EAS Final

Why is there an upper limit to the size of an earthquake?(a) Because rocks/faults have an upper limit to their strength or frictional resistance(b) Because there is an upper limit to what seismometers can measure(c) Because there is an upper limit to the speed that tectonic plates move(d) Because rocks begin to deform by ductile deformation at a certain depth(e) all of the above.

(a) Because rocks/faults have an upper limit to their strength or frictional resistance

All of the following are, or are part of, a fold-and-thrust mountain belt except:(a) Mt. St. Helens(b) Mt. Everest(c) the Alps(d) the Appalachians(e) the Rocky Mountains

(a) Mt. St. Helens

climate that favors chemical weathering

a hot and wet climate

What is thought to be the cause of the greatest mass extinction on Earth?

a volcanic eruption

used for manufacturing glass

Feldspar

Which of the following plates is expected to be moving the fastest?

A plate with a lot of edge that is subducting

Which is false?

Earths crust is the main strong outer layer of the Earth

What type of mountain are the Grand Tetons?

Fault block mountain

Directed pressure causes

Folding and Foliation

Which of the following plates does not contain any continents?(a) Nazca plate(b) India - Australian plate(c) South American plate(d) Antarctic plate(e) Eurasian plate

(a) Nazca plate

What are Japanese scientists using as a short-term alert for the arrival of an earthquake?(a) The arrival of the P-wave,(b) the arrival of the S-wave,(c) The P- and S-wave arrival time difference,(d) the epicenter of the earthquake,(e) the magnitude of the earthquake

(a) The arrival of the P-wave,

Why are stratovolcanoes or composite volcanoes called such?(a) They are composed of both lavas and pyroclastics(b) they are made up of stratified basalt lava(c) they are usually very tall(d) they usually erupt ash into the stratosphere(e) none of the above

(a) They are composed of both lavas and pyroclastics

A global map of earthquakes would most look like(a) a map of the tectonic plates(b) a map of the continents(c) a map of the continental shelves(d) a map of the mid - ocean ridges(e ) a map of hot spots

(a) a map of the tectonic plates

What is a "laterite" soil? (a) a soil in which the zone of leaching is enriched in iron and/or aluminum (b) any soil that is good for agriculture (c) any soil produced by tropical climate weathering (d) a dry, cracked, desert soil (e) a soil with a lot of expansive clay

(a) a soil in which the zone of leaching is enriched in iron and/or aluminum

A fault is discovered to be running through a neighborhood and it is found to be active (the blocks of crust are moving) but locked. They learn that you've taken an earth science class and ask you if the fault is dangerous in terms of earthquakes. What's the best answer?(a) almost certainly,(b) possibly,(c) unlikely,(d) no,(e) maybe

(a) almost certainly,

Approximately how much stream water arrives at the mouth of the Colorado river at its delta in the Gulf of Mexico?(a) almost none,(b) 10%,(c) 50%,(d) 75%,(e) almost all of it

(a) almost none

Aluminum is mined from a particular type of soil called(a) bauxite,(b) laterite,(c) regolith,(d) A-horizon,(e) zone ofaccumulation

(a) bauxite

What type of plate boundary existed between India and Asia prior to their collision ?(a) convergent(b) divergent(c) strike slip(d) there is no plate boundary between India and Asia(e) hot spots

(a) convergent

The most common first phenomenon that usually indicates that a volcano is undergoing unrest and may erupt is(a) earthquakes(b) emission of steam(c) emission of carbon dioxide(d) emission of sulfur dioxide(e) bulging of the volcano

(a) earthquakes

Which of the following phenomena best marks or outlines all the boundaries or edges of the plates?(a) earthquakes(b) volcanoes(c) hot spots(d) strong magnetic fields(e) strong reversals in the magnetic field

(a) earthquakes

The type of deformation wherein a rock returns to its original shape and the rock does not fracture.(a) elastic deformation(b) brittle deformation(c) ductile deformation(d) normal deformation(e) reverse deformation

(a) elastic deformation

Which of the following combinations of magma composition and volatile content results in thin, long lava flows?(a) fluid magma with little water(b) fluid magma with a lot of water(c) viscous magma with little water.(d) viscous magma with a lot of water(e) none of the above

(a) fluid magma with little water

Where does most shallow groundwater come from?(a) from the air (rain/snow),(b) from the ocean,(c) from streams,(d) from deeper underground,(e) from glaciers

(a) from the air (rain/snow)

Which of the following comes closest to the typical speed of the tectonic plates on Earth?(a) growth rate of fingernails(b) growth rate of grass(c) speed of a snail(d) speed of a turtle(e) walking speed of a typical grandmother

(a) growth rate of fingernails

The core of the Earth is made up mostly of(a) iron(b) dense silicates(c) less dense silicates(d) liquid rock(e) the liquid equivalent of the mantle

(a) iron

The metamorphic rock that forms from limestones is called(a) marble(b) slate(c) schist(d) gneiss(e) phyllite

(a) marble

Which of the following is the most common way that magma forms?(a) melting of the mantle due to pressure release.(b) increase in pressure and increase in temperature in the crust causing melting(c) release of large amounts of CO2 into the crust(d) heating of the mantle from meteorite impacts(e) addition of water lowering the melting point

(a) melting of the mantle due to pressure release

If one were to measure the magnetic inclination preserved in the ancient continental glacial deposits described by Wegener, like those preserved in India , the inclination would likely be(a) nearly vertical(b) nearly horizontal (zero)(c) reversed(d) around 45 degrees(e) unrelated to where the glaciers formed

(a) nearly vertical

Which of the following lavas is the result of the most fluid lava?(a) pahoehoe(b) aa(c) block lava(d) lava dome(e) any of the above could be due to fluid lava

(a) pahoehoe

What is thought to be the cause of the "Year without a summer" in 1816?(a) the eruption of Tambora in Indonesia(b) the eruption of Yellowstone "super volcano"(c) the eruption of the Siberian flood basalts(d) the eruption of Mt. St. Helens(e) a relatively small meteorite impact

(a) the eruption of Tambora in Indonesia

What material is often found right above the bedrock?(a) the regolith,(b) zone of leaching,(c) the crust,(d) the zone of accumulation,(e) zone of aeration

(a) the regolith

If you had a volume of 10 liters of good loam soil and you squeezed out all the air and water, approximately how much volume would the sample of soil now occupy? (a) 10 liters (b) 5 liters (c) 2 liters (d) 1 liter (e) 0.5 liter

(b) 5 liters

In earth science or physics, stress is defined as:(a) The deformation one sees in rock(b) A force applied to an area(c) the maximum force a rock can sustain(d) something that tends to compress a rock(e) a force that causes rock to flow like a plastic

(b) A force applied to an area

Imperceptibly slow downslope movement is called(a) Rock slide,(b) Creep,(c) slump,(d) Mudflow,(e) Debris flow

(b) Creep,

The phenomenon of "spheroidal weathering" has produced the interesting landscape found in(a) Johnson Shutins Park,(b) Elephant Rock State Park,(c) Taum Sauk Mountain,(d) the area around St. Louis,(e) the Rocky Mountains

(b) Elephant Rock State Park

Prior to modern plate tectonics, there was another theory that the Earth was/is expanding thereby causing stretching and pulling apart of the Earth's outer crust. If this were true, which of the following would you expect then:(a) We should only have mostly folds and thrust mountains in the crust(b) We should have only normal faults(c) we should only have folds and strike slip faults(d) we should only have brittle deformation in the crust(e) We should only have ductile deformation of the crust.

(b) We should have only normal faults

Prior to modern plate tectonics, there was a theory that the Earth was/is shrinking thereby causing wrinkling of the Earth's outer crust that produced mountains much like the wrinkling of a dried out apple's or grape's skin. If this were true, which of the following would you expect then:(a) We should only have volcanic mountains in the crust(b) We should only have mostly fold and thrust mountains in the crust(c) We should have only normal faults(d) we should only have folds and strike slip faults(e) we should only have brittle deformation in the crust

(b) We should only have mostly fold and thrust mountains in the crust

The deepest part of the ocean floor, along the Mariana trench, is due to(a) a deep depression where two plates pull apart(b) a depression due to the down bending of the plate as it subducts(c) a large area of erosion where the seafloor is damaged by faulting(d) a large crater due to explosive volcanism(e) the lack of magmatism in that area of the seafloor.

(b) a depression due to the down bending of the plate as it subducts

How many different plates are subducting around the Pacific rim to produce the "Pacific Ring of Fire "?(a) one large plate (the Pacific plate)(b) about half a dozen plates(c) several dozen plates(d) None. The volcanism is caused by divergent boundaries(e) None. The volcanism is caused by hot spots

(b) about half a dozen plates

Which of the following important metals is mined from a type of soil? (a) chromium (b) aluminum (c) copper (d) gold (e) silver

(b) aluminum

Impermeable rock formations that impede/prevent groundwater flow are called ________. (a) perched water tables (b) aquitards (c) springs (d) aquifers (e) laterites

(b) aquitards

The figures below show cross sections of a stream channel. The upper figure shows the stream during normal flow. The lower figure shows the stream during flooding. Which of the labeled locations would have the highest velocity? (a) a (b) b (c) c (d) d (e) e

(b) b

The Mississippi, like other streams, makes a delta when it enters the ocean by deposition of sediment. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has been keeping the Mississippi in its current channel by raising the levees. Why then, if the stream has been kept in place for so long, is the Mississippi delta eroding away?(a) Because the levees have been preventing sediment from going down the river,(b) because dams have prevented sediment from going down the river,(c) because stronger storms have prevented sediment from going down the river,(d) because higher sea level has prevented sediment from going down the river,(e) because less erosion is providing sediment to the river

(b) because dams have prevented sediment from going down the river

What is the type of stream load shown in the figure below? (a) dissolved load (b) bed load (c) suspended load (d) light-load (e) chemical load

(b) bed load

Recently, how have scientists been testing whether the meteorite impact (which was pret ty sudden) or whether the Deccan volcanism (which lasted about 1 million years at the end of the Cretaceous) was the main cause of the mass extinction at the end of the Cretaceous period?(a) By measuring the Ir content of fossils(b) by looking at how rapidly species died out(c) by measuring the paleomagnetism in the clay layer(d) by looking at how many species died in total(e) by comparing land fossils with marine fossils

(b) by looking at how rapidly species died out

Which of the following combinations of magma composition and volatile content results in lava fountains?(a) fluid magma with little water(b) fluid magma with a lot of water(c) viscous/sticky magma with little water.(d) viscous magma with a lot of water(e) none of the above

(b) fluid magma with a lot of water

The layered fabric of a metamorphic rock is called(a) pyroclastic texture,(b) foliation,(c) strain fabric,(d) slate,(e) directed pressure

(b) foliation

Which of the following pair s of steps in the scientific method is in the correct order for the scientific method? (There may be missing steps , but the two are in the correct order)(a) question, initial observation(b) initial observation , hypothesis(c) prediction, hypothesis,(d) test the prediction, question,(e) reject/ accept hypothesis, test the prediction

(b) initial observation , hypothesis

Which of the following is the best soil for agriculture? (a) silty loam, (b) loam, (c) sandy silt, (d) clay-rich (e) loamy sand

(b) loam

If you have two wells, A and B, in a flat area and the wells are at exactly the same depth, and there is normal uniform precipitation (no drought) and no other wells are in the area, can well "A" cause well "B" to run dry without well "A" running dry itself?(a) yes,(b) no

(b) no

What is weathered rock combined with some organic matterwhere plants can grow?(a) Bauxite,(b) soil,(c) laterite(d)regolith,(e) clay

(b) soil

The difference between lithosphere and asthenosphere is primarily a difference in(a) composition(b) strength(c) pressure(d) water content(e) plate boundary

(b) strength

The Deccan flood basalt volcanism happened at about the same time as the meteorite impact near the end of the Cretaceous period. One hypothesis stated that the impact caused the volcanism. What evidence/finding proved this hypothesis to be wrong? It was discovered that(a) the impact happened before the volcanism(b) the impact happened after the volcanism began(c) no iridium was found in the volcanic rocks(d) the volcanic rocks were unaffected by the impact(e) the paleomagnetic data showed that the volcanic rocks had reversed magnetism

(b) the impact happened after the volcanism began

An igneous rock is composed entirely of tiny crystals that are not visible with the naked eye. This implies that:(a) the rock formed from magma(b) the magma cooled very rapidly(c) the lava erupted slowly(d) the lava erupted in the form of a long lava flow(e) the rock comes from the mantle

(b) the magma cooled very rapidly

Numerous holes or small voids in a volcanic rock are usually frozen bubbles that were caused by(a) crystals(b) volatiles(c) magma(d) slow cooling(e) pyroclastic material

(b) volatiles

Which of the following is the soil horizon right below the zone of leaching? (a) partially altered rock (b) zone of accumulation (c) zone of mineral matter and humus (d) layer of loose decaying organic matter (e) regolith

(b) zone of accumulation

In which soil horizon is bauxite found (the source of aluminum)? (a) O - organic-rich layer (b) A - mineral+organic mixed layer (c) E - zone of leaching (d) B - zone of accumulation (e) C - partly weathered regolith

(c) E - zone of leaching

If there is a really prolonged drought, what effect will that have on the water table? The water table ... (a) becomes more like the topography (b) maintains its shape but gets lower (c) becomes flatter and lower (d) become flatter and slopes towards the ocean (e) becomes flatter and slopes towards the land

(c) becomes flatter and lower

The type of deformation wherein a rock is permanently damaged and is fractured is called.(a) elastic deformation(b) brittle deformation(c) ductile deformation(d) normal deformation(e) reverse deformation

(c) brittle deformation

When a road is built in a mountainous area, why might thebuilding of the road trigger landslides?(a) the road will prevent water from entering the ground,(b) ground shaking from the heavy equipment will trigger landslides,(c) building the road may over steepen the uphill side of the road,(d) building the road removes vegetation from the road

(c) building the road may over steepen the uphill side of the road

In the cross section figure below, a well at "X" is pumping out a heck of a lot of water from groundwater. Which of the five other wells is likely to go dry first as a result of the excessive pumping at X? (a) a (b) b (c) c (d) d (e) e

(c) c

In the map figure below, the level of the water table above sea level is given for 5 points (circles/dots). Which direction will groundwater likely flow (from the point where all the arrows meet)? (a) a (b) b (c) c (d) d (e) e

(c) c

The lithosphere consists of:(a) inner core and outer core(b) asthenosphere and mantle(c) crust and uppermost mantle(d) crust and outer core(e) asthenosphere and crust

(c) crust and uppermost mantle

According to the astronomer Carl Sagan, extraordinary claims require what in order for those claims to be taken seriously?(a) an extraordinary amount of people claiming the same thing,(b) extraordinary predictions from the claim(c) extraordinary evidence(d) extraordinary time to be proven(e) all of the above

(c) extraordinary evidence

Tropical climate is necessary to produce thick laterite soil, but is insufficient. What else is necessary? (a) a lot of vegetation (b) a lot of creep (c) gently rolling topography (d) a lot of groundwater (e) occasional forest fires

(c) gently rolling topography

The deadliest (i.e., the type that has caused the most human deaths, globally) volcanic phenomenon is(a) lava flow(b) pyroclastic flow(c) lahar(d) ash fall(e) lava dome

(c) lahar

Besides the work of streams, what other process makes valleys "V-shaped"?(a) earthquakes,(b) weathering,(c) mass wasting,(d) erosion by glaciers,(e) groundwater flow

(c) mass wasting,

If the hanging wall of a fault moves up relative to the footwall, what type of fault is it?(a) right lateral strike slip fault(b) left lateral strike slip fault(c) reverse fault(d) normal fault(e) thrust fault

(c) reverse fault

Fine-grained material that remains in the water of a stream (i.e., that doesn't sink to the bottom) is called(a) channel material,(b) bed load,(c) suspended load,(d)dissolved load,(e) meander

(c) suspended load

If the water table at point A is at an elevation (above sea level) of 300 m and the water table at point B is at 100 m, and locations A and B are 1,000 m apart, the hydraulic gradient is (a) 100 (b) 20 (c) 1 (d) 0.2 (e) 0.01

(d) 0.2

The following choices give the drop in elevation of a stream over a certain distance. Other things being equal, which stream would have the fastest velocity? (a) 1 inch per 1 mile,(b) 2 inches per 2 mile,(c) 4 inches per 4 miles,(d) 10 inches per 5 miles,(e) all should have equal velocities.

(d) 10 inches per 5 miles,

Which of the following comes closest to the percentage of the US land area covered by the Mississippi River drainage basin?(a) 0.1%,(b) 1%,(c) 5%,(d) 50%,(e) 99%

(d) 50%

In the figure above, why is the curve for "all eruptions" (volcanic eruptions) increasing with time, whereas that for "large eruptions" is level? (Test 2 #7)(a) the number of small eruptions is actually increasing with time, while large eruptions are not(b) the World Wars have caused an increase in small eruptions(c) Each large eruption tends to produce more smaller eruptions(d) More small eruptions that were previously unnoticed are getting reported whereas large eruptions have always been noticed(e) none of the above

(d) More small eruptions that were previously unnoticed are getting reported whereas large eruptions have always been noticed

Which of the following is thought to have caused the largest ever extinction on the planet?(a) A large pre-historic eruption of Yellowstone caldera(b) The Deccan flood basalts in India(c) The eruption of Long Valley caldera(d) The Siberian Traps flood basalts(e) the eruption of Mt. Pele in Martinique

(d) The Siberian Traps flood basalts

What cheap preventions can be done to prevent your basement from getting wet/flooded or getting the foundation damaged/cracked?(a) make sure your gutters are clean,(b) make sure your downspouts drain far away from your basement,(c) make sure the yard outside your house slopes away from the basement,(d) make sure you water the lawn evenly,(e) all of the above.

(e) all of the above.

The Alvarezes were not out to determine the cause of the end - of - Cretaceous extinction, but instead intended to measure sedimentation rates. Which of the following statements describes their initial expectation?(a) they did not expect any relationship between the amount of iridium ( Ir ) and the sedimentation rate(b) the thicker the layers of sediment, the greater the sedimentation rate(c) the lower the concentration of Ir, the slower the sedimentation rate(d) The higher the concentration of Ir in the sediment, the slower the sedimentation rate(e) they expected no major changes in the concentration of Ir.

(d) The higher the concentration of Ir in the sediment, the slower the sedimentation rate

Building up a stream's levees is one way to prevent flooding in an area. What is a possible problem that may be caused by raising levees?(a) The flood will be more severe if the levee breaks,(b) the flooding may be worse downstream,(c) the stream may fill with sediment,(d) a and b,(e) a and c

(d) a and b,

Which of the following states have sinkhole problems? (a) Missouri,(b) Florida,(c) Kentucky,(d) all of the above,(e) none of the above

(d) all of the above

A permeable rock formation capable of storing groundwater is called ________.(a) perched water table(b) aquitard(c) spring(d) aquifer(e) laterite

(d) aquifer

A type of landslide that moves very rapidly and has a long runout distance due to support by a cushion of air is called a(a) debris flow,(b) rockfall,(c) slump,(d) avalanche,(e) mudflow

(d) avalanche

What is the main mineral produced by chemical weathering on Earth?(a) hematite,(b) laterite,(c) quartz,(d) clay,(e) regolith

(d) clay

The figure below shows the same situation as above with the well at x pumping a lot of water. A toilet has been placed as shown with a septic tank below. Which is the worst location to sink a drinking well due to possible contamination from the septic tank? (a) a (b) b (c) c (d) d (e) e

(d) d

Today, approximately how many sites on Earth have evidence of a meteorite impact at the K - T boundary?(a) one(b) three(c) ten(d) dozens(e) tens of thousands

(d) dozens

What is the role of confining pressure on the style of deformation of rock?(a) higher confining pressure promotes brittle behavior(b) higher confining pressure increases the volume of rock(c) higher confining pressure promotes fracturing of rock(d) higher confining pressure promotes ductile behavior(e) higher confining pressure causes shrinking and fracturing of rock

(d) higher confining pressure promotes ductile behavior

What is the effect of temperature on the style of deformation of rock?(a) higher temperatures promote brittle behavior,(b) higher temperatures increase the strength of rock(c) higher temperatures promote fracturing of rock(d) higher temperatures promote ductile behavior(e) higher temperatures cause shrinking and fracturing of rock

(d) higher temperatures promote ductile behavior

Which of the following is a measure of the total energy released in an earthquake?(a) focal power(b) intensity(c) epicentral distance,(d) magnitude(e) elasticity

(d) magnitude

Which of the following combinations of magma composition and volatile content results in violent eruptions?(a) fluid magma with little water(b) fluid magma with a lot of water(c) viscous/sticky magma with little water.(d) viscous magma with a lot of water(e) none of the above

(d) viscous magma with a lot of water

15 . Below is the data published by the Alvarezes in their Science paper, which shows the concentration of Ir (in parts per trillion) in the samples versus the position of the samples in meters in the sedimentary rock. At what approximate position does the K - T boundary occur? (a) 0 m (b) around 30 m (c) 150 m (d ) 305 m (e) 348 m

(e) 348 m

Which is true? (a) desire of plates to sink is the main driving force of plate motions. (b) Lithosphere is colder than asthenosphere (c) the inner core is growing as the outer core solidifies (d) Mid-ocean ridges mark divergent boundaries (e) All of the above

(e) All of the above

Why do you think earthquakes are rare at depths greater than a few kilometers below Earth's surface?(a) Because there is magma everywhere at depth preventing earthquakes(b) Because earthquakes can only be generated in the mantle(c) Because water is required to generate earthquakes(d) Because mountains need to be present for earthquakes to occur,(e) Because brittle faults tend to be confined to areas of lower confining pressure and lower temperature

(e) Because brittle faults tend to be confined to areas of lower confining pressure and lower temperature

Sinkholes often form in limestone areas, but can also form in other rock types like gypsum rock and salt rock, as seen in the NOVA video. What do all these rocks have in common that make them form sinkholes? (a) They all form in the ocean,(b) They are all fine-grained,(c) They are all very porous,(d) They are all very young rocks,(e) They are all relatively soluble in water

(e) They are all relatively soluble in water

Which of the following climate conditions would favor the most frost wedging?(a) below freezing and dry all year round,(b) hot and wet all year round,(c) a climate with four seasons,(d) a warm climate with wet and dry seasons,(e) a cold, wet climate with temperatures that fluctuate between below freezing and above freezing

(e) a cold, wet climate with temperatures that fluctuate between below freezing and above freezing

Levees and deltas are depositional features due to what factor?(a) an increase in gradient of the stream,(b) a widening of the channel,(c) and increase in the total load,(d) a lowering of the suspended load,(e) a drop in the competence of the stream

(e) a drop in the competence of the stream

What was the initial observation made by the Alvarezes that led to the meteorite impact hypothesis?(a) the strange composition of the clay in the clay layer(b) a very low amount of Ir in the clay layer(c) the lack of any Ir in the clay layer(d) the extreme thickness of the clay layer(e) a very high amount of Ir in the clay layer

(e) a very high amount of Ir in the clay layer

Which of the following is a factor in soil formation? (a) parent material (b) time (c) climate (d) topography (e) all of the above

(e) all of the above

What is the proposed explanation for why flood basalt eruptions are so huge?

A mantle plume combined with pulling the plate apart

Of all the surficial liquid freshwater, approximately what percent is groundwater? (a) much less than 1% (b) 10% (c) about half (d) slightly more than half (e) almost all of it (~99%)

(e) almost all of it (~99%)

'Good soil' for agriculture contains... (a) mostly clay (b) mostly sand (c) mostly silt (d) clay and sand (e) clay, sand, and silt

(e) clay, sand, and silt

Referring to the figure below, which location has the lowest velocity? (a) a (b) b (c) c (d) d (e) e

(e) e

The figure shows the same water table as above. If a septic tank (where sewage is dumped) is placed at X, where is the safest place to sink a drinking well? (a) a (b) b (c) c (d) d (e) e

(e) e

Yosemite National Park is an area consisting almost entirely of what rock type?(a) slate(b) basalt(c) marble(d) lahars(e) granite

(e) granite

The reddish color of many soils is caused by the presence of(a) expansive soil,(b) clay,(c) aluminum,(d) loam,(e) hematite

(e) hematite

What rock type is targeted for oil and gas in the process called "fracking"?(a) permeable sandstones,(b) easily dissolved limestones,(c) easily eroded soil-rich rock,(d) coal-rich sediment,(e) impermeable mudstone/shale

(e) impermeable mudstone/shale

The main factor causing the difference in lithosphere and asthenosphere mentioned above is(a) composition,(b) pressure(c) water content(d) age(e) temperature

(e) temperature

Tiny "spherules" (microtektites) have been found at the K - T boundary and at other impact sites. What is the origin of these spherules?(a) they are tiny fragments of the meteorite(b) they are pieces of Iridium(c) they are fossils that died out during the impact(d) their origin is still unknown(e) they are solidified droplets of rock melted due to the meteorite impact.

(e) they are solidified droplets of rock melted due to the meteorite impact.

In a good loam soil, the role of sand and silt is to allow excess water to drain away. What is the role of the clay? (a) to allow the water to drain away even further (b) to allow the soil layer to expand (c) to provide organic material to the soil (d) to make the soil richer in oxygen (e) to retain water in the soil

(e) to retain water in the soil

Approximately what volume of the Earth's crust does oxygen make up?

>90%

Shiprock, New Mexico, is thought to be what igneous body?

A Volcanic Neck

The event that immediately triggered the explosive eruption of Mt. St. Helens on May 18, 1980 was

A landslide caused by an earthquake

What is the main mineral produced by chemical weathering on earth?

Clay

A tectonic plate shaped like a square is moving west (to the left). What they of plate boundary would you most likely expect on its west/left side?

Convergent

Two properties to be a mineral

Crystalline and naturally occurring

Hot spots like Hawaii are not at a plate boundary where most magnetism occurs. What is thought to be the cause of magnetism hot spots?

Decompression melting of a hot rising mantle plume

The most volcanically active (but non-explosive) regions on Earth are associated with?

Divergent boundaries

Which of the following minerals is the main source of iron?

Hematite and magnetite

When the mantle plumes were hypothesized, what prediction of that hypothesis was tested by seismology?

Hot spots like Hawaii should be underlain by slow velocity mantle

Why did the Alvareses study K-T boundary clay layers at other sites besides the first site they studied?

If they claimed the effects of the meteorite impact were global, they needed sample locations that were more global

Iron is the most common cause of color in minerals. What is false?

Iron always produces a red color in minerals

Which of the following statements is not true about the event that caused the extinction of dinosaurs?

It caused the extinction of all land animals and plants

Subduction zone volcanoes have high water content which partly causes their explosivity. What is the origin of this water?

It is seawater that is in the subducted oceanic crust

What is always true of any element?

It wants to achieve a complete outer electron shell

Which rock type is susceptible to acid rain?

Limestone or Marble

What is the initial effect (next few years) of explosive eruptions on global atmospheric temperatures?

Lowering of T

All of our Solar System formed from essentially the same starting material. Cosmic dust is some of that same starting material but that was never incorporated into a planet. Why then does Earth's crust have very low iridium compared to cosmic dust?

Most of the iridium ended up in the Earth's core

Which is false?

Most subduction zone magnetism is caused by melting of the subducting plate as it is heated up in the hot athenosphere

Why was there a decline of volcanic eruptions during WW1 and WW2

People were busy fighting the war and therefore did not report volcanic eruptions

Which is used to make long-term earthquake predictions?

Recurrence intervals of earthquakes along the faults

Which will make the magma more fluid?

Reducing the amount of silica

What is the second most abundant element in the Earth's crust?

Silicon

Which is the following is the correct arrangement of metamorphic rocks from finer grained to coarser grained or lower temperature to higher temperature?

Slate, Phyllite, Schist, Gneiss

The Earth's mantle, where most magmas come from, is made up mostly of

Solid silicates

A tectonic plate is moving North over a fixed mantle plume creating a series of hot spot volcanoes on the plate. The ages of the volcanoes should get older as one goes from

South to North

Why is it unlikely for a strike-slip fault under the ocean to cause a tsunami?

Strike-slip faults are unlikely to cause a change on the shape of the seafloor

Over time, as Earth loses heat and its internal temperature gets cooler, which of the following would we expect?

Tectonic plates will get thicker

The magnetic inclination is measured in a 50 million year old rock from a continent that is at the equator today. The magnetic inclination is found to be 60 degrees. Which of the following can be concluded from these observations?

The continent was not at the equator when the rock formed

The most famous transform plate boundary is the San Andreas Fault. Another example of a transform plate boundary is

The dead sea area on the west side of the arabian plate

All the granite in Yosemite National Park is?

The former magma chambers of stratovolcanoes

Which of the following characteristics of hot spots volcanoes makes them different from subduction zone volcanoes?

Their ages get older in a certain direction

Why didn't the Alvarezes publish their results/hypothesis right away?

Their colleague recommended they analyze Ir at other sites

The New Madrid seismic zone south of STL has earthquakes because

There are old faults that are being stressed

Why are there volcanoes in the Pacific Northwest? Because

There is a convergent plate boundary

Which of the following bonds are the weakest?

Van Der Waals Bond

continential drift, the idea that the continents are moving, is now considered a fact because

anybody can observe the motion using GPS

Which has the fastest downslope movement?

avalanches and rockfalls

Frost wedging

breaking of rocks by expanding ice

Before the discovery of high Iridium layer at the K-T boundary, the Ir that they were going to measure in the sedimentary rocks (limestone) was thought to come primarily from

cosmic dust

Creep is caused by

expansion and contraction of the soil/regolith

Most clay at Earth's surface is forming from the chemical weathering of which mineral?

feldspar

The actual source of an earthquake, located somewhere at depth, is called the

focus

Why many oxygen anions can surround an aluminum cation?

four

Which of the following is not included in the processes of mass wasting?

frost wedging

Physical weathering helps chemical weathering by

increasing the surface area exposed to air and water

The difference between mass wasting and other forms of erosion is

mass wasting is driven by gravity without another moving medium like air, water, or ice

Particle that carries the positive charge

proton

Which was longest wavelengths or lowest energy?

radio waves

Why are oceans getting more acidic?

rising CO2 in the atmosphere is causing more CO2 to dissolve in the ocean

The form of physical weathering that produces fractures parallel to Earth's surface is called

sheeting or exfoliation

If there was no mass wasting, valleys would have what shape?

steep sided and narrow shape

Highest melting point relates to the strongest/weakest bond?

strongest bond

In the original 1980 paper, what prediction did the authors make that they themselves tested and confirmed?

that the clay layer should have a different composition as clay elsewhere in the limestones

The "K-T boundary" refers to what?

the time when the Cretaceous period ended and the Tertiary period began

Which of the following best explains why elements like Cr, Fe, V, and Ti, are capable of causing color in minerals?

they absorb certain wavelengths of light and transmit/emit other wavelengths

What is NOT a common trigger of landslides?

unusually dry conditions

Why does heavy prolonged rain trigger landslides?

water adds weight and reduces internal friction

What is false about weathering?

weathering cannot happen without water