GEOL 1340 Exam 3

1. Wegener assembled the continents like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle into a giant supercontinent called...

Eurasia

Pangea

Gondwanaland

Euroamerica

Chapter 8d

Explanation

Chapter 8d

2. Which of the following is an erosional agent that removes weathered products from the site of weathering?

Rivers and streams

Groundwater

Glaciers

Wind

All of the above

Chapter 10

Explanation

Chapter 10

3. The bending of seismic waves when passing through Earth's interior is due to changes in wave ____________ when encountering different Earth materials.

Temperature

Type

Velocity

Magnitude

Chapter 8a

Explanation

Chapter 8a

4. Earth's overall density is calculated to be 5.52 grams per cubic centimeter. However, crustal rocks only give densities around 2.9 grams per cubic centimeter. Where is the excess density?

Iron in Earth's core

Water stored in the oceans

Increasing pressures increase the density of mantle rocks at depth

The larger circumference of Earth at the equator relative to the poles means that the highest density occurs at zero degrees latitude

Chapter 8a

Explanation

Chapter 8a

5. The bending of seismic waves when passing through Earth's interior is called _________

Refraction

Reflection

Diffraction

Deflection

Chapter 8a

Explanation

Chapter 8a

6. Which of the following chemical sedimentary rocks will most likely contain fossils?

Rock salt

Chert

Limestone

Rock gypsum

Chapter 8bc

Explanation

Chapter 8bc

7. ____________ stress and strain most likely occur along a divergent plate boundary.

Shear

Tensional

Lateral

Compressional

Chapter 9

Explanation

Chapter 9

8. For the figure below, which letter corresponds to the epicenter of the earthquake?

Site A

Site B

Site C

Site D

Chapter 8a

Explanation

Chapter 8a

9. Circulation of liquid iron in the outer core is thought to be responsible for Earth's _____________

Heat flow

Magnetic field

Gravity

Rotation

Chapter 8a

Explanation

Chapter 8a

10. What type of drainage pattern is depicted in the following illustration?

Radial

Dendritic

Rectangular

Trellis

Chapter 10

Explanation

Chapter 10

11. Quartz sandstone is metamorphosed into ___________.

Quartzite

Marble

Mylonite

Schist

Chapter 8bc

Explanation

Chapter 8bc

12. Weird ice-flow directions of ancient glaciers, as evidenced today on the continents of South America, Africa, India, and Australia, make sense if we...

Assume randomness in the way glaciers move.

Assume that all ice flows originated in Australia.

Assemble these continents into a giant supercontinent.

Take into account changes in Earth's magnetic field over the last three hundred million years.

Chapter 8d

Explanation

Chapter 8d

13. With regard to the following figure, which of the statements below is TRUE?

Earth's surface only refers to the areas above sea level

Most of Earth's surface is covered by water

The vertical distance from sea level to the highest elevation on land is greater than the vertical distance from sea level to the deepest trench in the ocean

The average elevation of Earth's surface occurs above sea level

Chapter 9

Explanation

Chapter 9

14. _________involves the mechanical breakdown of rocks into smaller particles without changing the overall composition of the minerals.

Mass wasting

Physical weathering

Erosion

Chemical weathering

Chapter 10

Explanation

Chapter 10

15. A magma rich in dissolved gases will produce...

Only plutonic rocks with large crystals.

Explosive eruptions and volcanic ash.

Quiet eruptions and fluid lava.

Mild eruptions that crystallize into mafic igneous rocks only.

Chapter 8bc

Explanation

Chapter 8bc

16. Which of the following does NOT constitute evidence for continental drift?

Similar fossils of ancient plants and animals found on the five southern continents now separated by oceans.

Coal deposits in Antarctica.

Polar wander curves.

A cooling, shrinking Earth.

Reef-building corals in frozen Greenland.

Chapter 8d

Explanation

Chapter 8d

17. Which of the following statements regarding silicate minerals is false?

All silicate minerals have silicon and oxygen in their chemical formula.

Silicate tetrahedra can bond with cations but not with other tetrahedra.

The basic building block of all silicate minerals is the silicon-oxygen tetrahedron.

Silicate minerals are the most abundant minerals in Earth's crust.

Chapter 8bc

Explanation

Chapter 8bc

18. What distinguishes the native element minerals from the other mineral groups?

Native element minerals are all soft and easily scratched

Native element minerals only form ionic bonds

Native element minerals are bonded to sulfur

Native element minerals are comprised of only one element

Chapter 8bc

Explanation

Chapter 8bc

19. Which of the following statements regarding the Rock Cycle is FALSE?

Any rock type can be uplifted and exposed to weathering agents.

Sedimentary rocks can convert into metamorphic rocks if the temperature and pressure conditions are right.

Only igneous rocks can be uplifted and exposed to weathering.

Igneous rocks can bypass the weathering stage and convert directly into metamorphic rocks.

Chapter 8bc

Explanation

Chapter 8bc

20. Which of the following features exhibits the greatest relief?

Low tablelands

Hills

Plains

Mountains

Chapter 9

Explanation

Chapter 9

21. What changes in P- and S-waves occur when encountering the outer core that lead scientists to conclude that this layer is composed of liquid iron?

P-waves slow down while S-waves speed up when passing through the outer core.

Both P- and S-waves are prevented from passing through the outer core.

S-waves cannot pass through the outer core while P-waves slow down significantly when passing through this layer.

Both P- and S-waves increase in velocity when passing through the outer core.

Chapter 8a

Explanation

Chapter 8a

22. The upper mantle is composed largely of a rock called ___________

Peridotite

Andesite

Granite

Basalt

Chapter 8a

Explanation

Chapter 8a

23. According to the Rock Cycle, which of the following is the first stage in converting a metamorphic rock into a sedimentary rock?

Uplift and exposure

Lithification

Burial to greater depths

Increase the temperature

Chapter 8bc

Explanation

Chapter 8bc

24. Which of the following statements regarding convergent plate boundaries is FALSE?

Boundary where oceanic crust is destroyed

Sites of plate collision and subduction

Only occurs where a continental plate meets an oceanic plate

Associated with volcanic arcs and mountain ranges

Chapter 8d

Explanation

Chapter 8d

25. Which of the following statements is FALSE regarding drainage systems and basins?

Two adjacent drainage basins are separated by a ridge or drainage divide.

Runoff within a particular drainage basin ultimately collects within one major stream or river.

Only a large area covering several states can be considered a drainage basin.

Drainage systems ultimately carry water to the ocean.

A large drainage basin can be comprised of smaller drainage basins.

Chapter 10

Explanation

Chapter 10

26. P-wave shadow zones are regions on Earth's surface where...

Only P-waves are detected by seismometers.

Only P-waves are generated by earthquakes.

S-waves change into P-waves.

No P-waves are detected by seismometers.

Chapter 8a

Explanation

Chapter 8a

27. Which of the following statements is true for minerals?

Minerals are mostly created through the activities of organisms.

Atoms within the crystal structure of a mineral are usually disorganized and randomly distributed.

The minerals quartz and halite are considered separate minerals because of differences in crystal sizes

A given mineral has a specific crystal structure and chemical composition.

Chapter 8bc

Explanation

Chapter 8bc

28. A light-colored igneous rock with abundant quartz and potassium feldspar is probably ________ in composition.

Felsic

Intermediate

Ultramafic

Mafic

Chapter 8bc

Explanation

Chapter 8bc

29. Which of the following is NOT a foliated metamorphic rock?

Sandstone

Schist

Gneiss

Slate

Chapter 8bc

Explanation

Chapter 8bc

30. Which of the following is NOT characteristic of a craton?

Contains exposures of the root zones of ancient mountain ranges that have since mostly been eroded away

Includes old continental margin sedimentary rocks subsequently metamorphosed within the collision zone of protocontinents

Only consists of undeformed sedimentary rocks younger than 500 million years

Includes metamorphosed igneous rocks originally formed within ancient subduction zones

Chapter 9

Explanation

Chapter 9

31. What constitutes the plates of plate tectonics?

Crust only

Crust and solid upper portion of the mantle directly above the asthenosphere

Crust and asthenosphere

Oceanic lithosphere only

Continental lithosphere only

Chapter 8d

Explanation

Chapter 8d

32. Which of the following statements LEAST-LIKELY applies to landscapes?

A landscape is an open system with variable inputs of energy and materials

A landscape is in steady-state equilibrium and never changes with time if all the input variables remain the same

Uplift of land creates a disequilibrium between relief and energy

The landscape interacts with hydrologic and atmospheric processes

Chapter 10

Explanation

Chapter 10

33. Which of the following types of slope failure is the fastest?

Rock fall

Soil creep

Rock slide

Debris slide

Chapter 10

Explanation

Chapter 10

34. The figure below illustrates the motion of ____________

Surface waves

P-waves

S-waves

Refracted waves

Chapter 8a

Explanation

Chapter 8a

35. The Moho is the boundary between the ________ and _________

Asthenosphere/mesosphere

Mesosphere/outer core

Outer core/inner core

Crust/upper mantle

Chapter 8a

Explanation

Chapter 8a

36. A low-viscosity magma most likely...

Yields explosive eruptions

Has low silica content

Erupts volcanic ash

Is thick and sticky, thus retaining its gases

Chapter 8bc

Explanation

Chapter 8bc

37. Which of the following is NOT a direct product of weathering?

Clay minerals

Rock fragments

Dissolved ions

Water

Chapter 8bc

Explanation

Chapter 8bc

38. Detrital (clastic) sedimentary rocks...

Crystallize directly from water.

Are composed of particles of pre-existing rocks.

Include rock salt and limestone.

Are more likely than chemical sedimentary rocks to contain fossils of marine organisms.

Chapter 8bc

Explanation

Chapter 8bc

39. Which of the following characterizes a stream that has reached base level?

Narrow V-shaped valley

Active downcutting

Wide flood plain

Rapids and waterfalls

Chapter 10

Explanation

Chapter 10

40. How does breccia differ from conglomerate?

Particle sizes in breccia are smaller than those found in conglomerate.

Particles in breccia are angular, while particles in conglomerate are rounded.

Breccia is a detrital sedimentary rock whereas conglomerate is a chemical sedimentary rock.

Breccia contains fossils whereas conglomerate does not.

Chapter 8bc

Explanation

Chapter 8bc

41. _________ metamorphism is directly associated with the margins of igneous intrusions?

Contact

Burial

Dynamic

Regional

Chapter 8bc

Explanation

Chapter 8bc

42. A principle driving force for the movement of lithospheric plates is/are...

Mantle plumes

Magnetic reversals

Mantle convection

Volcanoes and earthquakes

Chapter 8d

Explanation

Chapter 8d

43. Which of the following most likely causes a supercontinent to break apart?

Collision of the supercontinent with another continent causes the former to split apart.

Supercontinent prevents heat in the underlying mantle from escaping, thus generating upwelling mantle plumes that break the supercontinent apart.

Supercontinent is split apart due to impact by a large asteroid

Subduction zones form within the supercontinent and generate volcanoes that blow the supercontinent apart

Mantle beneath the supercontinent cools and sinks, pulling parts of the supercontinent down with it.

Chapter 9

Explanation

Chapter 9

44. Horizontally-layered sedimentary rocks can be folded into arches called _________ and troughs known as ____________.

Synclines/anticlines

Basins/anticlines

Anticlines/synclines

Synclines/domes

Chapter 9

Explanation

Chapter 9

45. Each of the following are reactants in the weathering process except for _______, which is a product of weathering.

Acids

Rock fragments

Water

Solid rock

Chapter 10

Explanation

Chapter 10

46. Which of the following statements is FALSE?

Magnetic inclination and declination can be measured in some igneous rocks.

Magnetic declination today is a compass needle pointing to the magnetic north pole.

Polarity reversals in Earth's magnetic field only affect the magnetic inclination, but not the declination, of ancient rocks.

The magnetic inclination of a compass needle is zero degrees at the equator.

Chapter 8d

Explanation

Chapter 8d

47. Cinder cones...

Are generally small and constructed of pyroclasic material.

Are mostly constructed by basaltic lava.

Are the largest of all the volcanoes on Earth.

Are the classic type of volcanoes comprising the Cascade Range of Washington and Oregon.

Chapter 9

Explanation

Chapter 9

48. What type of mass movement is depicted in the figure below?

Rotational slide

Soil creep

Debris avalanche

Mudflow

Chapter 10

Explanation

Chapter 10

49. The mineral calcite belongs to which of the following mineral groups?

Halides

Sulfates

Oxides

Silicates

Carbonates

Chapter 8bc

Explanation

Chapter 8bc

50. Which of the following statements regarding cooling rates of magma is TRUE?

An igneous pluton forms from lava that is extruded onto Earth's surface and cools quickly.

Lava erupted on Earth's surface cools very slowly when exposed to the atmosphere.

Magma crystallizing deep in the crust cools slowly and forms large crystals.

Fast cooling rates of magma produce large crystals.

Chapter 8bc

Explanation

Chapter 8bc

51. With regard to the Wilson Cycle, which of the following is an example of opening of an ocean basin?

Pacific Ocean

Atlantic Ocean

Mediterranean Sea

Himalayan Mountains

Chapter 8d

Explanation

Chapter 8d

52. The following figure illustrates a ____________ fault that forms due to ___________ stress.

Reverse/tensional

Strike-slip/compressional

Thrust/shear

Normal/tensional

Chapter 9

Explanation

Chapter 9

53. Which of the following LEAST LIKELY forms in response to compressional stress?

Rift valley

Thrust fault

Reverse fault

Anticline

Syncline

Chapter 9

Explanation

Chapter 9

54. Which of the following statements regarding heat flow on Earth is TRUE?

Heat is transferred from Earth's interior towards the surface mainly by radiation.

Heat is transferred from Earth's interior towards the surface mainly by conduction.

Heat flow, as measured on Earth's surface, is higher along mid-ocean ridges and other volcanically active regions but lower within the interiors of stable continents.

Heat flow, as measured on Earth's surface, is the same everywhere.

Chapter 8a

Explanation

Chapter 8a

55. The following figure illustrates how the root zones of ancient mountain ranges consisting of igneous and metamorphic rocks eventually reach the surface. These ancient root zones are most likely exposed today...

Within ocean basins

Along modern continental shelves

Within the shield areas of cratons

Along modern volcanic arcs

Chapter 9

Explanation

Chapter 9

56. What is going on in the following illustration?

Magnetization of ancient rocks point to various pole positions in the past that are artifacts of continental drift and not because poles actually migrated.

Earth's magnetic field was in the process of reversing over the past 500 million years.

Earth had two north magnetic poles in the past that eventually merged into one pole.

The magnetic north and south poles were at one time joined in the northern hemisphere, but have since drifted apart to their present locations.

Chapter 8d

Explanation

Chapter 8d

57. Which of the following is NOT a silicate mineral?

Mica

Pyroxene

Hematite

Plagioclase feldspar

Quartz

Chapter 8bc

Explanation

Chapter 8bc

58. Which of the following pairs of minerals belong to the same mineral group?

Mica and gold

Quartz and halite

Gypsum and anhydrite

Calcite and olivine

Chapter 8bc

Explanation

Chapter 8bc

59. Hydrothermal metamorphism will most likely occur...

Deep within mountain ranges

Along fault planes

Within high pressure areas where fluids are absent

Near mid-ocean ridges

Chapter 8bc

Explanation

Chapter 8bc

60. Studies of the ocean floor indicate that oceanic crust varies in age from place to place. Which of the following statements is FALSE?

Oceanic crust becomes progressively older as we approach a mid-ocean ridge.

The ages of oceanic crust are truncated at convergent plate boundaries.

The youngest oceanic crust occurs along mid-ocean ridges.

The oldest oceanic crust within an ocean basin occurs along the margins of the basin and furthest from the mid-ocean ridge.

Chapter 8d

Explanation

Chapter 8d

61. Which of the following statements is TRUE?

Deep ocean trenches are only associated with transform plate boundaries.

Plate tectonics is a process by which lithospheric plates are created along mid-ocean ridges and afterwards recycled back into the mantle along subduction zones.

Linear chains of volcanic islands like the Hawaiian Islands are products of a mobile mantle plume migrating beneath stationary oceanic crust.

The magnetic inclination of a compass needle is the same at all latitudes.

Convergent plate boundaries occur where segments of a mid-ocean ridge are offset.

Chapter 8d

Explanation

Chapter 8d

62. Which of the following steps is NOT consistent with the Elastic Rebound Theory for generating an earthquake?

Fault plane initially locked

Stress is applied to crustal blocks on both sides of the fault plane

Strain builds up in crustal rocks near the locked fault

A persistent earthquake causes the strain around the locked fault to build up (increase) even more

The fault finally slips, releasing seismic energy as an earthquake

Chapter 9

Explanation

Chapter 9

63. Which of the following types of magma will most likely result in fluid, basaltic lava flows and mild eruptions?

High silica and low-temperature magma

High viscosity and gas-rich magma

Low silica and gas-poor magma

Low temperature and gas-rich magma

Chapter 9

Explanation

Chapter 9

64. Which of the following is NOT a sedimentary environment where sediments accumulate?

Mountain valley

Desert

Uplifted bedrock undergoing weathering and erosion

Continental shelf

Beach

Chapter 8bc

Explanation

Chapter 8bc

65. Which of the following can have the greatest angle of repose?

Water-saturated sand

All of the above will have the same angle of repose

Dry sand

Moist sand

Chapter 10

Explanation

Chapter 10

66. Which of the following statements regarding reversals in Earth's magnetic field is TRUE?

Even though Earth's magnetic polarity occasionally reverses, the direction of magnetic lines of force have always pointed towards the magnetic north pole.

Magnetic stripes in oceanic crust only reflect periods of normal magnetic polarity.

Magnetic stripes on the seafloor only exhibit normal polarity to the left of a mid-ocean ridge, and reverse polarity to the right of the ridge.

The Geomagnetic Time Scale indicates numerous reversals in Earth's magnetic field over the last 5 million years.

Chapter 8d

Explanation

Chapter 8d

67. One way by which continents grow is through addition of igneous material along _______.

Convergent plate boundaries

Divergent plate boundaries

Passive continental margins

Transform plate boundaries

Chapter 9

Explanation

Chapter 9

68. Which of the following is LEAST LIKELY an environmental effect of an explosive volcanic eruption (see Fig. 1.7 in textbook)?

Ash cloud increases atmospheric albedo

Temporary decrease in the average global temperature

Increase in sulfuric acid mist in the atmosphere

Net increase in solar radiation at Earth's surface

Colorful twilight and dawn skies are seen worldwide

Chapter 9

Explanation

Chapter 9

69. What happens to S-waves as they pass through the asthenosphere?

S-waves change into P-waves

S-waves slow down because of the presence of a few percent partial melt

S-waves cannot penetrate through the asthenosphere

S-waves speed up because of an increase in density of mantle rocks

Chapter 8a

Explanation

Chapter 8a

70. Which of the following is LEAST likely to be a plate boundary?

Oceanic hot spot

Mid-ocean ridge

Transform fault

Subduction zone

Chapter 8d

Explanation

Chapter 8d

71. What happens to P- and S-waves when encountering transition zones at 400 km and 700 km depths?

P- and S-waves are reflected back to the surface.

The two transition zones prevent P- and S-waves from reaching the lower mantle.

They slow down because mantle material is softened at these depths.

They speed up due to density increases in mantle rock resulting from phase changes in minerals.

Chapter 8a

Explanation

Chapter 8a

72. Hornfels are most commonly associated with ___________ metamorphism.

Dynamic

Contact

Regional

Hydrothermal

Chapter 8bc

Explanation

Chapter 8bc

73. Which of the following is (are) LEAST LIKELY associated with a convergent plate boundary?

Subduction of oceanic lithosphere

Ocean trench

Tensional stress

Volcanic arc or range

Earthquakes

Chapter 9

Explanation

Chapter 9

74. What is the dominant igneous intrusion illustrated below?

Batholith

Sill

Dike

Volcanic neck

Chapter 8bc

Explanation

Chapter 8bc

75. Which of the following statements regarding mid-ocean ridges is FALSE?

Sites of hydrothermal discharges on the seafloor known as black smokers.

Plate boundary where new oceanic lithosphere is created.

Lithospheric plates converge along mid-ocean ridges.

Sites of undersea volcanic activity

Long, undersea mountain ranges found in all the major ocean basins of the world.

Chapter 8d

Explanation

Chapter 8d

76. Within limestone bedrock undergoing dissolution by slightly acidic groundwater, ________ form below the water table within the zone of saturation while ___________ form above the water table within the zone of aeration.

Stalactites/stalagmites

Stalagmites/stalactites

Caves/stalactites

Sinkholes/caves

Chapter 10

Explanation

Chapter 10

77. A stream terrace represents...

A former flood plain occurring along the sides of a valley above the elevation of the present stream

A ridge that separates adjacent drainage basins

Ultimate base level or lowest elevation to which a stream will downcut

The flat surface of a recently uplifted plateau over which a stream flows

Chapter 10

Explanation

Chapter 10

78. Which of the following statements is an example of foliation in metamorphic rocks?

Reactions between rocks and hot magmatic fluids result in the formation of green, blocky minerals containing water in their crystal structures.

Minerals are platy and randomly oriented in different directions due to high temperature, low pressure metamorphism.

Alignment of platy minerals like micas in a common direction due to direct pressure during metamorphism.

Recrystallization of original minerals into large, equal-sized crystals that appear as granules in a metamorphic rock.

Chapter 8bc

Explanation

Chapter 8bc

79. Where would you least expect to find active volcanoes?

Oceanic hot spot

Transform plate boundary

Mid-ocean ridge

Convergent plate boundary

Chapter 8d

Explanation

Chapter 8d

80. Which of the following minerals is LEAST susceptible to chemical weathering and most likely to be altered or destroyed?

Quartz

Clay

Calcite

Hematite (iron oxide)

Chapter 10

Explanation

Chapter 10

81. Where would composite volcanoes most likely form?

Over hot spots within plates

Convergent plate boundary

Rift valley

Mid-ocean ridge

Chapter 9

Explanation

Chapter 9

Geol 1340 Exam 3