Deck 12: Environmental Geology and Earth Resources

Question 1

Evaporites, formed from ___________, are important economically because they are often found at or above 97% purity and are __________.

A) igneous rocks; important due to their strength, lightness, and malleability
B) metamorphic rocks; important due to their strength, lightness, and malleability
C) evaporation of mineral solutions such as salt water; important due to their strength, lightness, and malleability
D) igneous rocks; therefore concentrated in economically recoverable levels
E) evaporation of mineral solutions such as salt water; therefore concentrated in economically recoverable levels

Answer 1

evaporation of mineral solutions such as salt water; therefore concentrated in economically recoverable levels

Question 2

Use the following scenario in answering the question. After reading a newspaper article about gold mining prospects near your home town, your sister commented that it seems as though miners are going after ores with less and less concentrations of the gold. She mentions the rich gold veins and nuggets that she reads about in historical accounts of gold mining and wonders what factors have lead to the change. She tells you that she knows that the days of gold nuggets in the streams are gone, but that she can't believe how small the percentage of gold is in the ore they are now mining. First, you tell your sister that she sounds like your father, commenting on the good old days. Then you explain to her that there are many factors driving the changes and that there are important environmental implications of the mining.
Which of the following factors were not in your explanation?

A) Technological inventions can increase the efficiency of gold extraction from the ore.
B) New sources of the gold ore are found through better exploration techniques.
C) Technological inventions can increase efficiency of gold processing out of the ore.
D) As supplies decrease and prices rise it is less rewarding to explore for new sources of the gold.

Answer 2

As supplies decrease and prices rise it is less rewarding to explore for new sources of the gold.

Question 3

The "ring of fire" is the source of more earthquakes and volcanic activity than any other place on earth. What causes the ring of fire?

A) the subduction of Pacific plates under continental plates
B) the drift of Europe and Africa away from the Americas
C) the collision of two continental plates
D) mid-oceanic ridges
E) Earthquakes.

Answer 3

the subduction of Pacific plates under continental plates

Question 4

"Subduction" is the process of a tectonic plate

A) falling freely into the mantle.
B) being forced below another plate.
C) melting without moving.
D) sliding alongside another plate.
E) being sucked into the outer core.

Question 5

Which of the following statements regarding tectonic plate movement is true?

A) Because of tectonic movements, Europe and Africa are drifting slowly toward the Americas.
B) When continental plates collide with continental plates, both plates usually subside.
C) When oceanic plates collide with continental plates, the continent usually rides up over the seafloor.
D) Because of tectonic movements, India is moving away from China.
E) When oceanic plates collide with continental plates, the oceanic plate usually rides up over the continental plate.

Question 6

If metals are deposited in streambeds _____ would probably be used.

A) placer mining
B) strip mining
C) underground mining
D) spoil bank mining
E) open-pit mining.

Question 7

Which environmental impact would not be a result of placer mining?

A) destroying streambed habitats.
B) clogging streams with silt.
C) introducing toxic compounds to streams.
D) smothering aquatic life.
E) contamination of underground aquifers.

Question 8

Use the following scenario in answering the question. After reading a newspaper article about gold mining prospects near your home town, your sister commented that it seems as though miners are going after ores with less and less concentrations of the gold. She mentions the rich gold veins and nuggets that she reads about in historical accounts of gold mining and wonders what factors have lead to the change. She tells you that she knows that the days of gold nuggets in the streams are gone, but that she can't believe how small the percentage of gold is in the ore they are now mining. First, you tell your sister that she sounds like your father, commenting on the good old days. Then you explain to her that there are many factors driving the changes and that there are important environmental implications of the mining.
A major environmental implication of the quest for more gold at lower concentrations in the ore compared to higher concentrations is that

A) about the same amount of toxic gas is released from digging out the gold.
B) less waste rock is produced.
C) less material has to be moved to get to the gold.
D) more carbon dioxide is released as the gold is mined.
E) more material has to be moved to get to the gold.

Question 9

__________ rocks are often the source of metal ores such as gold, silver, and copper.

A) Igneous
B) Metamorphic
C) Sedimentary
D) Weathered

Question 10

The continental crust of the earth is _____________ while the oceanic crust is _____________.

A) similar in composition to the outer core; thicker and lighter than the continental crust
B) thicker and lighter than the oceanic crust; similar in composition to the mantle
C) similar in composition to the mantle; thicker and lighter than the continental crust
D) similar in composition to the outer core; similar in composition to the mantle
E) thicker and lighter than the oceanic crust; similar in composition to the inner core

Question 11

Which is not a major category of economic minerals?

A) bauxite
B) metal ores
C) sand and gravel
D) evaporated salt flats
E) none of these

Question 12

Rock formed from magma extruded to the surface through volcanic vents is classified as

A) sedimentary.
B) igneous.
C) metamorphic.
D) weathered rock.
E) lava.

Question 13

The United States keeps large stockpiles of bauxite to ensure a supply of aluminum. This is an example of

A) economic geology.
B) an evaporite.
C) a strategic metal.
D) a metal consumed in South America.
E) a mineral from a less-developed country.

Question 14

________ in the mantle and core make tectonic plates move.

A) Conduction movements
B) Earthquakes
C) Radioactive decay
D) Convection currents
E) Conduction currents

Question 15

Problems associated with gemstones and precious metals such as gold and diamonds would not be attributed to which of the following?

A) They are often used to finance violent civil wars.
B) They are often used to finance terrorism.
C) Their extraction often involves slave labor and torture.
D) Their extraction often involves environmental destruction.
E) Their distribution to developed nations is often banned.

Question 16

Metamorphic rocks are produced when rocks are

A) chemically weathered.
B) formed by heat and pressure.
C) physically broken down.
D) melted in the mantle and emitted as lava.
E) recrystallized through chemical processes.

Question 17

Rocks are _______ in the process called the rock cycle.

A) moved from place to place
B) incorporated into living organisms
C) broken down and converted to new types of rock
D) transported as in the hydrologic cycle
E) reorganized without any changes in mineral composition

Question 18

The physical breakdown of a rock into smaller pieces is called

A) the rock cycle.
B) sedimentation.
C) chemical weathering.
D) mechanical weathering.
E) abrasion.

Question 19

Which of the following would you not use to classify a rock you found on a recent hike?

A) chemical composition.
B) physical properties.
C) internal structure.
D) mode of formation.
E) color.

Question 20

Why would the environmental degradation associated with mining be a low priority for a less-developed country?

A) The country relies on the export of a mineral for the majority of their foreign exchange.
B) There is usually a smaller population, so that environmental consequences are of less importance.
C) Less-developed countries are more likely to import minerals so environmental degradation is not as important to them.
D) The environmental impact of mining is low.
E) Environmental degradation is usually not concern for residents of less-developed countries.

Question 21

Nuees ardentes are sonic waves associated with earthquakes.

Question 22

Which resource has the highest recycling rate?

A) Iron
B) Steel
C) Tin
D) Aluminum

Question 23

The eruption of a volcano can cause global climate changes by causing stratospheric ozone reduction, allowing increased ultraviolet light to reach the Earth's surface.

Question 24

Use the following scenario in answering the question. After reading a newspaper article about gold mining prospects near your home town, your sister commented that it seems as though miners are going after ores with less and less concentrations of the gold. She mentions the rich gold veins and nuggets that she reads about in historical accounts of gold mining and wonders what factors have lead to the change. She tells you that she knows that the days of gold nuggets in the streams are gone, but that she can't believe how small the percentage of gold is in the ore they are now mining. First, you tell your sister that she sounds like your father, commenting on the good old days. Then you explain to her that there are many factors driving the changes and that there are important environmental implications of the mining.
The most abundant element in the Earth's crust is _________.

A) iron
B) silicon
C) oxygen
D) aluminum
E) hydrogen

Question 25

Use the following scenario in answering the question. After reading a newspaper article about gold mining prospects near your home town, your sister commented that it seems as though miners are going after ores with less and less concentrations of the gold. She mentions the rich gold veins and nuggets that she reads about in historical accounts of gold mining and wonders what factors have lead to the change. She tells you that she knows that the days of gold nuggets in the streams are gone, but that she can't believe how small the percentage of gold is in the ore they are now mining. First, you tell your sister that she sounds like your father, commenting on the good old days. Then you explain to her that there are many factors driving the changes and that there are important environmental implications of the mining.
The need for extraction of raw metals for making steel has been reduced due to the

A) increase in the number of smelters.
B) increase in minimills.
C) decrease in demand for steel.
D) decrease in amount of ore used to produce high quality steel.
E) increase in legislation and regulation for the extraction of raw materials.

Question 26

Coal would be obtained through

A) drilling a well.
B) mountain-top removal.
C) fracking.
D) heap-leach extraction.

Question 27

One of the largest earthquakes ever recorded in North America occurred around New Madrid Missouri in 1812.

Question 28

Use the following scenario in answering the question. After reading a newspaper article about gold mining prospects near your home town, your sister commented that it seems as though miners are going after ores with less and less concentrations of the gold. She mentions the rich gold veins and nuggets that she reads about in historical accounts of gold mining and wonders what factors have lead to the change. She tells you that she knows that the days of gold nuggets in the streams are gone, but that she can't believe how small the percentage of gold is in the ore they are now mining. First, you tell your sister that she sounds like your father, commenting on the good old days. Then you explain to her that there are many factors driving the changes and that there are important environmental implications of the mining.
A giant sea swell known as a tsunami is caused by

A) typhoons.
B) earthquakes.
C) lunar gravity.
D) unusual tides combined with seasonal storms.
E) a strong wave during an exceptionally high tide.

Question 29

Building and farming on a flood plain decreases the land's ability to absorb flood waters.

Question 30

Pressurized fluid injected into a well is used in a mining process called

A) fracking.
B) heap-leach extraction.
C) placer mining.
D) injection molding.

Question 31

Smelting releases metals from ore.

Question 32

Use the following scenario in answering the question. After reading a newspaper article about gold mining prospects near your home town, your sister commented that it seems as though miners are going after ores with less and less concentrations of the gold. She mentions the rich gold veins and nuggets that she reads about in historical accounts of gold mining and wonders what factors have lead to the change. She tells you that she knows that the days of gold nuggets in the streams are gone, but that she can't believe how small the percentage of gold is in the ore they are now mining. First, you tell your sister that she sounds like your father, commenting on the good old days. Then you explain to her that there are many factors driving the changes and that there are important environmental implications of the mining.
What gas is released in the process of smelting?

A) carbon monoxide
B) chlorine
C) sulfur dioxide
D) ammonia
E) ozone

Question 33

Use the following scenario in answering the question. After reading a newspaper article about gold mining prospects near your home town, your sister commented that it seems as though miners are going after ores with less and less concentrations of the gold. She mentions the rich gold veins and nuggets that she reads about in historical accounts of gold mining and wonders what factors have lead to the change. She tells you that she knows that the days of gold nuggets in the streams are gone, but that she can't believe how small the percentage of gold is in the ore they are now mining. First, you tell your sister that she sounds like your father, commenting on the good old days. Then you explain to her that there are many factors driving the changes and that there are important environmental implications of the mining.
Heap-leach extraction involves piling crushed ore into large piles and spraying it with ________________.

A) an alkaline-cyanide solution
B) concentrated salt water
C) high-pressure steam
D) giant sandblasters
E) none of these are correct.