Question 1

How can weathering form a mineral deposit?

Accepted Answer

A)  extreme leaching can leave behind elements, such as aluminum, that are valuable 
B)  weathering can dissolve copper from the top of a mineral deposit and reprecipitate it at depth 
C)  heavier materials, such as gold and diamond, accumulate near the base of river gravels 
D)  all of these 
A)  extreme leaching can leave behind elements, such as aluminum, that are valuable 
B)  weathering can dissolve copper from the top of a mineral deposit and reprecipitate it at depth 
C)  heavier materials, such as gold and diamond, accumulate near the base of river gravels 
D)  all of these D

Question 2

What did the USGS discover when they studied the Slumgullion feature?

Accepted Answer

A)  there were different parts with different ages 
B)  movement formed folds, faults, fissures, and zones of shearing 
C)  some parts of the material moved faster than other parts 
D)  all of these 
E)  a and b only 
A)  there were different parts with different ages 
B)  movement formed folds, faults, fissures, and zones of shearing 
C)  some parts of the material moved faster than other parts 
D)  all of these 
E)  a and b only D

Question 3

The joints in the photograph mimic topography, indicating that they formed:

Accepted Answer

A)  while the granite was still molten 
B)  while the rocks were still buried at great depth 
C)  when the weight of overlying rocks was unloaded, allowing expansion along the joints 
D)  along a subduction zone 
A)  while the granite was still molten 
B)  while the rocks were still buried at great depth 
C)  when the weight of overlying rocks was unloaded, allowing expansion along the joints 
D)  along a subduction zone C

Question 4

What rock type is the most common setting for caves formed by dissolution of a rock?

Accepted Answer

A)  well-sorted sandstone 
B)  gray limestone 
C)  dark porous lava flows 
D)  gray granite 
E)  slate 
A)  well-sorted sandstone 
B)  gray limestone 
C)  dark porous lava flows 
D)  gray granite 
E)  slate

Question 5

What happens to the surface area of exposed rock if a rock is fractured?

Accepted Answer

A)  there are more pieces, but the surface area does not change 
B)  the surface area does not change because the volume does not change 
C)  the surface area increases as the rock is fractured 
D)  the surface area decreases as the rock is fractured 
A)  there are more pieces, but the surface area does not change 
B)  the surface area does not change because the volume does not change 
C)  the surface area increases as the rock is fractured 
D)  the surface area decreases as the rock is fractured

Question 6

What type of slope failure is shown in this figure?

Accepted Answer

A)  creep 
B)  debris flow 
C)  rock fall 
D)  rock slide 
E)  rotational slide 
A)  creep 
B)  debris flow 
C)  rock fall 
D)  rock slide 
E)  rotational slide

Question 7

Which of these four numbered features on the surface or in a cave is a stalactite?

Accepted Answer

A)  1 
B)  2 
C)  3 
D)  4 
E)  none of these 
A)  1 
B)  2 
C)  3 
D)  4 
E)  none of these

Question 8

What events caused so much damage along the north coast of Venezuela in 1999?

Accepted Answer

A)  a landslide shook loose a large piece of the mountains that caused the water in the reservoir to flood local towns 
B)  torrential rains caused debris flows and flash floods that raced through cities 
C)  the slow movement of slopes downhill broke apart houses but did not kill any people 
D)  overgrazing caused a loss of grass cover and resulted in severe soil erosion 
A)  a landslide shook loose a large piece of the mountains that caused the water in the reservoir to flood local towns 
B)  torrential rains caused debris flows and flash floods that raced through cities 
C)  the slow movement of slopes downhill broke apart houses but did not kill any people 
D)  overgrazing caused a loss of grass cover and resulted in severe soil erosion

Question 9

Which of the following is a feature that commonly forms where limestone has been dissolved?

Accepted Answer

A)  sinkhole 
B)  karst topography 
C)  cave 
D)  all of these 
A)  sinkhole 
B)  karst topography 
C)  cave 
D)  all of these

Question 10

What type of slope failure is shown in this figure?

Accepted Answer

A)  rotational slide 
B)  creep 
C)  rock avalanche 
D)  debris flow 
E)  rock fall 
A)  rotational slide 
B)  creep 
C)  rock avalanche 
D)  debris flow 
E)  rock fall

Question 11

Which of the following factors favors movement of a rock slide?

Accepted Answer

A)  layers that are inclined opposite to the slope of the hill 
B)  solid rock with few preexisting joints or faults 
C)  a massive rock with no bedding or other through-going discontinuities 
D)  a valley or other open space downslope from the rock slide 
A)  layers that are inclined opposite to the slope of the hill 
B)  solid rock with few preexisting joints or faults 
C)  a massive rock with no bedding or other through-going discontinuities 
D)  a valley or other open space downslope from the rock slide

Question 12

Which of the following is NOT a source of material for soil?

Accepted Answer

A)  weathered rock and sediment 
B)  leaves and other plant debris 
C)  CO2 gas from roots 
D)  water from precipitation and snowmelt 
E)  all of these are a source of material in soil 
A)  weathered rock and sediment 
B)  leaves and other plant debris 
C)  CO2 gas from roots 
D)  water from precipitation and snowmelt 
E)  all of these are a source of material in soil

Question 13

In which setting is karst topography most likely to feature steep pillars, knobs, and oddly shaped rocks?

Accepted Answer

A)  tropical 
B)  arid 
C)  mid-latitude 
D)  polar 
A)  tropical 
B)  arid 
C)  mid-latitude 
D)  polar

Question 14

Which of the following are true about factors that influence weathering?

Accepted Answer

A)  Chemical weathering occurs fastest in cold or dry climates. 
B)  Whether a slope faces toward or away from the sun is not an important factor influencing weathering. 
C)  Soil and other weathering products tend to accumulate more on gentle slopes than on steep slopes. 
D)  Time is not a critical factor in weathering because physical and chemical processes have not changed much through time. 
A)  Chemical weathering occurs fastest in cold or dry climates. 
B)  Whether a slope faces toward or away from the sun is not an important factor influencing weathering. 
C)  Soil and other weathering products tend to accumulate more on gentle slopes than on steep slopes. 
D)  Time is not a critical factor in weathering because physical and chemical processes have not changed much through time.

Question 15

Which numbered feature on this figure is a scarp?

Accepted Answer

A)  1, a linear or curved scar marking where the slide pulled away from the hill 
B)  2, small fractures within the sliding block 
C)  3, the intact layers below the rock slide 
D)  4, the front of the slide, where it overruns the land surface 
E)  5, a valley or other open space in front of the slide 
A)  1, a linear or curved scar marking where the slide pulled away from the hill 
B)  2, small fractures within the sliding block 
C)  3, the intact layers below the rock slide 
D)  4, the front of the slide, where it overruns the land surface 
E)  5, a valley or other open space in front of the slide

Question 16

What is the main reason why the oceans are salty?

Accepted Answer

A)  the early oceans were salty because comets are dirty snowballs 
B)  salt deposits that formed early in Earth's history become dissolved by modern oceans 
C)  weathering of rocks releases chemical elements that make the oceans salty 
D)  blowing salt crystals become incorporated into clouds and falls with the rainfall 
A)  the early oceans were salty because comets are dirty snowballs 
B)  salt deposits that formed early in Earth's history become dissolved by modern oceans 
C)  weathering of rocks releases chemical elements that make the oceans salty 
D)  blowing salt crystals become incorporated into clouds and falls with the rainfall

Question 17

What is the most common way in which sinkholes form?

Accepted Answer

A)  a small explosion of methane gas from coal beds 
B)  a small explosion of CO2 gas from dissolving limestone 
C)  a rising dome of salt finally reaches the surface 
D)  the roof of a cave collapses 
A)  a small explosion of methane gas from coal beds 
B)  a small explosion of CO2 gas from dissolving limestone 
C)  a rising dome of salt finally reaches the surface 
D)  the roof of a cave collapses

Question 18

Which of the following is valid for how rocks weather?

Accepted Answer

A)  quartz is very soluble during weathering at low temperatures 
B)  limestone weathers rapidly in wet climates but can form cliffs in dry ones 
C)  as a granite weathers, quartz rapidly decomposes into clay minerals 
D)  most minerals in granite weather at nearly the same rate and so granite has smooth surfaces 
A)  quartz is very soluble during weathering at low temperatures 
B)  limestone weathers rapidly in wet climates but can form cliffs in dry ones 
C)  as a granite weathers, quartz rapidly decomposes into clay minerals 
D)  most minerals in granite weather at nearly the same rate and so granite has smooth surfaces

Question 19

Which of the numbered soil horizons is most likely to have remnants of weathered bedrock?

Accepted Answer

A)  1 
B)  2 
C)  3 
D)  4 
E)  5 
A)  1 
B)  2 
C)  3 
D)  4 
E)  5

Question 20

How does material in soil move?

Accepted Answer

A)  the upper part of soil loses material downward 
B)  clay minerals and other fine particles are carried downward 
C)  chemical ions leached from above can accumulate in the underlying zone 
D)  calcium carbonate can accumulate in the soil, especially in dry environments 
E)  all of these 
A)  the upper part of soil loses material downward 
B)  clay minerals and other fine particles are carried downward 
C)  chemical ions leached from above can accumulate in the underlying zone 
D)  calcium carbonate can accumulate in the soil, especially in dry environments 
E)  all of these

How can weathering form a mineral deposit?

What did the USGS discover when they studied the Slumgullion feature?

The joints in the photograph mimic topography, indicating that they formed:

What rock type is the most common setting for caves formed by dissolution of a rock?

What happens to the surface area of exposed rock if a rock is fractured?

What type of slope failure is shown in this figure?

Which of these four numbered features on the surface or in a cave is a stalactite?

What events caused so much damage along the north coast of Venezuela in 1999?

Which of the following is a feature that commonly forms where limestone has been dissolved?

What type of slope failure is shown in this figure?

Which of the following factors favors movement of a rock slide?

Which of the following is NOT a source of material for soil?

In which setting is karst topography most likely to feature steep pillars, knobs, and oddly shaped rocks?

Which of the following are true about factors that influence weathering?

Which numbered feature on this figure is a scarp?

What is the main reason why the oceans are salty?

What is the most common way in which sinkholes form?

Which of the following is valid for how rocks weather?

Which of the numbered soil horizons is most likely to have remnants of weathered bedrock?

How does material in soil move?

The Nature of Geology

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Exam 15: Weathering, Soil, and Unstable Slopes

How can weathering form a mineral deposit?

What did the USGS discover when they studied the Slumgullion feature?

The joints in the photograph mimic topography, indicating that they formed:

What rock type is the most common setting for caves formed by dissolution of a rock?

What happens to the surface area of exposed rock if a rock is fractured?

What type of slope failure is shown in this figure?

Which of these four numbered features on the surface or in a cave is a stalactite?

What events caused so much damage along the north coast of Venezuela in 1999?

Which of the following is a feature that commonly forms where limestone has been dissolved?

What type of slope failure is shown in this figure?

Which of the following factors favors movement of a rock slide?

Which of the following is NOT a source of material for soil?

In which setting is karst topography most likely to feature steep pillars, knobs, and oddly shaped rocks?

Which of the following are true about factors that influence weathering?

Which numbered feature on this figure is a scarp?

What is the main reason why the oceans are salty?

What is the most common way in which sinkholes form?

Which of the following is valid for how rocks weather?

Which of the numbered soil horizons is most likely to have remnants of weathered bedrock?

How does material in soil move?

The Nature of Geology

Investigating Geologic Questions

Plate Tectonics

Earth Materials

Igneous Environments

Volcanoes and Volcanic Hazards

Sedimentary Environments

Deformation and Metamorphism

Geologic Time

Seafloor and Continental Margins

Mountains, Basins, and Continents

Earthquakes and Earths Interior

Climate and Weathering

Glaciers, Shorelines, and Changing Sea Levels

Streams and Flooding

Water Resources

Energy and Mineral Resources

Geology of the Solar System

Filters