U4: Earth Materials Flashcards
Which of the following is required for a material to be considered a mineral?
a) solid
b) homogeneous
c) has a crystalline structure
d) naturally occurring
e) all of the above
e) all of the above
An inorganic solid that does not have a crystal structure called a/an
a) glass.
b) precipitate.
c) tetrahedra.
d) ore.
e) polymorph
a) glass
If a mineral grows without being inhibited by its surroundings, what type of crystal will it become?
a) anhedral
b) lead
c) polygonal
d) diamond
e) euhedral
e) euhedral
The color of the powdered form of a mineral is referred to as
a) hardness.
b) streak.
c) luster.
d) cleavage.
e) specific gravity
b) streak
The tendency of minerals to break along planes of weak atomic bonds to produce flat surfaces is referred to as
a) luster.
b) fracture.
c) cleavage.
d) crystal faces.
e) elasticity
c) cleavage
Which group of minerals accounts for the largest proportion of the rocks in the crust and mantle?
a) silicates
b) sulfates
c) halides
d) sulfides
e) oxides
a) silicates
What is the basic building block of the silicate group of minerals?
a) iron-oxide octahedron
b) ferro-magnesian tetrahedron
c) dihydrous-oxygen pyramid
d) silicon-oxygen tetrahedron
e) sodium-chloride euhedron
d) silicon-oxygen tetrahedron
Minerals that have been cut and polished and are particularly beautiful or valuable are referred to as
a) gold mines.
b) gems.
c) tetrahedra.
d) kimberlites.
e) crystals
b) gems
Which of the following is a type of silica-oxygen tetrahedra linkage in silicate minerals?
a) single chains
b) three-dimensional framework
c) double chains
d) isolated tetrahedra
e) all of the above
f) none of the above
e) all of the above
Which of the following rock types forms when molten rock crystallizes (solidifies)?
a) igneous
b) sedimentary
c) aggregate
d) outcrop
a) igneous
Which type of rock will show the type of layering we refer to as foliation?
a) igneous
b) sedimentary
c) metamorphic
d) clastic
c) metamorphic
A thin section of rock can be examined to see
a) layering.
b) very small grains.
c) streak.
d) crystal form
b) very small grains
What is the name of the volcano that erupted in 79 C.E. (common era), destroying the city of Pompeii?
a) Mt. Pele
b) Mt. Rushmore
c) Mt. St. Helens
d) Mt. Fuji
e) Mt. Vesuvius
e) Mt. Vesuvius
The melting associated with the addition of carbon dioxide (CO2) or water (H2O) to rocks is referred to as
a) pressure melting.
b) decompression melting.
c) flux melting.
d) subduction of volatiles.
e) pressure addition
c) flux melting
A magma high in silica (SiO2) is called
a) mafic.
b) magma.
c) granite.
d) basalt.
e) felsic
e) felsic
When gas bubbles remain trapped in a magma or lava even after the melt freezes, the resulting holes in the rock are called
a) corpuscles.
b) vesicles.
c) crystals.
d) aerosols.
e) foci.
b) vesicles
The sequence of crystallization of minerals as a magma cools is known as Bowen’s
a) assimilation.
b) reaction series.
c) Law of Crystallization.
d) overreaction process.
e) fluid-to-solid series.
b) reaction series
Rock produced by solidifying of magma underground is referred to as
a) extrusive igneous rock.
b) rocky crystallizations.
c) intrusive igneous rock.
d) Bowen’s crystallized rock.
e) wall rock formations
c) intrusive igneous rock
Hot mafic lava can be described best as _____ silica and _____ viscosity.
a) low; high
b) high; high
c) medium; medium
d) low; low
e) high; low
Hot mafic lava can be described best as _____ silica and _____ viscosity.
d) low; low
A crystalline igneous rock with crystals too small to see without magnification is said to have a(n) _____ texture.
a) porphyritic
b) phaneritic
c) aphanitic
d) phenocrystic
e) fragmental
c) aphanitic
A pyroclastic flow is a
a) slow volcanic flow.
b) subsurface volcanic flow.
c) high-altitude volcanic event.
d) ground-hugging, scalding avalanche of volcanic ash and gas.
e) volcanic explosion under an ice sheet
d) ground-hugging, scalding avalanche of volcanic ash and gas
An eruption that emits low viscosity lava fountains of mafic lava that can flow long distances is referred to as a(n) _____ eruption.
a) explosive
b) Strombolian
c) epidermal
d) effusive
e) Plinian
An eruption that emits low viscosity lava fountains of mafic lava that can flow long distances is referred to as a(n) _____ eruption.
d) effusive
Hot, thin, runny mafic lava flows that have low silica content typically crystallize to produce
a) rhyolite.
b) andesite.
c) basalt.
d) granite.
e) limestone
c) basalt
Large volcanoes that have a low, broad shape and are made of successive flows of low viscosity lava are called
a) stratovolcanoes.
b) shield volcanoes.
c) cinder cones.
d) ignimbrites.
e) composite volcanoes
b) shield volcanoes
Yellowstone is a classic example of which type of volcanism?
a) continental rift
b) mid-ocean ridge
c) convergent volcanic arc
d) continental hot spot
e) island arc
d) continental hot spot
A large circular depression created by the collapse of a volcano into its drained magma chamber is called a
a) caldera.
b) flank vent.
c) crater.
d) fissure.
e) conduit
a) caldera
If a volcano has erupted within the last 10,000 years but is not currently erupting, geologists refer to it as
a) active.
b) extinct.
c) dormant.
d) recurring.
e) rhyolitic
c) dormant
What type of volcano is likely to be found near a convergent zone?
a) hot spot
b) cone
c) stratovolcano
d) fissure eruption
c) stratovolcano
What type(s) of changes do we monitor for in assessing how likely a volcano is to erupt?
a) gas emission
b) earthquakes
c) ground-shape changes
d) changes in heat flow
e) all of the above
f) none of the above
e) all of the above
Which of the following is a sediment?
a) loose fragments of rock
b) shells or shell fragments
c) mineral crystals precipitated from water
d) all of the above
e) none of the above
d) all of the above
An example of physical weathering is
a) oxidation.
b) dissolution.
c) root wedging.
d) hydration.
e) deposition
c) root wedging
Where in a typical soil profile is the zone of accumulation?
a) horizon O
b) horizon A
c) horizon Z
d) horizon E
e) horizon B
e) horizon B
The type of soil formed at a location is affected by
a) slope.
b) climate.
c) vegetation.
d) time.
e) all of the above
e) all of the above
The transformation of unconsolidated sediment into solid rock is referred to as
a) lithification.
b) transgression.
c) sedimentation.
d) deposition.
e) erosion
a) lithification
Transportation method and distance traveled by sediments has the greatest effect on
a) composition
b) erosion.
c) sorting.
d) cementation.
e) compaction.
c) sorting
Which of following is considered an organic sedimentary rock?
a) conglomerate
b) quartz sandstone
c) shelly limestone
d) bituminous coal
e) coquina
d) bituminous coal
Which of the following is a crystalline limestone formed by the precipitation of calcite from groundwater that has seeped out of the ground?
a) coquina
b) travertine
c) dolostone
d) chert
e) coal
b) travertime
Which of the following is a type of sedimentary structure mostly associated with turbidity currents?
a) mudcracks
b) graded beds
c) ripple marks
d) dunes
e) growth rings
b) graded beds
What type of sediment is most commonly deposited in the middle of a lake?
a) sand
b) gravel
c) boulders
d) clay
e) till
d) clay
What is the name of the process for the migration of the shoreline in a seaward direction as sea level drops?
a) regression
b) transgression
c) diagenesis
d) subduction
e) retraction
a) regression
Which type of sedimentary rock is classified by grain size?
a) organic
b) biochemical
c) chemical
d) clastic
d) clastic
Which of the following metamorphic processes transform a mineral into another mineral with the same chemical composition but different crystal structure?
a) phase change
b) recrystallization
c) metamorphic reactions
d) pressure solution
e) plastic deformation
a) phase change
Which of the following metamorphic processes changes the shape and size of a mineral grain without changing its composition?
a) phase change
b) recrystallization
c) metamorphic reactions
d) pressure solution
e) plastic deformation
b) recrystallization
Which of the following metamorphic conditions applied to rocks leads to solid-state diffusion?
a) application of physical stress
b) pressure change
c) temperature change
d) tension
e) metasomatism
c) temperature change
What term is used to refer to compositional changes that take place during metamorphism?
a) preferred orientation
b) recrystallization
c) metamorphic reaction
d) phase change
e) metasomatism
e) metasomatism
What type of foliation produces alternating dark-colored and light-colored mineral layers?
a) schistose banding
b) gneissic banding
c) slaty cleavage
d) phyllitic banding
e) metaconglomeratism
b) gneissic banding
Which of the following is a nonfoliated metamorphic rock?
a) schist
b) sandstone
c) slate
d) quartzite
e) granite
d) quartzite
Which of the following is a possible protolith to marble?
a) granite
b) shale
c) gneiss
d) halite
e) limestone
e) limestone
Which of the following accurately lists the rocks in order from low to high metamorphic grade?
a) slate, phyllite, schist, gneiss
b) gneiss, schist, slate, phyllite
c) gneiss, slate, phyllite, schist
d) schist, slate, phyllite, gneiss
e) phyllite, schist, slate, gneiss
a) slalte, phyllite, schist, gneiss
When does dynamothermal (or regional) metamorphism usually occur?
a) after burial in a deep sedimentary basin
b) during continental collisions
c) near igneous intrusions
d) through meteorite impacts
e) in rift zones where fluids are present
b) during continental collisions
Which of the following pathways through the rock cycle are possible?
a) igneous rock 🡺 erosion and deposition 🡺 sedimentary rock 🡺 burial and heating
b) sedimentary rock 🡺 erosion and redeposition 🡺 sedimentary rock 🡺 heating and melting
c) igneous rock 🡺 burial and heating 🡺 metamorphic rock 🡺 melting
d) sedimentary rock 🡺 heating and melting 🡺 igneous rock 🡺 burial and heating
e) all of the above
f) none of the above
e) all of the above
Foliation tends to occur due to
a) tension.
b) differential stress.
c) addition of hydrothermal fluids.
d) contact metamorphism
b) differential stress
Where are you likely to find metamorphic rock?
a) at the mouth of a river
b) near a volcano
c) in a continental shield
d) near a divergent boundary
c) in a continental shield
Near a volcano you would likely find
a) contact metamorphism.
b) differential foliation.
c) regional metamorphism.
d) dynothermal metamorphism
a) contact metamorphism
Shale is likely to metamorphize to
a) slate.
b) marble.
c) pyllite.
d) gneiss.
a) slate
Which energy source has the highest energy density?
a) uranium-235
b) gasoline
c) propane
d) coal
e) wood
a) uranium-235
Which of the following is NOT a Hydrocarbon?
a) coal
b) gold
c) natural gas
d) tar
e) petroleum
b) gold
Which of the following is typical of an unconventional hydrocarbon reserve?
a) relatively low viscosity of the hydrocarbon
b) highly porous reservoir rock
c) hydrocarbons locked in an impermeable rock
d) highly permeable reservoir rock
e) all of the above
c) hydrocarbons locked in an impermeable rock
Which of the following is typical of a conventional hydrocarbon reserve?
a) relatively low viscosity of the hydrocarbon
b) highly porous reservoir rock
c) presence of an underground trap
d) highly permeable reservoir rock
e) all of the above
e) all of the above
Which of the following is considered an unconventional hydrocarbon reserve?
a) oil shale
b) tar sand
c) shale oil
d) shale gas
e) all of the above
e) all of the above
What environment leads to the formation of coal?
a) tropical freshwater swamps
b) arid deserts
c) deep ocean
d) tropical shallow marine
e) none of the above
a) tropical freshwater swamps
Which type of coal has the highest percentage of carbon content?
a) lignite
b) bituminous
c) peat
d) anthracite
e) obsidian
d) anthracite
What is the primary fuel for nuclear power plants?
a) petroleum hydrocarbons
b) anthracite coal
c) uranium
d) natural gas
c) uranium
Which type of energy source utilizes photovoltaic cells to produce electricity?
a) nuclear
b) solar
c) wind
d) geothermal
e) hydroelectric
b) solar
Which type of ore deposit is associated with hydrothermal vents (black smokers) that occur along the oceanic ridges?
a) magmatic deposits
b) secondary-enrichment deposits
c) seafloor massive sulfide deposits
d) sedimentary deposits
e) residual deposits
c) seafloor massive sulfide deposits
Which ore is formed in a residual deposit?
a) gold
b) bauxite
c) galena
d) malachite
b) bauxite
Which is an example of a nonmetallic mineral resource?
a) coal
b) bauxite
c) galena
d) marble
d) marble
