Deck 4: Marine Sediments

Question 1

Beach sand is usually well-sorted.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

The major force bringing continental sediments to the open ocean is (are):

A) glaciers.
B) neritic currents.
C) rivers.
D) turbidity currents.
E) wind.

Answer 2

E

Question 3

A glacial deposit is well-sorted.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

High energy environments are most likely to contain which one of the following?

A) clay-sized particles
B) cosmogenous sediments
C) large particles such as gravel
D) manganese nodules
E) silt-sized particles

Question 5

The Wentworth scale is used to arrange the amount of sorting in a sediment deposit.

Question 6

Calcareous ooze is found in cooler waters at depth around the world.

Question 7

Which of the following is not an important control on oceanic sediment accumulation?

A) degree of preservation
B) dilution
C) input from other sediment types
D) rate of deposition
E) All of the above factors are important.

Question 8

Texture refers to the size and shape of sediment particles.

Question 9

Calcareous shells will not accumulate on the ocean floor when the water depth exceeds about 4500 meters (around 15,000 feet).

Question 10

CCD refers to the ocean depth at which calcium carbonate is present only in solution.

Question 11

Organisms that live on the ocean floor may be responsible for keeping manganese nodules from being buried in the sediment.

Question 12

Tektites are glassy rock fragments of cosmic origin.

Question 13

A well-sorted sand deposit with rounded particles might be called immature.

Question 14

Radiolarian oozes form near the equator.

Question 15

The deposition of radiolarian oozes is affected by the carbonate compensation depth.

Question 16

Phosphate nodules are found on the continental shelf.

Question 17

Sediments derived from weathered rock and volcanic activity are called biogenous sediments.

Question 18

Calcium carbonate, phosphates, and manganese may precipitate out of solution to form deposits on the ocean floor.

Question 19

Sediments which are poorly sorted and made of a variety of minerals could have been deposited by:

A) a glacier.
B) a river delta.
C) turbidity currents.
D) a volcanic eruption.
E) the wind.

Question 20

Sediments produced by plants and animals in the sea are called:

A) cosmogenous.
B) biogenous.
C) hydrogenous.
D) terriginous.
E) volcagenic.

Question 21

Sediments derived form preexisting rocks are called:

A) cosmogenous.
B) biogenous.
C) hydrogenous.
D) lithogenous.
E) volcagenic.

Question 22

The most likely place to find abundant manganese nodules is on the:

A) abyssal plain far from a continent.
B) continental rise.
C) continental shelf.
D) crest of a mid-ocean ridge.
E) All of the above locations contain manganese nodules.

Question 23

Calcium carbonate is most likely to dissolve in water with which characteristics?

A) low carbon dioxide and warm temperatures
B) lots of carbon dioxide and cold temperatures
C) lots of carbon dioxide and warm temperatures
D) low pressure and warm temperatures
E) low pressure and cold temperatures

Question 24

Which of the following contains silica (SiO₂)?

A) coccolithophores
B) corals
C) foraminiferans
D) phosphorites
E) radiolarians

Question 25

Refer to the figure below illustrating the world-wide distribution of marine sediments. Different areas of ocean sediments are indicated by different numbers. Use these numbers to answer the question(s) below.

Sediments that are derived primarily from the weathering on continental material are indicated by the number(s):

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

Question 26

Which of the following contains calcium carbonate (CaCO₃)?

A) diatoms
B) foraminiferans
C) glauconite
D) phosphorites
E) radiolarians

Question 27

The organisms in this photograph would most likely produce oceanic sediments that are:

A) calcareous.
B) cosmogenous.
C) lithogenous.
D) neritic.
E) siliceous.

Question 28

Sediments found on continental margins are called:

A) continental.
B) estuarine.
C) neritic.
D) oceanic.
E) pelagic.

Question 29

All of the following are hydrogenous sediments except:

A) evaporites.
B) halites.
C) manganese nodule.
D) phosphates.
E) stromatolites.

Question 30

All of the following are lithogenous sediments except:

A) beach sand.
B) diatom ooze.
C) glacial deposits.
D) illite clays.
E) volcanogenic particles.

Question 31

Refer to the figure below illustrating the world-wide distribution of marine sediments. Different areas of ocean sediments are indicated by different numbers. Use these numbers to answer the question(s) below.

Calcareous oozes are represented by the number(s);

A) 1.
B) 2 .
C) 4.
D) 2 & 3.
E) 3 & 4.

Question 32

Manganese nodules are an example of:

A) biogenous sediments.
B) cosmogenous sediments.
C) hydrogenous sediments.
D) terrigenous sediments.
E) volcagenic sediments.

Question 33

In contrast to manganese nodules which form on the abyssal plain, phosphate-rich nodules form in:

A) continental shelf waters..
B) estuaries.
C) hydrothermal vent areas.
D) intermediate to shallow depth water.
E) mid-ocean ridges.

Question 34

The element found in some sediments which suggest that a meteorite or asteroid impact occurred nearby is:

A) iridium.
B) manganese.
C) strontium.
D) uranium.
E) yttrium.

Question 35

Sediments with an extraterrestrial origin are called:

A) cosmogenous.
B) biogenous.
C) hydrogenous.
D) lithogenous.
E) volcagenic.

Question 36

Sediments produced as a result of chemical reactions in seawater are called:

A) cosmogenous.
B) biogenous.
C) hydrogenous.
D) lithogenous.
E) volcagenic.

Question 37

Refer to the figure below illustrating the world-wide distribution of marine sediments. Different areas of ocean sediments are indicated by different numbers. Use these numbers to answer the question(s) below.

The sediments that are produced in areas of high primary productivity are indicated by the number(s):

A) 1.
B) 2.
C) 3.
D) 2 & 3.
E) 3 & 4.

Question 38

Refer to the figure below illustrating the world-wide distribution of marine sediments. Different areas of ocean sediments are indicated by different numbers. Use these numbers to answer the question(s) below.

Biogenous sediments are indicated by the number(s):

A) 1.
B) 2 & 3.
C) 2 & 4.
D) 2, 3, & 4.
E) 2, 3, 4, & 5.

Question 39

Ocean sediments provide all of the following mineral resources except:

A) coal.
B) clathrates.
C) manganese nodules.
D) methane hydrates.
E) petroleum.

Question 40

In general, polar neritic sediment has more:

A) clay than in temperate waters.
B) coral debris than in tropical waters.
C) rock and gravel than in tropical waters.
D) shell fragments than in temperate waters.
E) silt and sand than in tropical waters.

Question 41

Examine the five words and/or phrases and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the one option that does not fit the pattern.

A)abyssal clay
B)calcareous ooze
C)coarse lithogenic sediment
D)manganese nodule
E)siliceous ooze

Question 42

The K-T Event is:

A) a catastrophic event that quickly cooled the Earth's climate resulting in the extinction of the dinosaurs.
B) a layer of iron and nickel deposits in shallow water off the Caribbean coast of Mexico.
C) associated with a time period in which amphibians evolved and colonized land.
D) the period during which tree ferns and large flowering plants dominated the landscape.
E) the start of a long period of global warming during which animals increased their terrestrial distribution to include all land masses.

Question 43

All of the following are true concerning neritic sediment deposits except:

A) contain coarse-grained sand and rock fragments in the sediments.
B) contain sediments of lithogenous origin.
C) contain sediments transported from rivers onto the continental shelf.
D) form in shallow coastal waters.
E) primarily composed of calcareous deposits of biological origin.

Question 44

Examine the five words and/or phrases and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the one option that does not fit the pattern.

A)biogenous
B)calcareous
C)cosmogenous
D)hydrogenous
E)lithogenous

Question 45

Examine the five words and/or phrases and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the one option that does not fit the pattern.

A)chalk
B)coccolithophores
C)diatoms
D)foraminiferans
E)stromatolites

Question 46

A pelagic clay contains lots of material that settles to the seafloor through the water column and are:

A) less than 30% biogenous material.
B) more than 30% biogenous material.
C) more than 30% hydrogenous material.
D) less than 30% neritic material.
E) more than 30% neritic material.

Question 47

Create a table detailing the four types of marine sediments and their source (parent) material.

Question 48

Examine the five words and/or phrases and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the one option that does not fit the pattern.

A)coccolithophores
B)diatoms
C)foraminiferans
D)oolites
E)radiolarians

Question 49

Discuss the sources of biogenous sediments.

Question 50

All of the following statements are true of ocean sediments except:

A) ocean sediments are thickest in pelagic waters overlying the abyssal plain.
B) ocean sediments can include the fossilized remains of ancient marine life.
C) ocean sediments form from the remains of living organisms falling to the ocean floor.
D) ocean sediments include the remains of ancient rocks of cosmic origin.
E) ocean sediments may be composed of chemical precipitates such as calcium carbonate or manganese.

Question 51

Examine the five words and/or phrases and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the one option that does not fit the pattern.

A)halides
B)manganese nodules
C)metal sulfides
D)phosphates
E)tektites

Question 52

Examine the five words and/or phrases and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the one option that does not fit the pattern.

A)glaciers
B)rivers
C)shell fragments
D)turbidity currents
E)volcanic ash

Question 53

A very important way to increase the settling rate of fine particles in the open ocean is via:

A) carbonate dissolution.
B) deposit feeders.
C) fecal pellets.
D) precipitation.
E) wind.

Question 54

List and describe the four types of marine sediments.

Question 55

The type of marine sediment that forms the thickest deposits world-wide is:

A) abyssal clay deposits.
B) manganese nodule deposits.
C) neritic coarse lithogenous sediment deposits.
D) neritic siliceous sediment deposits.
E) pelagic biogenous calcareous deposits.

Question 56

Examine the five words and/or phrases and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the one option that does not fit the pattern.

A)manganese nodules
B)methane hydrates
C)phosphorite
D)quartz sand
E)shell fragments

Question 57

How does the analysis of marine sediments provide information about the climate of the ancient Earth?

Question 58

Compare and contrast neritic and pelagic sediment deposits.

Question 59

Compare and contrast marine environments that favor the deposition of siliceous and calcareous oozes.

Question 60

How is the calcite compensation depth (CCD) related to the world-wide distribution of calcareous oozes.

Question 61

List the particle names and corresponding grain size, from smallest to largest, using the Wentworth scale of grain size.