Deck 3: Earth Materials

Question 1

Earth's crustal rocks have a higher density compared to the Earth as a whole.

Answer 1

False

Question 2

Which of the following is NOT a subatomic particle found in the nucleus of atoms?

A) Photon
B) Proton
C) Neutron
D) Electron

Answer 2

A

Question 3

Which of the following best explains why rocks can be used to interpret the geologic past?

A) Different types of rocks form in different types of environments.
B) The minerals in rocks tell us how old rocks are.
C) Rocks contain varying amounts of carbon.
D) The hardness of rocks tells us how old they are.
E) The chemical composition of rocks tells us how old they are.

Answer 3

A

Question 4

All metamorphic rocks have a foliated texture.

Question 5

Geologists are able to study processes that form rocks here on Earth and then use this information to help interpret the geologic history of other planets.

Question 6

Which of the following best explains how foliated metamorphic rocks form?

A) By increased pressure.
B) By circulation of hot fluids.
C) By hot mantle plumes.
D) By alignment with Earth's magnetic field.
E) All of the answers listed here.

Question 7

Which of the following is NOT a type chemical reaction that breaks down minerals?

A) Fusion
B) Dissolution
C) Hydrolysis
D) Oxidation
E) Reduction

Question 8

Which of the following elements makeup most of the rocks in Earth's crust?

A) Silicon and Oxygen
B) Iron and Magnesium
C) Iron and Calcium
D) Silicon and Aluminum
E) Carbon and Iron

Question 9

Which of the following is an example of how chemical sedimentary rocks form?

A) Precipitation of dissolved ions as a water body evaporates.
B) Hot fluids circulating through rocks deep within the crust.
C) Sandstones that undergo deposition.
D) Weathering of slate.
E) Collision of continental landmasses.

Question 10

When using rocks to study Earth's history, information about the surface environment is best provided by which of the following types of rock?

A) limestone and shale
B) granite and basalt
C) schist and slate
D) quartzite and marble
E) dunite and rhyolite

Question 11

The term lava is used to refer to molten rock that makes its way onto Earth's surface environment.

Question 12

Which of the following is NOT true regarding clay minerals?

A) Precipitate out of magmas.
B) Are a rock forming mineral group.
C) Form when feldspar and ferromagnesian minerals break down.
D) Are a major component of soils.
E) Are extremely small compared to sand-sized grains.

Question 13

Which of the following best describes how metamorphic rocks form?

A) Increased pressure and temperature
B) Crystallization of magma
C) Lithification of sediment
D) Precipitation of minerals
E) Weathering and erosion

Question 14

Which of the following best describes what happens when a sedimentary rock is heated to the point it completely melts and later re-crystallizes?

A) It becomes an igneous rock.
B) It becomes a metamorphic rock.
C) It remains a sedimentary rock.
D) This is not a likely or realistic scenario.

Question 15

Which of the following statements best describe what geologists refer to as rock-forming minerals?

A) The few dozen or so minerals that make up most of the rocks in Earth's crust.
B) The minerals found in rocks that are the most durable and hard.
C) Consist of over 4,000 types of minerals that make up most of the rocks in Earth's crust.
D) The minerals that form after a rock has already turned into a solid.
E) The minerals that were present in the original rocks that cooled to form Earth's crust.

Question 16

Which of the following is NOT a rock forming mineral or mineral group?

A) Amorphosite
B) Feldspar Group
C) Quartz
D) Calcite
E) Clay Mineral Group

Question 17

All minerals have a unique combination of internal structure and chemical composition. The structure and chemistry of minerals determines which of the following?

A) The physical and chemical properties of minerals.
B) Where minerals are found in the crust.
C) The grain size of minerals.
D) Whether minerals form from magma or water.
E) Whether minerals form on the surface or deep within the crust.

Question 18

Which of the following terms do geologists use to describe the process whereby rocks are mechanically broken down into smaller pieces?

A) Physical weathering
B) Chemical weathering
C) Disintegration weathering
D) Disaggregation weathering
E) Pulverization weathering

Question 19

Which of the following statements best descrubes extrusive igneous rocks?

A) Cool on the surface and have a fine-grained texture (small mineral crystals).
B) Cool on the surface and have a course-grained texture (large mineral crystals).
C) Cool beneath the surface and have a fine-grained texture (small mineral crystals).
D) Cool beneath the surface and have a course-grained texture (large mineral crystals).

Question 20

Which of the following is an example of a detrital sedimentary rock?

A) Sandstone
B) Marble
C) Chert
D) Quartzite
E) Schist