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mass wasting > MASS WASTING > Flashcards

MASS WASTING Flashcards

1
Q

The processes by which rock, soil, or unconsolidated materials move downhill under the influence of gravity are called

A

mass wasting

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2
Q

What is the dominant force that causes mass movement?

A

GRAVITY

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3
Q

Which of the following is not an important factor in causing mass movements?

A. temperature of slope materials
B. nature of slope materials
C. amount of water in materials
D. steepness and instability of slopes

A

A. temperature of slope materials

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4
Q

A hill consisting of loose, dry sand that slopes at the angle of repose and has no vegetation ______.
A. is stable unless oversteepened by excavation
B. may flow if it becomes saturated with water
C. will be more stable if vegetation takes root on the hill
D. all of these

A

D. all of these

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5
Q

Angular pebbles form steeper slopes than coarse sand

A

TRUE

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6
Q

The angle of repose does not depend upon

A

particle composition

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7
Q

situations is most likely to undergo mass wasting?
A. a dry, moderate slope of unconsolidated material
B. a wet, moderate slope of unconsolidated material
C. a dry, steep slope of unconsolidated material
D. a wet, steep slope of unconsolidated material

A

D. a wet, steep slope of unconsolidated material

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8
Q

As the amount of water in a pile of quartz sand increases, the angle of repose will

A

first increase and then decrease

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9
Q

The accumulation of rocks at the base of a cliff is called

A

TALUS

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10
Q

Solifluction occurs in

A

cold regions

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11
Q

Which of the following mass movements is the fastest?

A

debris avalanche

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12
Q

A slow slide of unconsolidated material that travels as a unit is called

A

SLUMP

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13
Q

The most important stress opposing a slope’s shear stress is imparted by:

A

gravity

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14
Q

Water can encourage mass flow by:

A

reducing friction between grains
undercutting a steep slope
weathering bedrock to clay minerals

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15
Q

A talus cone is produced by a:

A

ROCK SLIDE

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16
Q

Loose, uncemented geologic material is said to be

A

unconsolidated

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17
Q

most important factor in causing mass movements?

A

water content

18
Q

The process by which masses of rock and soil move downhill under the influence of gravity is called

A

mass wasting

19
Q

One of the most effective ways to stabilize a slope is to

A

control and remove water

20
Q

The characteristic slope of a pile of dry sand is called the

A

ANGLE OF REPOSE

21
Q

Damp sand has a higher angle of repose than dry sand because of

A

surface tension

22
Q

Surface tension is greatest when

A

sand is moist, but not saturated with water

23
Q

During an earthquake, water-saturated sand can behave like a liquid, a process called

A

liquefaction

24
Q

Which of the following statements about mudflows is false?

mudflows tend to move slower than debris flows

mudflows are most common in semi-arid regions

mudflows contain large amounts of water

mudflows can carry large boulders

A

mudflows tend to move slower than debris flows

25
Q

round debris forms steeper slopes than angular debris

A

FALSE

26
Q

large debris forms steeper slopes than small debris

A

TRUE

27
Q

dry debris forms steeper slopes than water-saturated debris

A

TRUE

28
Q

moist debris forms steeper slopes than dry debris

A

TRUE

29
Q

Which of the following has the steepest angle of repose?

A

angular quartz pebbles

30
Q

rock types forms the steepest slopes?

A

granite

31
Q

Which of the following slopes is least stable?
a slope where the sedimentary layers dip
parallel to the slope
a slope where the sedimentary layers are horizontal
a slope where the sedimentary layers dip perpendicular to the slope
all of these slopes have the same stability

A

a slope where the sedimentary layers dip parallel to the slope

32
Q

Most of the damage associated with the 1964 Anchorage, Alaska earthquake was caused by

A

landslides triggered by the earthquake

33
Q

In the cross section above of the upper part of the Grand Canyon, units B and D are most likely composed of

A

SHALE

34
Q

What is the difference between an earthflow and a debris flow?

Earthflows travel faster than a debris flow

Earthflows travel slower than a debris flow

Earthflows consist of finer material than debris flows

Earthflows consist of coarser material than debris flows

A

Earthflows consist of finer material than debris flows

35
Q

How fast is soil creep?
a1 to 10 millimeters per year
1 to 10 meters per year
1 kilometer per hour
over 10 kilometers per hour

A

a1 to 10 millimeters per year

36
Q

Which of the following types of mass movement could a person not outrun?

A

debris avalanche

37
Q

Why are mudflows and debris avalanches common on volcanic slopes?

because there is abundant unconsolidated volcanic ash

because earthquakes associated with volcanic

eruptions can trigger mass movements

volcanic eruptions trigger melting of ice and snow

all of these

A

all of these

38
Q

Solifluction may occur when ________..
the surface layer freezes while the deeper soil remains unfrozen
the surface soil layer thaws while the deeper soil remains frozen
rapid downhill movement of unconsolidated material moving as unit
rapid downhill movement of unconsolidated material moving like a fluid

A

the surface soil layer thaws while the deeper soil remains frozen

39
Q

only occurs in permafrost regions.

A

SOLIFLUCTION

40
Q

Why are few mass movement preserved in the geologic record?
mass movements have only occurred recently due to human activities
mass movement deposits erode easily
mass movements were rare in the past due to low rainfall
mas movement deposits are destroyed by large animals

A

mass movement deposits erode easily

41
Q

Mass movements frequently occur at which of the following plate tectonic settings?
convergent
divergent
transform
all of the above

A

all of the above

mass wasting (2 decks)

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