Question 1

The environmental impact of mining related activities in the Copper Basin,Tennessee region involved all of the following EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

A) destruction of nearby aquatic communities. 
B) deforestation. 
C) acid precipitation. 
D) no exceptions,all of the above occurred in the Copper Basin area.

Question 2

Lava is to volcano as tsunami is to ___.

Accepted Answer

A) tornado 
B) cyclone 
C) firestorm 
D) earthquake

Question 3

The layer of soil rich in organic material but is subject to leaching is ___ or the ___.

Accepted Answer

A) topsoil…A- horizon 
B) subsoil…B- horizon. 
C) weathered parent material…C- horizon. 
D) litter…O- horizon.

Question 4

Which of the following minerals is INCORRECTLY paired with its use(s)

Accepted Answer

A) aluminum - electrical wiring 
B) iron - steel 
C) sand - glass and concrete 
D) sulfur - making plastics and wallboard

Question 5

What percentage of the earth's land area is suitable for agriculture

Accepted Answer

A) 1% 
B) 6% 
C) 11% 
D) 27%

Question 6

Topsoil is lost annually (i.e.,soil erosion),PRIMARILY due to:

Accepted Answer

A) poor agricultural practices. 
B) global warming. 
C) natural processes. 
D) soil mining.

Question 7

In mining,overburden refers to:

Accepted Answer

A) the hill of loose rock created when the soil and rock from a new trench is put into the already excavated trench during strip mining. 
B) the mineral resources that are extracted from deep underground deposits. 
C) the soil and rock overlying a useful mineral deposit. 
D) the mineral resources that are extracted near Earth's surface by first removing the soil,subsoil,and overlying rock strata.

Question 8

Humus is composed of:

Accepted Answer

A) weathered rocks. 
B) glacial debris. 
C) iron and aluminum compounds. 
D) decaying organic matter.

Question 9

Soil erosion is primarily attributed to:

Accepted Answer

A) wildfires,surplus soil organisms and dense vegetation. 
B) poor agricultural practices,overgrazing and deforestation. 
C) weathering,excessive tillage and coastal location. 
D) exhaustion of parent material,severe climate and leaching.

Question 10

What caused acid precipitation at Copper Basin,Tennessee

Accepted Answer

A) strip mining 
B) open-air smelting 
C) livestock grazing 
D) industrial development

Question 11

Which of the following statements about soil is NOT TRUE

Accepted Answer

A) Soil consists of mineral and organic matter modified by the natural actions of agents such as weather,wind,water,and organisms. 
B) Soil formation is a continuous process that takes a long time,sometimes thousands of years,both because the process of rock disintegrating into fine mineral particles is slow,and time is also required for organic material to accumulate in the soil. 
C) An area's terrain influences soil formation -- steep slopes encourage soil formation and accumulation while valleys discourage the formation of deep soils. 
D) Minerals,the main component of soil,provide anchorage and essential nutrient minerals for plants,as well as pore space for water and air.

Question 12

Which of the following statements about mining is FALSE

Accepted Answer

A) Subsurface mining disturbs the land less than surface mining. 
B) Working in open-pit mines is safer for mine workers than shaft mines, 
C) One of the most significant environmental impacts of mineral production is the associated energy usage especially as most of the energy in mining is fossil fuel based. 
D) Acid mine drainage is a pollution problem only where the coal mines are located.

Question 13

Which of the following is NOT an environmental impact of mining

Accepted Answer

A) Eutrophication of waterways 
B) Groundwater depletion 
C) Soil erosion 
D) Acid mine drainage

Question 14

Subsurface mining may be accomplished using:

Accepted Answer

A) shaft mining and open-pit mining 
B) open-pit mining and slope mining 
C) slope mining and strip mining 
D) shaft mining and slope mining

Question 15

The difference between crop rotation and strip cropping is:

Accepted Answer

A) In strip cropping,the crops are alternated by size.In crop rotation,the crops are alternated by color. 
B) In strip cropping,one crop is exposed and the other covered.In crop rotation,dual crops form concentric circles. 
C) In strip cropping,one crop transforms into the other by genetic seed manipulation.In crop rotation,each crop is alternated according to the type of pollinator required. 
D) In strip cropping,the crops are alternated by row.In crop rotation,the crops are alternated by years.

Question 16

Elements or compounds of elements that occur naturally in the Earth's crust are called:

Accepted Answer

A) gems. 
B) ores. 
C) minerals. 
D) metals.

Question 17

Subduction occurs:

Accepted Answer

A) when one tectonic plate slides underneath another. 
B) due to mining activities. 
C) because of the Coriolis effect. 
D) on the leeward side of a mountain.

Question 18

Which of the following statements about nutrient cycling is TRUE

Accepted Answer

A) Bacteria and fungi are involved in nutrient cycling as they decompose detritus transforming large organic molecules into small inorganic molecules,including carbon dioxide,water,and nutrient minerals like nitrates. 
B) Nutrient cycling is the pathway of various nutrient minerals or elements from the environment through organisms and back to the environment. 
C) Nonliving processes are also involved in nutrient cycling,such as the weathering of the parent material replaces some nutrient minerals lost through erosion. 
D) All of the above statements are true about nutrient cycling.

Question 19

Soil erosion:

Accepted Answer

A) may result in decreased water quality for fishes and other aquatic organisms. 
B) does not reduce the fertility of the soil,just the quantity. 
C) is exclusively linked to human activities. 
D) is not affected by the extent of plant cover.

Question 20

Which of the following represents an "ecosystem service" performed by soil organisms

Accepted Answer

A) Maintaining soil fertility by decomposing and cycling organic material. 
B) Providing minerals by assisting in weathering. 
C) Altering topography by amplifying erosion. 
D) Preserving toxic materials by situating toxins into encapsulated structures.

Exam 12: Mineral and Soil Resources