Question 1

In which area would weathering by frost wedging probably be most effective?

Accepted Answer

A) in cool high desert areas 
B) where the subsoil is permanently frozen 
C) in moist, temperate climates 
D) in a moist, tropical forest 
A) in cool high desert areas 
B) where the subsoil is permanently frozen 
C) in moist, temperate climates 
D) in a moist, tropical forest C

Question 2

What portion of an angular, fracture- bounded granitic block shows the highest rate of weathering?

Accepted Answer

A) the unfractured interior 
B) the crack surfaces not including edges and corners 
C) the edges and corners 
D) All of the above show equal rates. 
A) the unfractured interior 
B) the crack surfaces not including edges and corners 
C) the edges and corners 
D) All of the above show equal rates. C

Question 3

What two chemical constituents cannot form by chemical weathering of the feldspar minerals?

Accepted Answer

A) silica and insoluble clay minerals 
B) silica and soluble calcium bicarbonate 
C) insoluble iron oxides and soluble magnesium bicarbonates 
D) soluble sodium and potassium bicarbonates 
A) silica and insoluble clay minerals 
B) silica and soluble calcium bicarbonate 
C) insoluble iron oxides and soluble magnesium bicarbonates 
D) soluble sodium and potassium bicarbonates C

Question 4

Which one of the following statements best describes erosion?

Accepted Answer

A) Erosion is the disintegration and decomposition of rocks and minerals at the surface. 
B) Erosion is the process by which weathered rock and mineral particles are removed from one area and transported elsewhere. 
C) Erosion is the movement of weathered rock and regolith toward the base of a slope. 
D) Erosion is the combined processes of leaching, eluviation, and mass wasting. 
A) Erosion is the disintegration and decomposition of rocks and minerals at the surface. 
B) Erosion is the process by which weathered rock and mineral particles are removed from one area and transported elsewhere. 
C) Erosion is the movement of weathered rock and regolith toward the base of a slope. 
D) Erosion is the combined processes of leaching, eluviation, and mass wasting.

Question 5

Frost wedging is the major weathering process contributing to the formation of which regolith material?

Accepted Answer

A) soil horizons 
B) talus slopes 
C) tropical laterites 
D) mature pedalfers 
A) soil horizons 
B) talus slopes 
C) tropical laterites 
D) mature pedalfers

Question 6

Which of the following statements about oxisols in tropical rainforests is TRUE?

Accepted Answer

A) Oxisols, with proper management, are very suitable for commercial agriculture. 
B) Oxisol soils readily compact and harden when dried and exposed to sunlight. 
C) Rainforests regenerate quickly following clear cutting or clearing for agriculture. 
D) Oxisol soils are very rich in nutrients required for vigorous plant growth. 
A) Oxisols, with proper management, are very suitable for commercial agriculture. 
B) Oxisol soils readily compact and harden when dried and exposed to sunlight. 
C) Rainforests regenerate quickly following clear cutting or clearing for agriculture. 
D) Oxisol soils are very rich in nutrients required for vigorous plant growth.

Question 7

The very fine- sized, clay mineral particles move downward from the A to the B horizon of some soils. What is this process called?

Accepted Answer

The answer of The very fine- sized, clay mineral particles...

Question 8

Under similar warm, moist climatic conditions, why would basalt and gabbro generally have higher chemical weathering rates than rhyolite and granite?

Accepted Answer

A) The potassium feldspars and quartz in the rhyolite and granite are more susceptible to cracking by frost wedging. 
B) The ferromagnesian minerals in the gabbro and basalt are subject to oxidation and chemical breakdown. 
C) The plagioclase feldspars in the granite and rhyolite decompose readily to clay minerals and iron oxides. 
D) The quartz in the gabbro and basalt decomposes very quickly. 
A) The potassium feldspars and quartz in the rhyolite and granite are more susceptible to cracking by frost wedging. 
B) The ferromagnesian minerals in the gabbro and basalt are subject to oxidation and chemical breakdown. 
C) The plagioclase feldspars in the granite and rhyolite decompose readily to clay minerals and iron oxides. 
D) The quartz in the gabbro and basalt decomposes very quickly.

Question 9

How do weathering and the development of soils influence the topography and landforms in a given region? Are certain landforms indicative of the particular bedrock geology of a region or is that determined more by weathering?

Accepted Answer

Mechanical weathering in a mountain area

Question 10

Which term describes a soil formed by weathering of the underlying bedrock?

Accepted Answer

A) transported 
B) relict 
C) transformational 
D) residual 
A) transported 
B) relict 
C) transformational 
D) residual

Question 11

Would you call the loose, unconsolidated, surface material on Mars regolith or soil?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Would you call the loose, unconsolidated, surface...

Question 12

Which one of the following is an important, mechanical weathering process for enlarging fractures and extending them deeper into large boulders and bedrock?

Accepted Answer

A) eluviation 
B) hydrologic cycling 
C) oxidation 
D) frost wedging 
A) eluviation 
B) hydrologic cycling 
C) oxidation 
D) frost wedging

Question 13

The finely divided, red, brown, and yellow soil- coloring minerals originate by what process?

Accepted Answer

A) mechanical weathering of very fine- grained, blue- gray clays 
B) mechanical weathering of the feldspars and micas in granite and rhyolite 
C) precipitation of iron oxides during the chemical weathering process 
D) chemical weathering of quartz and feldspars 
A) mechanical weathering of very fine- grained, blue- gray clays 
B) mechanical weathering of the feldspars and micas in granite and rhyolite 
C) precipitation of iron oxides during the chemical weathering process 
D) chemical weathering of quartz and feldspars

Question 14

Based on the examples and discussion in chapter 6, what is the relationship of climate to weathering, both chemical and mechanical? Also, are certain climates more susceptible to certain types of weathering? Why or why not?

Accepted Answer

Climate (temperature and moisture)is the

Question 15

Which one of the following statements concerning mechanical weathering is NOT true?

Accepted Answer

A) It is important in the formation of talus slopes. 
B) It involves a major change in the mineral composition of the weathered material. 
C) It allows for faster rates of chemical weathering. 
D) It reduces grain sizes of rock particles. 
A) It is important in the formation of talus slopes. 
B) It involves a major change in the mineral composition of the weathered material. 
C) It allows for faster rates of chemical weathering. 
D) It reduces grain sizes of rock particles.

Question 16

Which of the following best describes sets of fractures in relatively fresh bedrock, such as granite, which are roughly parallel to the land surface?

Accepted Answer

A) thermal expansion cracks 
B) sheeting fractures 
C) columnar joints 
D) hydrolytic failures 
A) thermal expansion cracks 
B) sheeting fractures 
C) columnar joints 
D) hydrolytic failures

Question 17

What term refers to removal of soluble constituents from soils?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What term refers to removal of soluble...

Question 18

Which of the following statements concerning humus is NOT true?

Accepted Answer

A) Humus consists of decaying and partly decayed leaves and other plant materials. 
B) Humus is typically found above the B soil horizon. 
C) Humus is less abundant in wet, tropical, forested areas than in temperate, forested areas. 
D) Humus is readily leached from the B horizon in weakly acidic, soil solutions. 
A) Humus consists of decaying and partly decayed leaves and other plant materials. 
B) Humus is typically found above the B soil horizon. 
C) Humus is less abundant in wet, tropical, forested areas than in temperate, forested areas. 
D) Humus is readily leached from the B horizon in weakly acidic, soil solutions.

Question 19

What two factors speed up rates of chemical reaction and weathering in rocks and soils?

Accepted Answer

A) high temperatures; very dry 
B) low temperatures; very dry 
C) warm temperatures; very moist 
D) low temperatures; very moist 
A) high temperatures; very dry 
B) low temperatures; very dry 
C) warm temperatures; very moist 
D) low temperatures; very moist

Question 20

What mineral particles are the dominant coloring agents in reddish, brownish, and yellowish soils?

Accepted Answer

A) dust- sized grains of iron oxides 
B) humus and calcium carbonate 
C) soluble potassium and sodium bicarbonates 
D) very fine- sized, silica and calcite particles 
A) dust- sized grains of iron oxides 
B) humus and calcium carbonate 
C) soluble potassium and sodium bicarbonates 
D) very fine- sized, silica and calcite particles

In which area would weathering by frost wedging probably be most effective?

What portion of an angular, fracture- bounded granitic block shows the highest rate of weathering?

What two chemical constituents cannot form by chemical weathering of the feldspar minerals?

Which one of the following statements best describes erosion?

Frost wedging is the major weathering process contributing to the formation of which regolith material?

Which of the following statements about oxisols in tropical rainforests is TRUE?

The very fine- sized, clay mineral particles move downward from the A to the B horizon of some soils. What is this process called?

Under similar warm, moist climatic conditions, why would basalt and gabbro generally have higher chemical weathering rates than rhyolite and granite?

How do weathering and the development of soils influence the topography and landforms in a given region? Are certain landforms indicative of the particular bedrock geology of a region or is that determined more by weathering?

Which term describes a soil formed by weathering of the underlying bedrock?

Would you call the loose, unconsolidated, surface material on Mars regolith or soil?

Which one of the following is an important, mechanical weathering process for enlarging fractures and extending them deeper into large boulders and bedrock?

The finely divided, red, brown, and yellow soil- coloring minerals originate by what process?

Based on the examples and discussion in chapter 6, what is the relationship of climate to weathering, both chemical and mechanical? Also, are certain climates more susceptible to certain types of weathering? Why or why not?

Which one of the following statements concerning mechanical weathering is NOT true?

Which of the following best describes sets of fractures in relatively fresh bedrock, such as granite, which are roughly parallel to the land surface?

What term refers to removal of soluble constituents from soils?

Which of the following statements concerning humus is NOT true?

What two factors speed up rates of chemical reaction and weathering in rocks and soils?

What mineral particles are the dominant coloring agents in reddish, brownish, and yellowish soils?

An Introduction to Geology

Plate Tectonics: a Scientific Revolution Unfolds

Matter and Minerals

Igneous Rocks and Intrusive Activity

Volcanoes and Volcanic Hazards

Sedimentary Rocks

Metamorphism and Metamorphic Rocks

Earthquakes and Earths Interior

Origin and Evolution of the Ocean Floor

Crustal Deformation and Mountain Building

Mass Wasting: the Work of Gravity

Running Water

Groundwater

Glaciers and Glaciation

Deserts and Wind

Shorelines

Geologic Time

Earths Evolution Through Geologic Time

Global Climate Change

Filters

Exam 6: Weathering and Soils

In which area would weathering by frost wedging probably be most effective?

What portion of an angular, fracture- bounded granitic block shows the highest rate of weathering?

What two chemical constituents cannot form by chemical weathering of the feldspar minerals?

Which one of the following statements best describes erosion?

Frost wedging is the major weathering process contributing to the formation of which regolith material?

Which of the following statements about oxisols in tropical rainforests is TRUE?

The very fine- sized, clay mineral particles move downward from the A to the B horizon of some soils. What is this process called?

Under similar warm, moist climatic conditions, why would basalt and gabbro generally have higher chemical weathering rates than rhyolite and granite?

How do weathering and the development of soils influence the topography and landforms in a given region? Are certain landforms indicative of the particular bedrock geology of a region or is that determined more by weathering?

Which term describes a soil formed by weathering of the underlying bedrock?

Would you call the loose, unconsolidated, surface material on Mars regolith or soil?

Which one of the following is an important, mechanical weathering process for enlarging fractures and extending them deeper into large boulders and bedrock?

The finely divided, red, brown, and yellow soil- coloring minerals originate by what process?

Based on the examples and discussion in chapter 6, what is the relationship of climate to weathering, both chemical and mechanical? Also, are certain climates more susceptible to certain types of weathering? Why or why not?

Which one of the following statements concerning mechanical weathering is NOT true?

Which of the following best describes sets of fractures in relatively fresh bedrock, such as granite, which are roughly parallel to the land surface?

What term refers to removal of soluble constituents from soils?

Which of the following statements concerning humus is NOT true?

What two factors speed up rates of chemical reaction and weathering in rocks and soils?

What mineral particles are the dominant coloring agents in reddish, brownish, and yellowish soils?

An Introduction to Geology

Plate Tectonics: a Scientific Revolution Unfolds

Matter and Minerals

Igneous Rocks and Intrusive Activity

Volcanoes and Volcanic Hazards

Sedimentary Rocks

Metamorphism and Metamorphic Rocks

Earthquakes and Earths Interior

Origin and Evolution of the Ocean Floor

Crustal Deformation and Mountain Building

Mass Wasting: the Work of Gravity

Running Water

Groundwater

Glaciers and Glaciation

Deserts and Wind

Shorelines

Geologic Time

Earths Evolution Through Geologic Time

Global Climate Change

Filters