Question 1

Once oil and gas are formed, they:

Accepted Answer

A)  rise toward the surface 
B)  are lighter than water 
C)  flow most easily through permeable rocks, such as sandstone 
D)  can be prevented from reaching the surface if they are trapped by impermeable layers 
E)  all of these 
A)  rise toward the surface 
B)  are lighter than water 
C)  flow most easily through permeable rocks, such as sandstone 
D)  can be prevented from reaching the surface if they are trapped by impermeable layers 
E)  all of these

Question 2

Which of the following rock types is most likely to host shale gas or shale oil?

Accepted Answer

A)  coal 
B)  very fine-grained sedimentary rocks with low permeability 
C)  coarse-grained sandstone with high porosity 
D)  coarse-grained sandstone with high permeability 
E)  all of these 
A)  coal 
B)  very fine-grained sedimentary rocks with low permeability 
C)  coarse-grained sandstone with high porosity 
D)  coarse-grained sandstone with high permeability 
E)  all of these

Question 3

What is the most expensive part of exploring for fossil fuels?

Accepted Answer

A)  hiring geologists to do geologic field work 
B)  money for four-wheel-drive vehicles 
C)  geophysical surveys and drilling 
D)  gas taxes 
A)  hiring geologists to do geologic field work 
B)  money for four-wheel-drive vehicles 
C)  geophysical surveys and drilling 
D)  gas taxes

Question 4

Most of the world's platinum comes from?

Accepted Answer

A)  the base of ancient stream gravels 
B)  veins formed by metamorphism 
C)  veins formed in calderas 
D)  large mafic to ultramafic intrusions 
E)  none of these 
A)  the base of ancient stream gravels 
B)  veins formed by metamorphism 
C)  veins formed in calderas 
D)  large mafic to ultramafic intrusions 
E)  none of these

Question 5

Which of the following is NOT true about alternative sources of energy?

Accepted Answer

A)  using solar energy requires a large investment in photovoltaic panels and other infrastructure 
B)  biomass energy can involve burning scrap wood and methane from landfills 
C)  ethanol is mostly produced from corn and sugar cane, which can also be foods 
D)  fuel cells use oxygen and hydrogen as a fuel 
A)  using solar energy requires a large investment in photovoltaic panels and other infrastructure 
B)  biomass energy can involve burning scrap wood and methane from landfills 
C)  ethanol is mostly produced from corn and sugar cane, which can also be foods 
D)  fuel cells use oxygen and hydrogen as a fuel

Question 6

What would be required for an unconformity to trap oil at depth?

Accepted Answer

A)  permeable units above the unconformity and impermeable units below the unconformity 
B)  permeable units below the unconformity and impermeable units above the unconformity 
C)  permeable units above and below the unconformity 
D)  impermeable units above and below the unconformity 
E)  any of these 
A)  permeable units above the unconformity and impermeable units below the unconformity 
B)  permeable units below the unconformity and impermeable units above the unconformity 
C)  permeable units above and below the unconformity 
D)  impermeable units above and below the unconformity 
E)  any of these

Question 7

If you were looking for methane in Wyoming, where would be the best place to look?

Accepted Answer

A)  in the uplifted blocks within the mountains 
B)  beneath the large volcanic field in the center of the state 
C)  near areas where the rocks have been heated by uranium deposits 
D)  where coal deposits are present in the subsurface 
E)  near the hot springs of the Yellowstone hydrothermal system 
A)  in the uplifted blocks within the mountains 
B)  beneath the large volcanic field in the center of the state 
C)  near areas where the rocks have been heated by uranium deposits 
D)  where coal deposits are present in the subsurface 
E)  near the hot springs of the Yellowstone hydrothermal system

Question 8

How do iron-ore deposits form?

Accepted Answer

A)  as iron-rich layers, called iron formations, in sedimentary sequences 
B)  within granite or sandstone 
C)  the mixing of different types of groundwater 
D)  groundwater that encounters ancient buried hills 
E)  all of these 
A)  as iron-rich layers, called iron formations, in sedimentary sequences 
B)  within granite or sandstone 
C)  the mixing of different types of groundwater 
D)  groundwater that encounters ancient buried hills 
E)  all of these

Question 9

Which of the following makes a site more suitable for a dam?

Accepted Answer

A)  1, a deep canyon 
B)  2, permeable rocks in the abutment 
C)  3, permeable rocks in the floor of the reservoir 
D)  4, fractured rocks next to a fault 
E)  5, soft rocks that can mold to the dam 
A)  1, a deep canyon 
B)  2, permeable rocks in the abutment 
C)  3, permeable rocks in the floor of the reservoir 
D)  4, fractured rocks next to a fault 
E)  5, soft rocks that can mold to the dam

Question 10

Which of the following parts of the U.S. do NOT have abundant oil fields?

Accepted Answer

A)  Texas 
B)  Gulf Coast area 
C)  Rocky Mountain area 
D)  Pacific Northwest 
E)  California 
A)  Texas 
B)  Gulf Coast area 
C)  Rocky Mountain area 
D)  Pacific Northwest 
E)  California

Question 11

Organic material in oil mostly comes from:

Accepted Answer

A)  plants on land 
B)  hydrogen rising from Earth's mantle 
C)  marine organisms 
D)  calcite that has been heated to a high-enough temperature 
A)  plants on land 
B)  hydrogen rising from Earth's mantle 
C)  marine organisms 
D)  calcite that has been heated to a high-enough temperature

Question 12

Which of the following makes a site more suitable for a dam?

Accepted Answer

A)  1, a deep canyon 
B)  2, strong, impermeable rocks in the abutment 
C)  3, impermeable rocks in the floor of the reservoir 
D)  all of these 
A)  1, a deep canyon 
B)  2, strong, impermeable rocks in the abutment 
C)  3, impermeable rocks in the floor of the reservoir 
D)  all of these

Question 13

From this list, choose the reasons) that indicates) why you suspect a particular energy resource is present at location E.

Accepted Answer

A)  Rocks adjacent to a rising salt dome bow upward. Petroleum migrates along these uptilted layers and becomes trapped when it encounters the impermeable salt. 
B)  A fault zone, if impermeable, can act as a barrier to migrating oil and gas, causing the oil or gas to accumulate adjacent to the fault zone. 
C)  An unconformity can act as a barrier to migrating oil and gas, causing the oil or gas to accumulate below or along the unconformity. 
D)  Coal or oil shale may be present within the rock. 
A)  Rocks adjacent to a rising salt dome bow upward. Petroleum migrates along these uptilted layers and becomes trapped when it encounters the impermeable salt. 
B)  A fault zone, if impermeable, can act as a barrier to migrating oil and gas, causing the oil or gas to accumulate adjacent to the fault zone. 
C)  An unconformity can act as a barrier to migrating oil and gas, causing the oil or gas to accumulate below or along the unconformity. 
D)  Coal or oil shale may be present within the rock.

Question 14

What would be the best strategy to use to find a mineral deposit that has been buried by a thick section of younger sediments?

Accepted Answer

A)  closely examine rocks on the surface 
B)  study how much soil has developed on the surface 
C)  begin drilling in any site just to see what is down there 
D)  conduct some type of geophysical survey 
A)  closely examine rocks on the surface 
B)  study how much soil has developed on the surface 
C)  begin drilling in any site just to see what is down there 
D)  conduct some type of geophysical survey

Question 15

What is the ultimate test of a geologist's interpretation of the subsurface?

Accepted Answer

A)  how well the geologic interpretation matches what is seen at the surface 
B)  a nicely colored geologic cross section showing the interpretation 
C)  a computer model showing an interpretation of rock layers at depth 
D)  drilling an exploration hole into the subsurface 
A)  how well the geologic interpretation matches what is seen at the surface 
B)  a nicely colored geologic cross section showing the interpretation 
C)  a computer model showing an interpretation of rock layers at depth 
D)  drilling an exploration hole into the subsurface

Question 16

Which of the following indicates that a site may be favorable for geothermal energy?

Accepted Answer

A)  a lack of hot springs indicating that the hot water is all trapped at depth 
B)  an area without recent volcanism which can disrupt the flow of groundwater 
C)  a shallow magma chamber, even one that is recently solidified 
D)  an area that lacks recent faulting, which can disrupt the continuity of aquifers 
A)  a lack of hot springs indicating that the hot water is all trapped at depth 
B)  an area without recent volcanism which can disrupt the flow of groundwater 
C)  a shallow magma chamber, even one that is recently solidified 
D)  an area that lacks recent faulting, which can disrupt the continuity of aquifers

Question 17

Where are the world's most important reserves of oil shale?

Accepted Answer

A)  associated with coal mines in many regions of the U.S. 
B)  along deep oceanic trenches that are not adjacent to continents 
C)  in Africa and Australia 
D)  in lake deposits in the Rocky Mountains 
A)  associated with coal mines in many regions of the U.S. 
B)  along deep oceanic trenches that are not adjacent to continents 
C)  in Africa and Australia 
D)  in lake deposits in the Rocky Mountains

Question 18

What process can enrich a copper deposit, perhaps making it profitable?

Accepted Answer

A)  intense fracturing associated with meteoroid impacts, like at Sudbury 
B)  deposition of large amounts of quartz and calcite in the rock 
C)  dispersing the copper-rich grains by wind and water 
D)  leaching by weathering and redeposition at the water table 
A)  intense fracturing associated with meteoroid impacts, like at Sudbury 
B)  deposition of large amounts of quartz and calcite in the rock 
C)  dispersing the copper-rich grains by wind and water 
D)  leaching by weathering and redeposition at the water table

Question 19

What types of features are present in the area of the Saudi Arabian oil fields?

Accepted Answer

A)  folds 
B)  salt domes 
C)  sedimentary rocks 
D)  all of these 
A)  folds 
B)  salt domes 
C)  sedimentary rocks 
D)  all of these

Question 20

Which of the following sites is the least common place in which oil is trapped?

Accepted Answer

A)  the flanks of a salt dome 
B)  the upper part of a lens of permeable rock 
C)  the top of an anticline 
D)  the bottom of a syncline 
A)  the flanks of a salt dome 
B)  the upper part of a lens of permeable rock 
C)  the top of an anticline 
D)  the bottom of a syncline

Once oil and gas are formed, they:

Which of the following rock types is most likely to host shale gas or shale oil?

What is the most expensive part of exploring for fossil fuels?

Most of the world's platinum comes from?

Which of the following is NOT true about alternative sources of energy?

What would be required for an unconformity to trap oil at depth?

If you were looking for methane in Wyoming, where would be the best place to look?

How do iron-ore deposits form?

Which of the following makes a site more suitable for a dam?

Which of the following parts of the U.S. do NOT have abundant oil fields?

Organic material in oil mostly comes from:

Which of the following makes a site more suitable for a dam?

From this list, choose the reasons) that indicates) why you suspect a particular energy resource is present at location E.

What would be the best strategy to use to find a mineral deposit that has been buried by a thick section of younger sediments?

What is the ultimate test of a geologist's interpretation of the subsurface?

Which of the following indicates that a site may be favorable for geothermal energy?

Where are the world's most important reserves of oil shale?

What process can enrich a copper deposit, perhaps making it profitable?

What types of features are present in the area of the Saudi Arabian oil fields?

Which of the following sites is the least common place in which oil is trapped?

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

Weathering, Soil, and Unstable Slopes

Streams and Flooding

Water Resources

Geology of the Solar System

Filters

Exam 18: Energy and Mineral Resources

Once oil and gas are formed, they:

Which of the following rock types is most likely to host shale gas or shale oil?

What is the most expensive part of exploring for fossil fuels?

Most of the world's platinum comes from?

Which of the following is NOT true about alternative sources of energy?

What would be required for an unconformity to trap oil at depth?

If you were looking for methane in Wyoming, where would be the best place to look?

How do iron-ore deposits form?

Which of the following makes a site more suitable for a dam?

Which of the following parts of the U.S. do NOT have abundant oil fields?

Organic material in oil mostly comes from:

Which of the following makes a site more suitable for a dam?

From this list, choose the reasons) that indicates) why you suspect a particular energy resource is present at location E.

What would be the best strategy to use to find a mineral deposit that has been buried by a thick section of younger sediments?

What is the ultimate test of a geologist's interpretation of the subsurface?

Which of the following indicates that a site may be favorable for geothermal energy?

Where are the world's most important reserves of oil shale?

What process can enrich a copper deposit, perhaps making it profitable?

What types of features are present in the area of the Saudi Arabian oil fields?

Which of the following sites is the least common place in which oil is trapped?

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

Weathering, Soil, and Unstable Slopes

Streams and Flooding

Water Resources

Geology of the Solar System

Filters