Deck 3: Rocks: Materials of the Solid Earth

Question 1

Which one of the following is NOT related to chemical weathering?

A) decomposition
B) frost wedging
C) hydrolysis
D) oxidation

Answer 1

B

Question 2

Granite and gabbro ________.

A) have a similar mineral composition
B) have a similar texture
C) both A and B
D) are in no way similar

Answer 2

B

Question 3

Obsidian exhibits a ________ texture.

A) fine-grained
B) glassy
C) coarse-grained
D) porphyritic

Answer 3

B

Question 4

Intrusive rocks ________.

A) are generally fine-grained
B) form at Earth's surface
C) are quite often vesicular
D) none of the above

Question 5

Chemical weathering would be most effective ________.

A) in a warm, dry climate
B) in a cold, dry climate
C) in a warm, humid climate
D) equally in any kind of climate

Question 6

Select the coarse-grained rock which is composed mainly of quartz and potassium feldspar from the list below.

A) basalt
B) andesite
C) granite
D) diorite

Question 7

Rocks that contain crystals that are roughly equal in size and can be identified with the unaided eye are said to exhibit a ________ texture.

A) fine-grained
B) glassy
C) coarse-grained
D) porphyritic

Question 8

Which of the following is NOT a product of the chemical weathering of potassium feldspar?

A) silica
B) potassium ions
C) iron oxide
D) clay

Question 9

Which one of the following is NOT true about mechanical weathering?

A) produces smaller pieces
B) adds to the effectiveness of chemical weathering
C) does not change the rock's mineral composition
D) does not affect metamorphic rocks

Question 10

This rock gets its name from a chain of mountains located in South America.

A) basalt
B) andesite
C) granite
D) diorite

Question 11

An igneous rock that contains vesicles ________.

A) is also extrusive
B) is also fine grained
C) contains many small holes
D) all of the above

Question 12

Igneous rock is formed ________.

A) by the weathering of preexisting rocks
B) by changes in mineral composition
C) at great depth within Earth
D) by crystallization of molten rock

Question 13

Which of the rocks listed below is a popular building stone?

A) basalt
B) andesite
C) granite
D) diorite

Question 14

This igneous texture is characterized by two distinctively different crystal sizes.

A) fine-grained
B) glassy
C) coarse-grained
D) porphyritic

Question 15

The texture of an igneous rock ________.

A) is controlled by the composition of magma
B) determines the color of the rock
C) is caused by leaching
D) records the rock's cooling history

Question 16

Rhyolite is the fine-grained equivalent of this igneous rock.

A) basalt
B) andesite
C) granite
D) diorite

Question 17

Which one of the following is an igneous rock?

A) limestone
B) rhyolite
C) slate
D) shale

Question 18

Which of these factors influence the type and rate of weathering?

A) mineral content
B) climate
C) topography
D) all of these

Question 19

The most important mechanical weathering process is ________.

A) frost action
B) hydrolysis
C) unloading
D) thermal expansion

Question 20

As the rate of cooling increases, the size of the crystals that form ________.

A) increases
B) decreases
C) is not affected
D) none of these

Question 21

The primary agent of contact metamorphism is ________.

A) folding
B) heat
C) stress
D) strain

Question 22

________ is a strong, parallel alignment of different mineral bands in a metamorphic rock.

A) Rock cleavage
B) Foliation
C) Stress streaking
D) Marbleizing

Question 23

Which of the following lists the rocks in the order of increasing grain size and increasing grade of metamorphism?

A) phyllite, slate, schist
B) schist, slate, phyllite
C) slate, phyllite, schist
D) slate, schist, phyllite

Question 24

Metamorphism may result from ________.

A) heat
B) pressure
C) chemical action
D) all of these

Question 25

What type of metamorphic rock will shale normally become following low-grade metamorphism?

A) marble
B) mica schist
C) slate
D) gneiss

Question 26

Detrital sedimentary rocks are classified (named) primarily on the basis of ________.

A) color
B) type of bedding
C) composition
D) particle size

Question 27

This dense, nonfoliated metamorphic rock is produced most often from sandstone.

A) phyllite
B) mica schist
C) quartzite
D) marble

Question 28

Which pair of minerals is most common in detrital sedimentary rocks?

A) quartz and olivine
B) calcite and clay
C) clay and quartz
D) dolomite and gypsum

Question 29

Which rock type is associated with a high-energy environment (such as a very turbulent stream)?

A) conglomerate
B) shale
C) chert
D) none of these

Question 30

The common rock produced by the metamorphism of limestone is ________.

A) marble
B) mica schist
C) phyllite
D) gneiss

Question 31

The agents of metamorphism are ________.

A) uplifting and folding
B) foliation and deposition
C) contact and regional deformation
D) heat, pressure, and chemical fluids

Question 32

Sedimentary rocks ________.

A) may contain fossils
B) hold important clues to Earth's history
C) may be economically important
D) all of the above

Question 33

Compaction would probably be most significant as a lithification process for ________.

A) shale
B) sandstone
C) conglomerate
D) breccia

Question 34

Which of the following best describes bedded gypsum and rock salt?

A) detrital sedimentary rocks
B) varieties of dolostone
C) varieties of coal and peat
D) evaporites; chemical, sedimentary rocks

Question 35

Detrital sediments would predominate in all of the following environments except ________.

A) swamp
B) salt flat
C) river floodplain
D) delta

Question 36

The most abundant chemical sedimentary rock is ________.

A) limestone
B) dolomite
C) chert
D) rock salt

Question 37

Sedimentary rocks compose approximately ________ percent of Earth's outermost 10 miles.

A) 5
B) 15
C) 30
D) 50

Question 38

________ is composed of alternating bands of light and dark silicate minerals.

A) Marble
B) Mica schist
C) Phyllite
D) Gneiss

Question 39

Which of the following changes may occur during metamorphism?

A) Certain minerals may recrystallize.
B) The rock becomes more compact.
C) Crystals may grow larger.
D) all of the above.

Question 40

Coal beds originate in ________.

A) shallow lakes in a dry, desert region
B) channels of fast-moving streams
C) deep, marine basins below wave action
D) freshwater coastal swamps and bogs

Question 41

Glassy igneous rocks form when magma cools too fast for mineral grains to grow.

Question 42

Particle size is the primary basis for distinguishing among various detrital sedimentary rocks.

Question 43

The particles in breccia are primarily silt sized.

Question 44

Word Analysis. Examine the words and/or phrases for each question below and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the option which does not fit the pattern.
A. pressure B. recrystallization C. melting D. chemical fluids

Question 45

Compaction is most significant as a lithification process for sedimentary rocks composed of sand-sized particles.

Question 46

Word Analysis. Examine the words and/or phrases for each question below and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the option which does not fit the pattern.
A. oxidation B. dissolution C. hydrolysis D. sheeting

Question 47

Basalt is the fine-grained equivalent of gabbro.

Question 48

Word Analysis. Examine the words and/or phrases for each question below and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the option which does not fit the pattern.
A. granite B. basalt C. diorite D. gabbro

Question 49

Evaporites have a biochemical origin.

Question 50

Like most other liquids, water decreases in volume when it freezes.

Question 51

Bowen's reaction series predicts the sizes of the different mineral grains that grow from crystallizing magmas.

Question 52

During metamorphism the material undergoing deformation remains a solid.

Question 53

Quartz is quite resistant to weathering and is an important component of sands in riverbeds and on beaches.

Question 54

The most abundant sedimentary rock is shale.

Question 55

Word Analysis. Examine the words and/or phrases for each question below and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the option which does not fit the pattern.
A. lithification B. cementation C. weathering D. compaction

Question 56

One magma can produce several different igneous rocks having different mineral compositions.

Question 57

Olivine and quartz are commonly found together in the same rock.

Question 58

Most limestone has a biochemical origin.

Question 59

The single most characteristic feature of sedimentary rocks is strata, or beds.

Question 60

Word Analysis. Examine the words and/or phrases for each question below and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the option which does not fit the pattern.
A. shale B. sandstone C. breccia D. conglomerate

Question 61

Obsidian exhibits a(n) ________ texture.

Question 62

Metamorphism can affect only sedimentary rocks.

Question 63

Rock salt and rock gypsum are common examples of a group of chemical sedimentary rocks called ________.

Question 64

When a metamorphic rock exhibits a layered or banded appearance, it is said to exhibit a(n) ________ texture.

Question 65

Metamorphism that occurs because of close proximity to a mass of magma is called ________ metamorphism.

Question 66

Igneous rocks are classified on the basis of what two main characteristics?

Question 67

________ refers to the removal and isolation of early-formed mineral grains that can cause the composition of the remaining magma to change.

Question 68

When a sedimentary rock consists of angular, gravel-sized particles, it is called ________.

Question 69

The partial decomposition of plant remains in an oxygen-poor swamp creates a layer of soft, brown material that is not yet coal. This material is known as ________.

Question 70

Metamorphism is commonly associated with mountain building.

Question 71

List three agents of metamorphism.

Question 72

________ refers to the processes by which unconsolidated sediments are transformed into solid sedimentary rocks.

Question 73

Slate is associated with high-grade metamorphism.

Question 74

Which metamorphic rock or rocks exhibit alternating layers or bands of different light- and dark-colored minerals?

Question 75

The largest quantity of metamorphic rock is produced by regional metamorphism.

Question 76

The most abundant chemical sedimentary rock is ________.

Question 77

The two most common minerals in detrital sedimentary rocks are ________ and ________.

Question 78

________ is the name given to molten rock below the Earth's surface.

Question 79

Probably the single most characteristic feature of sedimentary rocks is ________.

Question 80

Considering the various processes involved in mechanical and chemical weathering, what are some of the factors that influence or control the weathering of earth materials? Also, which of these factors would be most important?