Deck 23: Rocks and Minerals

Question 1

All minerals are

A)organic.
B)crystals.
C)crystalline solids.
D)synthetic.

Answer 1

C

Question 2

A mineral's hardness is dependent on the

A)strength of its chemical bonds.
B)strength of its ionization.
C)size of its atoms; large atoms are harder than small atoms.
D)geometric arrangement of atoms; sheet structured tetrahedra are harder than chained tetrahedra.

Answer 2

A

Question 3

The mineral gold (Au)is very soft. Gold's softness can be attributed to

A)large, tightly packed atoms.
B)small, loosely bonded atoms.
C)large, loosely packed, and loosely bonded atoms.
D)large, closely packed, and strong bonded atoms.

Answer 3

C

Question 4

Moh's scale is defined on the basis of minerals that have different

A)cleavage directions.
B)colors.
C)hardnesses.
D)shapes.

Question 5

Color is not a reliable means for mineral identification because

A)minerals come in a variety of colors, and chemical impurities in the mineral can affect color.
B)minerals can weather and change color.
C)a mineral's powdered color is different than its solid color.
D)there are so many colored minerals.

Question 6

The physical property of cleavage, the tendency of certain minerals to split along certain planar surfaces, is conspicuous in

A)sapphire.
B)mica.
C)quartz.
D)chalk.

Question 7

The property of a mineral to break along planes of weakness is referred to as

A)cleavage.
B)hardness.
C)fracture.
D)bond strength.

Question 8

The two most abundant elements in Earth's crust are

A)silicates and carbonates.
B)silicon and oxygen.
C)oxygen and aluminum.
D)quartz and feldspar.

Question 9

Minerals are composed of

A)silicon compounds.
B)common types of rocks.
C)elements joined as compounds.
D)homogeneous solids.

Question 10

Which of the following properties most clearly reflects the internal arrangement of atoms in a crystalline material?

A)color
B)cleavage
C)luster
D)specific gravity

Question 11

The basic building block of all silicate minerals is the

A)silicate tetrahedron.
B)crystalline silicate sulfur.
C)silicate triangular structure.
D)silicate cleavage direction.

Question 12

The last minerals to crystallize are those with the

A)higher melting point.
B)lower melting point.
C)strongest bonds.
D)weakest bonds.

Question 13

A mineral that is not a silicate is

A)feldspar.
B)mica.
C)calcite.
D)quartz.

Question 14

The first minerals to crystallize are those with the

A)higher melting point.
B)lower melting point.

Question 15

Minerals that have strong bonds between flat crystal surfaces tend to

A)cleave more easily.
B)show poor cleavage.
C)show well-developed cleavage.
D)have a well-developed streak.

Question 16

Based on its abundance in Earth's crust, most rocks contain a mineral composed of the elements oxygen and

A)carbon.
B)silicon.
C)iron.
D)sulfur.

Question 17

A polymorph can be defined as

A)a set of silicate minerals.
B)minerals that have the same chemical formula, but different crystal structures.
C)minerals that have the same crystal structure, but different chemical formulas.
D)minerals that have the same chemical formula and crystal structure, but exhibit different physical properties.

Question 18

Minerals are formed by the process of

A)crystallization.
B)magma differentiation.
C)silica enrichment.
D)partial melting.

Question 19

Cleavage is the tendency of a mineral to break along planes of weakness. The planes of weakness are a function of crystal form and

A)hardness.
B)chemical bond.
C)symmetry.
D)crystal size.

Question 20

The most common mineral in Earth's crust is ________ and the second most common mineral is ________.

A)quartz; feldspar
B)feldspar; quartz
C)silicate; carbonate
D)olivine; feldspar

Question 21

Of the following rocks, the one that does not originate in sediments laid down by water, wind, or ice is

A)sandstone.
B)marble.
C)shale.
D)conglomerate.

Question 22

Petroleum and oil reserves are often found in sedimentary rocks because

A)these rocks are very porous and permeable.
B)chemical changes occur to create these reserves.
C)these rocks can contain fossilized organic matter.
D)oil accumulates in the sediments.

Question 23

If the rock particles in a sedimentary rock are relatively small and if the grains are well sorted and well rounded, we can infer that the sediment grains traveled a

A)short distance.
B)long distance for a long time.
C)short distance for a long time.

Question 24

The rock that has undergone the greatest extent of metamorphic change is

A)gneiss.
B)slate.
C)shale.
D)schist.

Question 25

The property many metamorphic rocks exhibit by flat or elongated mineral grains in parallel layers is called

A)schist.
B)cleavage.
C)foliation.
D)lithification.

Question 26

Which of the following is not a characteristic of quartz?

A)hardness of 7
B)commonly occurs in six-sided crystals
C)one direction of cleavage
D)conchoidal fracture
E)made up of SiO₂

Question 27

The metamorphic equivalent of limestone is

A)gneiss.
B)marble.
C)quartzite.
D)schist.

Question 28

The layered appearance of foliated metamorphic rocks is due to the

A)laying down of minerals, layer upon layer.
B)realignment of minerals so that they are perpendicular to compressive forces.
C)recrystallization of minerals.
D)mechanics of weathering minerals.

Question 29

Some ________ rock is formed from minerals that were once dissolved in water.

A)sedimentary
B)igneous
C)metamorphic
D)igneous and metamorphic

Question 30

By definition, an ore is a mineral rich in valuable metals. To be considered as an ore means that the

A)metals can be economically extracted to yield a profit.
B)metals are extremely valuable.
C)deposit is very rich and abundant in valuable metals.
D)metallic minerals are very abundant.

Question 31

A foliated metamorphic rock derived from granite is

A)gneiss.
B)quartzite.
C)slate.
D)marble.

Question 32

The majority of surface rocks are

A)extrusive.
B)sedimentary.
C)intrusive.
D)metamorphic.

Question 33

The two most common igneous rocks are basalt and granite. Basalt is commonly found ________ and granite is found ________.

A)on the ocean floor; on the continents
B)on both the ocean floor and continental land; only on the continents
C)on the continents; on the ocean floor
D)on the ocean floor; on both the ocean floor and on continental land

Question 34

Metamorphism caused by the close proximity of a magma source is called

A)contact metamorphism.
B)dynamic metamorphism.
C)regional metamorphism.
D)none of the above

Question 35

Magma that solidifies before reaching Earth's surface is called

A)intrusive igneous rock.
B)plutonic rock.
C)a pluton.
D)all of the above

Question 36

A mineral deposit can be classified as an ore deposit when

A)valuable metals are present in the deposit.
B)valuable metals in the deposit can be mined at a profit.
C)it contains valuable fossil fuels.
D)it contains valuable gemstone quality minerals.

Question 37

Limestone may be made up of

A)fragments of granitic and andesitic rocks.
B)animal bones.
C)shell fragments from marine animals.
D)plant debris.

Question 38

Rocks altered by heat and pressure beneath Earth's surface are

A)intrusive igneous rocks.
B)extrusive sedimentary rocks.
C)metamorphic rocks.
D)igneous rocks.

Question 39

Because sedimentary rocks are formed at Earth's surface, they provide clues about past geologic events and settings. A low energy, quiet environment such as a lagoon or lake bed provide the perfect setting for the formation of

A)marble
B)shale and evaporites.
C)basalt.
D)none of the above

Question 40

The most common carbonate rock is

A)dolomite.
B)calcite.
C)halite.
D)limestone.

Question 41

Describe the process of crystallization.

Question 42

What is the difference between a mineral and an element?

Question 43

Rocks are grouped into three classes depending on how the rock was

A)formed.
B)located.
C)discovered.
D)shaped.

Question 44

A mineral's hardness depends on the strength of its chemical bonds. Name and describe the factors that influence hardness.

Question 45

What are the processes that transform sediment into sedimentary rock?

Question 46

Coal is composed of

A)petrified wood.
B)buried plant material that has partially decayed.
C)buried animal material that has partially decayed.
D)a combination of oil-rich sediments and calcareous ooze.

Question 47

Rocks can begin to melt if

A)a decrease in pressure results in a sufficient decrease in the rocks' melting point.
B)the rocks' water content increases thereby decreasing the rocks' melting point.
C)heated by rising magma from Earth's interior.
D)all of the above
E)none of the above

Question 48

Contact metamorphic rocks are typically not foliated because

A)the parent rock does not contain the correct type of minerals to produce foliation.
B)contact metamorphism occurs from heat and not from deformation due to stress.
C)contact metamorphism does not produce minerals, such as the micas, which are needed for foliation to occur.

Question 49

As the process of crystallization continues (from molten liquid to solid crystal), how does the composition of the molten liquid change?

Question 50

Does the rock cycle always follow a certain path? In other words, is it a one-way process?

Question 51

The high concentration of iridium at the Cretaceous Tertiary boundary may be attributable to

A)a worldwide rise in sea level.
B)meteorite bombardment.
C)an out flux of iridium from Earth's interior.
D)none of the above

Question 52

What two factors can change a rock's melting point?

Question 53

When the mineral assemblage of a rock changes due to high temperature and pressure, the rock undergoes

A)crystal deformation.
B)secondary metamorphism.
C)recrystallization.
D)all of the above

Question 54

Igneous rock is formed from

A)crystallization of magma.
B)high temperatures and pressures acting on subsurface rock.
C)lava that freezes on Earth's surface.
D)all of the above

Question 55

A sedimentary rock can turn into an igneous rock by

A)compaction and cementation.
B)compaction.
C)melting and cooling.
D)weathering and lithification.

Question 56

The oldest rocks that have been dated by radioactivity are approximately

A)2 million years old.
B)200 million years old.
C)4 billion years old.
D)10 billion years old.

Question 57

According to most estimates, Earth is approximately

A)4)6 thousand years old.
B)4)6 million years old.
C)4)6 billion years old.
D)4)6 trillion years old.

Question 58

What is the difference between intrusive and extrusive igneous rocks?

Question 59

What is the evidence that a meteorite impact caused the great extinction at the end of the Mesozoic?