Question 1

The process of dissolution occurs because:

Accepted Answer

A)  the heat energy within water is sufficient to break the bonds of crystalline structures. 
B)  the atoms of water molecules wedge themselves between the atoms of a mineral's crystalline structure. 
C)  water molecules are less stable, and therefore bond more readily with other elements than do the molecules of most minerals. 
D)  the oppositely charged sides of water molecules attract and separate ions from mineral crystals. 
A)  the heat energy within water is sufficient to break the bonds of crystalline structures. 
B)  the atoms of water molecules wedge themselves between the atoms of a mineral's crystalline structure. 
C)  water molecules are less stable, and therefore bond more readily with other elements than do the molecules of most minerals. 
D)  the oppositely charged sides of water molecules attract and separate ions from mineral crystals. D

Question 2

Carbon dioxide is added to the atmosphere by all of the following processes EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

A)  lava flows. 
B)  animal respiration. 
C)  chemical weathering of silicate minerals. 
D)  volcanic eruptions. 
A)  lava flows. 
B)  animal respiration. 
C)  chemical weathering of silicate minerals. 
D)  volcanic eruptions. C

Question 3

What is the difference between dissolution and hydrolysis?

Accepted Answer

Dissolution involves the physical separation of a mineral's ions. A water molecule is polar; part of the molecule is negatively charged and part is positively charged. These polarities attract ions of opposite charges and separate them from one another. In hydrolysis, the H⁺or OH^-ions of water replace ions within the mineral's structure, transforming it into an entirely different substance.

Question 4

Clay minerals are formed predominately from the hydrolysis of:

Accepted Answer

A)  quartz. 
B)  nonsilicate minerals. 
C)  metal ores. 
D)  feldspars. 
A)  quartz. 
B)  nonsilicate minerals. 
C)  metal ores. 
D)  feldspars.

Question 5

The most distinctive feature of the E horizon is:

Accepted Answer

A)  its high concentration of oxides. 
B)  its dark color from the accumulation of humus. 
C)  its mixture of both large and small rock particles. 
D)  its lack of both organic matter and soluble minerals. 
A)  its high concentration of oxides. 
B)  its dark color from the accumulation of humus. 
C)  its mixture of both large and small rock particles. 
D)  its lack of both organic matter and soluble minerals.

Question 6

All of the following are characteristics of modern classes of soils EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

A)  paleosols are noted for their pale color, which results from the leaching of organic material. 
B)  entisols are noted for their lack of well- developed soil horizons. 
C)  vertisols are noted for the presence of clays that swell or shrink in response to fluctuations in moisture content. 
D)  oxisols are noted for their high concentration of insoluble iron oxides. 
A)  paleosols are noted for their pale color, which results from the leaching of organic material. 
B)  entisols are noted for their lack of well- developed soil horizons. 
C)  vertisols are noted for the presence of clays that swell or shrink in response to fluctuations in moisture content. 
D)  oxisols are noted for their high concentration of insoluble iron oxides.

Question 7

Chemical exfoliation requires the presence of feldspars because:

Accepted Answer

A)  they shield the boulder from water absorption. 
B)  they weather to clays, which expand upon absorbing water. 
C)  they weather quickly, offering more surface area to chemical weathering. 
D)  they expand outward from water absorption. 
A)  they shield the boulder from water absorption. 
B)  they weather to clays, which expand upon absorbing water. 
C)  they weather quickly, offering more surface area to chemical weathering. 
D)  they expand outward from water absorption.

Question 8

Mechanical weathering can:

Accepted Answer

A)  change the internal composition of minerals. 
B)  change the size and shape of rock structures. 
C)  convert particular minerals into more stable forms. 
D)  transport rock and mineral fragments to different locations. 
A)  change the internal composition of minerals. 
B)  change the size and shape of rock structures. 
C)  convert particular minerals into more stable forms. 
D)  transport rock and mineral fragments to different locations.

Question 9

A metal ore is:

Accepted Answer

A)  any naturally occurring concentration of valuable metals that can be profitably extracted. 
B)  any naturally occurring concentration of valuable metals. 
C)  any naturally occurring concentration of metals. 
D)  any naturally occurring body of pure metal. 
A)  any naturally occurring concentration of valuable metals that can be profitably extracted. 
B)  any naturally occurring concentration of valuable metals. 
C)  any naturally occurring concentration of metals. 
D)  any naturally occurring body of pure metal.

Question 10

Which of the following statements about weathering in extraterrestrial environments is NOT true?

Accepted Answer

A)  Most of the weathering on Venus is chemical rather than mechanical. 
B)  Mechanical weathering caused by meteoritic impacts is the only discernible form of weathering on the Moon. 
C)  Evidence has been found showing Mars to have undergone chemical weathering in the past. 
D)  The Moon, Mars, and Venus have all undergone some form of mechanical weathering. 
A)  Most of the weathering on Venus is chemical rather than mechanical. 
B)  Mechanical weathering caused by meteoritic impacts is the only discernible form of weathering on the Moon. 
C)  Evidence has been found showing Mars to have undergone chemical weathering in the past. 
D)  The Moon, Mars, and Venus have all undergone some form of mechanical weathering.

Question 11

How do clays form? Explain, with two examples, how different environments produce clays with different compositions.

Accepted Answer

Clays form primarily by hydrolysis of fe

Question 12

Vegetation promotes chemical weathering by:

Accepted Answer

A)  shading the ground surface from intense sunlight. 
B)  producing organic acids upon decay. 
C)  consuming carbon dioxide in photosynthesis. 
D)  shading the ground surface from rainfall. 
A)  shading the ground surface from intense sunlight. 
B)  producing organic acids upon decay. 
C)  consuming carbon dioxide in photosynthesis. 
D)  shading the ground surface from rainfall.

Question 13

In what way are mechanical and chemical weathering related?

Accepted Answer

Mechanical weathering breaks up rocks so

Question 14

All of the following are true regarding metal ore EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

A)  many deposits of minable ore were formed by ancient weathering processes. 
B)  understanding weathering conditions under which mineral deposits form gives insights into ancient climates. 
C)  the weathering processes that formed valuable mineral deposits in ancient times no longer operate today. 
D)  most valuable minerals are abundant in the Earth's crust but are rarely found in their pure form. 
A)  many deposits of minable ore were formed by ancient weathering processes. 
B)  understanding weathering conditions under which mineral deposits form gives insights into ancient climates. 
C)  the weathering processes that formed valuable mineral deposits in ancient times no longer operate today. 
D)  most valuable minerals are abundant in the Earth's crust but are rarely found in their pure form.

Question 15

Why are some minerals more resistant to chemical weathering than others?

Accepted Answer

A mineral's stability, or resistance to

Question 16

In geology, the term "oxidation" often refers to:

Accepted Answer

A)  the chemical combination of a mineral's ions with oxygen. 
B)  the removal of a mineral's ions or groups of ions by water. 
C)  the substitution of water molecules for silicon molecules in a mineral's internal structure. 
D)  displacement of a mineral's ions by H+ or OH- from water. 
A)  the chemical combination of a mineral's ions with oxygen. 
B)  the removal of a mineral's ions or groups of ions by water. 
C)  the substitution of water molecules for silicon molecules in a mineral's internal structure. 
D)  displacement of a mineral's ions by H+ or OH- from water.

Question 17

What are the most important characteristics of soils used in modern soil classification schemes?

Accepted Answer

Our current classification scheme charac

Question 18

The main difference between regolith and soil is:

Accepted Answer

A)  soil is the upper few meters of regolith, containing both minerals and organic matter. 
B)  regolith is equivalent to soil, but is on the ocean floor. 
C)  regolith includes only the inorganic portion of soil. 
D)  regolith refers to blocks and chunks of rocks, while soil refers to finer rock particles. 
A)  soil is the upper few meters of regolith, containing both minerals and organic matter. 
B)  regolith is equivalent to soil, but is on the ocean floor. 
C)  regolith includes only the inorganic portion of soil. 
D)  regolith refers to blocks and chunks of rocks, while soil refers to finer rock particles.

Question 19

The single most important factor controlling the rate of chemical weathering is:

Accepted Answer

A)  living organisms. 
B)  water. 
C)  temperature. 
D)  carbonic acid. 
A)  living organisms. 
B)  water. 
C)  temperature. 
D)  carbonic acid.

Question 20

Water performs all of the following functions in chemical weathering EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

A)  carries ions to reaction sites. 
B)  participates in the reactions. 
C)  carries away products of the reactions. 
D)  freezes in the cracks, facilitating frost wedging. 
A)  carries ions to reaction sites. 
B)  participates in the reactions. 
C)  carries away products of the reactions. 
D)  freezes in the cracks, facilitating frost wedging.

The process of dissolution occurs because:

Carbon dioxide is added to the atmosphere by all of the following processes EXCEPT:

What is the difference between dissolution and hydrolysis?

Clay minerals are formed predominately from the hydrolysis of:

The most distinctive feature of the E horizon is:

All of the following are characteristics of modern classes of soils EXCEPT:

Chemical exfoliation requires the presence of feldspars because:

Mechanical weathering can:

A metal ore is:

Which of the following statements about weathering in extraterrestrial environments is NOT true?

How do clays form? Explain, with two examples, how different environments produce clays with different compositions.

Vegetation promotes chemical weathering by:

In what way are mechanical and chemical weathering related?

All of the following are true regarding metal ore EXCEPT:

Why are some minerals more resistant to chemical weathering than others?

In geology, the term "oxidation" often refers to:

What are the most important characteristics of soils used in modern soil classification schemes?

The main difference between regolith and soil is:

The single most important factor controlling the rate of chemical weathering is:

Water performs all of the following functions in chemical weathering EXCEPT:

A First Look at Planet Earth - Its Origins, Systems, and Tectonic Plates

Minerals

Igneous Rocks and Processes

Volcanoes and Volcanism

Sedimentary Processes, Environments, and Rocks

Metamorphism and Metamorphic Rocks

Telling Time Geologically

Earth Structures - Folds, Faults, and Fabrics

Earthquakes

The Earths Interior - Whats Going on Down There

Plate Tectonics and the Formation of the Earths Oceans

Continental Tectonics and the Formation of the Earths Continents

Mass Movement

Streams and Floods

Groundwater

Glaciers and Ice Ages

Deserts and the Work of Winds

Shores and Coastal Processes

Human Use of the Earths Resources Appendices Glossary

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Exam 5: Weathering - the Breakdown of Rocks

The process of dissolution occurs because:

Carbon dioxide is added to the atmosphere by all of the following processes EXCEPT:

What is the difference between dissolution and hydrolysis?

Clay minerals are formed predominately from the hydrolysis of:

The most distinctive feature of the E horizon is:

All of the following are characteristics of modern classes of soils EXCEPT:

Chemical exfoliation requires the presence of feldspars because:

Mechanical weathering can:

A metal ore is:

Which of the following statements about weathering in extraterrestrial environments is NOT true?

How do clays form? Explain, with two examples, how different environments produce clays with different compositions.

Vegetation promotes chemical weathering by:

In what way are mechanical and chemical weathering related?

All of the following are true regarding metal ore EXCEPT:

Why are some minerals more resistant to chemical weathering than others?

In geology, the term "oxidation" often refers to:

What are the most important characteristics of soils used in modern soil classification schemes?

The main difference between regolith and soil is:

The single most important factor controlling the rate of chemical weathering is:

Water performs all of the following functions in chemical weathering EXCEPT:

A First Look at Planet Earth - Its Origins, Systems, and Tectonic Plates

Minerals

Igneous Rocks and Processes

Volcanoes and Volcanism

Sedimentary Processes, Environments, and Rocks

Metamorphism and Metamorphic Rocks

Telling Time Geologically

Earth Structures - Folds, Faults, and Fabrics

Earthquakes

The Earths Interior - Whats Going on Down There

Plate Tectonics and the Formation of the Earths Oceans

Continental Tectonics and the Formation of the Earths Continents

Mass Movement

Streams and Floods

Groundwater

Glaciers and Ice Ages

Deserts and the Work of Winds

Shores and Coastal Processes

Human Use of the Earths Resources Appendices Glossary

Filters