Exam 01 Flashcards
Density is greatest in which of Earth’s interior layers?
The crust
The lithosphere
The mantle
The core
The core
Earth’s oldest rocks are located within the
stable interior shield
stable interior platform
abyssal plains
deep ocean trenches
stable interior shield
Which characteristics correctly describe the rock basalt?
Basalt is an igneous rock composed of large crystals of light-colored minerals and is typically found in the continental crust.
Basalt is a sedimentary rock that is composed of particles deposited on the ocean floor which turned into solid rock through the process of lithification.
Basalt is a metamorphic rock composed of microscopic crystals of dark colored minerals and is typically formed through the process of mountain building.
Basalt is an igneous rock composed of microscopic crystals of dark-colored minerals and is the typical rock of the ocean crust.
Basalt is an igneous rock composed of microscopic crystals of dark-colored minerals and is the typical rock of the ocean crust.
Heat generated from the decay of radioactive elements is one source of energy that powers which part of the Earth System?
the atmosphere
the hydrosphere
the geosphere
the biosphere
the geosphere
The flooded extension of the continent is referred to as the
continental shelf
continental slope
continental rise
abyssal plain
continental shelf
In which geologic time Era do we live?
The Cenozoic Era
The Mesozoic Era
The Paleozoic Era
The Precambrian Era
The Cenozoic Era
The formation of the solar system can be explained by
uniformitarian principles
the chemical differentiation theory
the plate tectonic theory
the nebular theory
the nebular theory
Tsunamis are the result of which natural process?
Climate change
Undersea earthquakes
Hurricanes
Volcanic eruptions
Undersea earthquakes
“The Earth revolves around the Sun every 365.25 days.” This is the example of which:
a hypothesis statement
a problem statement
an educated guess
a theory
a theory
Geologists work on the premise that the physical and biological process that operated today have also operated in the geologic past. This premise is known as:
The doctrine of catastrophism
The theory of scientific inquiry
The principle of uniformitarianism
The nebular theory
The principle of uniformitarianism
Chemical differentiation very early in Earth’s history
allowed for heavier elements to sink toward the center and lighter elements to rise toward the surface creating Earth’s layered interior.
allowed lighter elements to sink toward the center and heavier elements to rise toward the surface creating Earth’s layered interior.
allowed for the mixing of chemical elements that lead to Earth’s homogenous interior.
initiated the rock cycle.
allowed for heavier elements to sink toward the center and lighter elements to rise toward the surface creating Earth’s layered interior.
Soil is an interface between which of Earth’s spheres?
The geosphere and atmosphere.
The geosphere, atmosphere and hydrosphere.
The geosphere, hydrosphere and biosphere.
The geosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere and biosphere.
The geosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere and biosphere.
Consider the following event: A mudslide occurred following a prolonged period of heavy rain. The tragic event pulls trees from their roots and buried a small town killing a number of people. This event involves the interaction between which of the following of Earth’s spheres?
the atmosphere
the hydrosphere
the geosphere
the biosphere
only the hydrosphere, geosphere and biosphere
only the atmosphere, hydrosphere and geosphere
all of the spheres were involved in this event
all of the spheres were involved in this event
Lithification is a process involved in the formation of which type rock type?
igneous rock
sedimentary rock
metamorphic rock
The lithification process is involved in all rock types.
sedimentary rock
Name these layers
A. mantle
B. Outer Core
C. Inner Core
D1. Continental crust
D2. Oceanic crust
E. Asthenosphere
F. Lithosphere
Match the processes in the right column (lettered choices) with the specified transformation in the column on the left (numbered choices).
Each number should have one letter assigned to it. Letters may be used more than once.
- Igneous to sedimentary
- Igneous to metamorphic
- Sedimentary to igneous
- Sedimentary to metamorphic
- Metamorphic to igneous
- Metamorphic to sedimentary
- Igneous to sedimentary
Uplift, weathering, transportation and deposition - Igneous to metamorphic
Increased pressure and intense heating - Sedimentary to igneous
Melting, cooling and crystalization - Sedimentary to metamorphic
Increased pressure and intense heating - Metamorphic to igneous
Melting, cooling and crystalization - Metamorphic to sedimentary
Uplift, weathering, transportation and deposition
Mid-ocean ridges are elevated versus the surrounding sea floor because
the crust is warmer making it less dense and more buoyant
the crust is quite old which makes it heavy, dense and thick, causing it to rise above the rest of the sea floor.
collision is forcing the ocean crust upward
Mid-ocean ridges are characterized by deep trenches therefore they are not elevated areas of the ocean floor.
the crust is warmer making it less dense and more buoyant
The Red Sea, Iceland and the East African Rift Valley are all areas of
tension and divergence.
compression and convergence
tension and convergence.
compression and divergence.
tension and divergence.
The Cascade Range in the Pacific Northwest of North America occurs along a:
divergent boundary where mid-ocean ridge volcanoes are active.
transform boundary known as a subduction zone.
continental volcanic arc formed by oceanic-continental convergence.
continental volcanic arc formed by oceanic-continental convergence.
The Aleutian Islands occur along a:
volcanic island arc formed by oceanic-oceanic convergence.
transform boundary where a sliver of North America has moved towards Alaska.
divergent boundary where mid-ocean ridge volcanoes are active
volcanic island arc formed by oceanic-oceanic convergence.
Understanding magnetic pole reversals and paleomagnetic patterns in the sea floor provide proof of:
mantle plumes
convection in the mantle
seafloor spreading
ridge-push, slab-pull
seafloor spreading
Choose evidence used by Wegener to support his Continental Drift hypothesis. Choose all that apply:
a. Evidence of paleomagnetism
b. Evidence of glaciation in areas currently nowhere near polar regions
c. Fossils of identical land animals and plants discovered on widely separated continental land masses
d. Evidence of seafloor spreading
e. Similarities in rock types and structures found on widely separated continents
f. The age of the seafloor sediments determined from fossils
g. Continuation of mountain systems found now on separate continental land masses
h. Evidence of tropical equatorial conditions including vast coal deposits in a swath across the central Pangaean continent.
i. Evidence from hot-spot tracks
b. Evidence of glaciation in areas currently nowhere near polar regions
c. Fossils of identical land animals and plants discovered on widely
e. Similarities in rock types and structures found on widely separated continents
g. Continuation of mountain systems found now on separate continental land masses
h. Evidence of tropical equatorial conditions including vast coal deposits in a swath across the central Pangaean continent.
Which of the following is an example of a divergent boundary?
Cascade Mountains, Oregon
The Himalaya Mountains
San Andreas Fault
Iceland
Iceland
What evidence did Alfred Wegener use to support his theory of “Continental Drift?”
This question has five (5) possible correct answers. You will receive 2 points for each correct answer and lose 2 points for each incorrect answer selection.
a. The topographic features on either side of the Atlantic Ocean (modern mountain belts).
b. The age of the rocks on either side of the Atlantic Ocean.
c. The glacial features on the southern portions of the continents.
d. The types of rocks on either side of the Atlantic Ocean.
e. The fossil occurrences on either side of the Atlantic Ocean.
f. The shape of the continental shorelines on either side of the Atlantic Ocean.
g. Paleomagnetic “stripes” in the oceanic crust, paralleling oceanic ridge systems.
h. Deep-sea trenches and oceanic ridge systems.
i. Age of the seafloor (as determined by deep sea drilling data)
a. The topographic features on either side of the Atlantic Ocean (modern mountain belts).
c. The glacial features on the southern portions of the continents.
d. The types of rocks on either side of the Atlantic Ocean.
e. The fossil occurrences on either side of the Atlantic Ocean.
f. The shape of the continental shorelines on either side of the Atlantic Ocean.
What geologic features would you expect to find at an ocean-continent convergent boundary? Choose all answers that are correct. (More than 1 is right.)
a. a deep-sea trench
b. earthquakes
c. continental volcanic arc
d. volcanic island arc
a. a deep-sea trench
b. earthquakes
c. continental volcanic arc
What geologic feature(s) is/are typically found at a divergent boundary?
a. volcanic island arc
b. continental volcanic arc
c. weak, shallow earthquakes
d. large, deep earthquakes
c. weak, shallow earthquakes
Which of the following forces are considered to be partly responsible for driving lithospheric plate motion?
This question has three (3) possible correct answers. You will receive 3.3 points for each correct answer and lose 3.3 points for each incorrect answer selection.
a. Gravitational pull of orbiting planets.
b. Convection in the mantle.
c. “Ridge Push” at divergent boundaries.
d. “Slab Pull” at locations of subduction.
b. Convection in the mantle.
c. “Ridge Push” at divergent boundaries.
d. “Slab Pull” at locations of subduction.
Select all that apply:
a. Calcite is a silicate mineral.
b. Calcite is a carbonate mineral.
c. The basic framework molecule that defines calcite is the silicon-oxygen tetrahedron.
d. Calcite is one of the common rock-forming minerals.
e. Calcite has the diagnostic property of reacting with acid to release carbon dioxide bubbles.
f. Calcite displays excellent cleavage.
g. Calcite displays no visible cleavage.
h. Calcite cleavage forms a perfect cube as seen in the picture.
i. Calcite cleavage forms a rhombohedron shape as seen in the picture.
j. Calcite is not a mineral because it is formed by sea creatures building their shells and coral homes.
b. Calcite is a carbonate mineral.
d. Calcite is one of the common rock-forming minerals.
e. Calcite has the diagnostic property of reacting with acid to release carbon dioxide bubbles.
f. Calcite displays excellent cleavage.
i. Calcite cleavage forms a rhombohedron shape as seen in the picture.
Apart for their difference in color, how do the light silicate minerals differ from the dark silicate minerals?
a. The dark silicate minerals always display cleavage while the light silicate minerals always display fracture.
b. The dark silicate minerals contain an abundance of iron and magnesium in their chemical structure.
c. The dark silicate minerals contain an abundance of potassium and sodium in their chemical structure.
d. The dark silicate minerals have a greater hardness on Mohs Hardness Scale than the light silicate minerals.
b. The dark silicate minerals contain an abundance of iron and magnesium in their chemical structure.
The most common mineral group found in Earth’s crust is the:
a. Silicate group.
b. Carbonate group.
c. Oxide group.
d. Native element group.
a. Silicate group.
Which of the formulae below represents a silicate mineral?
a. CaCO3
b. CaSO4.H2O
c. FeS2
d. NaAlSi3O8
d. NaAlSi3O8
An atom is:
a. a positively charged particle within a nucleus.
b. the smallest particle of an element that still retains the chemical characteristics of that element.
c. a combination of elements.
d. a negatively charged particle that orbits the nucleus.
b. the smallest particle of an element that still retains the chemical characteristics of that element.
Which of the following mineral properties is thought to be LEAST reliable in the identification of minerals?
a. Hardness
b. Cleavage
c. Luster
d. Color
d. Color
Geodes, such as the beautiful amethyst geode in the picture below, are formed through which process?
a. Precipitation of dissolved salt from slowly evaporating lakes.
b. Crystallization from cooling magma deep beneath the surface.
c. Precipitation of dissolved silica in circulating groundwater.
d. Crystallization within a gas bubble of cooling lava.
c. Precipitation of dissolved silica in circulating groundwater.
The most common mineral found in the Earth’s crust i:
a. Quartz
b. Calcite
c. Clay
d. Feldspar
d. Feldspar
Which of the following is not part of the definition of a mineral?
a. Naturally occurring
b. Organic
c. Orderly crystalline structure
d. Characteristic chemical composition
b. Organic
Which of the following is a rock composed of nonmineral matter?
a. Granite
b. Limestone
c. Coal
d. Basalt
c. Coal
An atom of oxygen has 8 protons, 8 neutrons, and 8 electrons. What is the mass of this atom?
a. 16
b. 18
c. 21
d. 24
a. 16
What is an ion?
a. An atom that has more or fewer protons than it “should”
b. An atom that has more or fewer neutrons than it “should”
c. An atom that has more or fewer electrons than it “should”
c. An atom that has more or fewer electrons than it “should”
________ refers to a mineral’s intensity of reflected light.
a. luster
b. cleavage
c. streak
d. tenacity
a. luster
________ is defined as a mineral’s resistance to scratching.
a. cleavage
b. streak
c. hardness
d. fracture
c. hardness
The ________ are the mineral class that accounts for more than 90% of the Earth’s crust.
a. sulfates
b. silicates
c. carbonates
d. native elements
b. silicates
A rock can be composed of almost entirely one mineral.
a. True
b. False
a. True
All minerals have cleavage.
a. True
b. False
b. False
Color is a reliable technique for the identification of minerals.
a. True
b. False
b. False
Ferromagnesian minerals have a higher specific gravity than nonferromagnesian minerals.
a. True
b. False
