) Groundwater
D) Groundwater
How is the general public exposed to the health risks of asbestos? A) Mining of asbestos in nearby communities B) Asbestos related contaminants in drinking water C) Handling asbestos containing products D) Inhalation of airborne fibers from abrasion and wear of asbestos containing materials E) Nearby landfills disposing of asbestos products
D) Inhalation of airborne fibers from abrasion and wear of asbestos containing materials
In the western U.S. the use of surface water is governed primarily by the A) U.S. Supreme Court B) Congress C) Environmental Protection Agency D) Prior appropriation doctrine D) Riparian doctrine
D) Prior appropriation doctrine
Which of the following gases is NOT a greenhouse gas? A) Nitrous oxide B) Water vapor C) Ozone D) Sulfur dioxide
D) Sulfur dioxide
Emissions of ____________ have decreased steadily since the passage of the Clean Air Act, while emissions of ____________ have only decreased more recently. A) VOCs, sulfur dioxide B) Carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides C) Sulfur dioxides, VOCs D) Sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides
D) Sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides
Recent increases in US oil production is mostly through fracking of oil shales in A) Pennsylvania and Alaska B) Alaska and Texas C) California and Alaska D) Texas and North Dakota E) North Dakota and Pennsylvania
D) Texas and North Dakota
How is the crust different from the mantle? A) The crust is lower in silica than the mantle B) The crust is thicker than the mantle C) The crust is denser than the mantle D) The crust is lower in magnesium and iron than the mantle
D) The crust is lower in magnesium and iron than the mantle
Which of the following statements about the differences between solar and terrestrial radiation is NOT true? A) The Sun's energy peaks at visible wavelengths, while the Earth's energy peaks at infrared wavelengths B) The Sun emits a lot more energy than the Earth does C) The Sun emits energy at short wavelengths, the Earth emits energy at long wavelengths D) The energy emitted at the surface of the Sun comes from nuclear fusion in the Sun's core, while the energy emitted at Earth's surface comes mostly from the release of geothermal energy from Earth's core
D) The energy emitted at the surface of the Sun comes from nuclear fusion in the Sun's core, while the energy emitted at Earth's surface comes mostly from the release of geothermal energy from Earth's core
Artesian flow occurs where A) Aquifer materials contain the highest permeability B) Groundwater recharge exceeds discharge C) Groundwater is being artificially recharged by pumping water INTO wells D) The potential pressure surface of a confined aquifer is above the actual ground surface elevation
D) The potential pressure surface of a confined aquifer is above the actual ground surface elevation
In gemstones, the term carat refers to A) Hardness B) Clarity C) Cut D) Weight
D) Weight
The riparian doctrine of water rights works best A) Where surface water is abundant B) For non-consumptive water uses such as power generation C) Rainfall is sufficent to grow crops D) Where all of the conditions listed here are met
D) Where all of the conditions listed here (Surface water abundance, Non-Consumptive Uses, Rainfall sufficiency) are met
Approximately what percentage of electricity generated in the US is from fossil fuels, including coal, oil, and natural gas? A) ~10% B) ~20% C) ~50% D) ~70% E) >90%
D) ~70%
How do evaporites form?
Dissolved minerals precipitate by evaporation. Calcite and halides for the most part.
An alternative energy resource is an energy resource that is A) Renewable B) Non-renewable C) Non-renewable and under-used relative to its potential supply D) Renewable and underused relative to its potential supply E) Could be either renewable or non-renewable, as long as it is underused relative to its potential supply
E) Could be either renewable or non-renewable, as long as it is underused relative to its potential supply
During the instrumental era temperature___________ from 1920-1945, ____________ slightly from 1945-1975, and ___________________ more rapidly from 1975 to present. A) Decreased, decreased, increased B) Decreased, increased, increased C) Increased, increased, increased D) Decreased, increased, decreased E) Increased, decreased, increased
E) Increased, decreased, increased
Much of the world's _____ production is from Mississippi Valley type deposits. A) Copper B) Silver C) Molybdenum D) Nickel E) Lead
E) Lead
Until prices were undercut by exports from China, ____ was the world's largest producer of rare earth metals. A) Climax, Colorado B) Bushveld, South Africa C) Sudbury, Canada D) Witwatersrand, South Africa E) Mountain Pass, California
E) Mountain Pass, California
Fracking of oil and gas bearing shales has led to a large increase in earthquake activity in: A) Alaska B) California C) Iowa D) Louisiana E) Oklahoma
E) Oklahoma
Asbestos : what is it and why is it dangerous?
Fibrous hydrated silicates that are formed by chrysolite or amphiboles being forced into threads. Health problem if inhaled, not necessarily just by proximity.
What precious metal is found in Witwatersrand?
Gold
Abundant Metal Examples and Uses (6)
Iron - Makes Steel Aluminum - variety, non-corrosive Silicon - chips and circuitry Titanium - Strength and white coloring Magnesium - Alloys and chemical reactions Manganese - Steel Making
What type of metals would you find in a Mississippi Valley deposit?
Lead-Zinc ores
Iron Types and Formations (4)
Magnetite - Igneous settling without Oxygen Bog Iron - Precipitates in water that is anoxic Ironstones - Anoxic groundwater meets oxygen rich surface and precipitates iron Banded Iron Formation - Deposition of iron during oxygen rich water, followed by anoxic conditions that were reducing.
What metal is abundant at the Climax, Colorado mine?
Molybdenum
Sudbury mine is rich in what metal?
Nickel
What metal is abundant in Bingham Canyon Mine?
Porphyry copper.
Renewable vs Non-Renewable Resources
Renewable - rate of use < rate of replenishment Non-Renewable - rate of use > rate of replenishment
What is the difference between treated and untreated building materials?
Untreated is subjected to mechanical processes only, i.e. crushing, pulverizing, etc. Examples include sand, gravel, aggregate, etc. Marble, granite, shale, cinder, and crushed limestone. Treated are subjected to chemical treatment, heat, or a mix of both. Bricks, cement, glass, etc.