Exam 1: Geology 101, Fall 2005
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1. Which of the following was NOT an objective of this course:
A. introduce the science of geology
B. define minerals and rocks and understand how they are formed and classified
C. introduce the forces that shape the earth
D. examine the relationship between geological resources and the environment
E. all of the above are objectives
2. The definition of geology is "the study of the planet earth," but more specifically it also includes:
A. the materials of which the earth is made
B. human-made minerals
C. living plants and animals
D. all of the above
E. none of the above
3. (a)_____ make up (b)_____, so we need a basic knowledge of both of these to understand what makes up the earth.
A. (a) Rocks, (b) minerals
B. (a) Rocks, (b) atoms
C. (a) Minerals, (b) rocks
D. there is more than one correct answer listed above
E. none of the above combinations
4. Like all sciences, geology is divided into several subdisciplines; _____ is the study of petroleum formation.
A. paleontology
B. mineralogy
C. geomorphology
D. petrology
E. none of the above
5. Another subdiscipline of geology, _____, literally means the study of landform ³shapes.²
A. paleontology
B. mineralogy
C. geomorphology
D. petrology
E. none of the above
6. The individual subdisciplines in geology are further subdivided. For instance, I gave the example that mineralogy could be divided into two broad fields: descriptive mineralogy and _____.
A. crystallography
B. petrology
C. geomorphology
D. petrography
E. none of the above
7. In my ³big picture² view of the earth, I tried to show that:
A. the earthıs surface is made of rocks of the same age
B. the earth is made of different rock types
C. volcanoes form all the mountains on the earth
D. the earthıs surface is composed of several large pieces that are in constant motion
E. none of the above
8. Often mountain chains form where land masses (a)_____, while oceans form where land masses (b)_____.
A. (a) sink, (b) rise
B. (a) pull apart, (b) come together
C. (a) slide past one another, (b) pull apart
D. (a) pull apart, (c) sink
E. none of the above combinations
9. Earthquakes always occur:
A. in the center of continents
B. along ocean shorelines
C. where land masses move in relation to one another
D. all of the above
E. none of the above
10. Minerals find uses in many common products, but some minerals are also deemed harmful. For instance, (a)_____ used to be used in sandpaper and (b)_____ was used in brake pads. However, there is a concern that inhalation of these minerals may be harmful.
A. (a) asbestos, (b) quartz
B. (a) quartz, (b) graphite
C. (a) quartz, (b) asbestos
D. (a) calcite, (b) asbestos
E. none of the above combinations
11. A mineral mined in Idaho, _________, is used to make fertilizer and is also the major mineral comprising our bones and teeth.
A. calcium
B. clay
C. zeolite
D. apatite
E. none of the above
12. Which of the following is NOT part of the definition of a mineral?
A. naturally occurring
B. solid
C. definite chemical composition
D. highly disordered atomic arrangement
E. all of the above are included in the definition of a mineral
13. Generally, minerals are formed by (a)_____, but some minerals are formed by (b)_____, like those that comprise bones and teeth.
A. (a) organic processes, (b) inorganic processes
B. (a) inorganic processes, (b) organic processes
C. (a) a chemist in the lab, (b) nature
D. (a) rocks, (b) humans
E. none of the above combinations
14. All minerals have unique chemical formulas; some can be only one element, for instance (a) _____. Others require two, for instance (b)_____, while other require many, for instance KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 for muscovite.
A. (a) graphite, (b) diamond
B. (a) graphite, (b) gold
C. (a) gold, (b) halite
D. (a) halite, (b) salt
E. none of the above combinations
15. Mineral names are derived in different ways. Some examples of the ways in which minerals are named are:
A. the places where they were first found
B. the lab in which they were made
C. their appearance
D. both A and C
E. none of the above
16. Of the approximately (a)_____ known minerals, (b)_____ are named to honor individuals.
A. (a) 1000, (b) 10%
B (a) 1000, (b) 48%
C. (a) 4000, (b) 48%
D. (a) 10,000, (b) 91%
E. none of the above combinations
17. (a)_____ are negatively-charged particles, and (b)_____ are positively-charged particles that are parts of atoms.
A. (a) Anions, (b) cations
B. (a) Electrons, (b) protons
C. (a) Ions, (b) cations
D. (a) Neutrons, (b) protons
E. none of the above combinations
18. The atomic weight of an element, and in turn the density of minerals made of those elements, is a function of the number of (a) _____, while the size of an atom is a function of its number of (b)_____.
A. (a) electrons, (b) protons
B. (a) electrons, (b) cations
C. (a) protons, (b) electrons
D. (a) protons and neutrons, (b) electrons
E. none of the above combinations
19. There are over ninety naturally-occurring elements, but only eight of them account for almost 99% of the earthıs crust by weight. Which of the following is NOT one of those eight _____?
A. carbon
B. oxygen
C. magnesium
D. silicon
E. none of the above
20. Of the eight most abundant elements, _____ is the one most likely to impart a dark color in minerals. For instance, this element colors biotite black and is lacking in clear muscovite.
A. Ca
B. Si
C. K
D. O
E. none of the above
21. There are different types of chemical bonds, but they all serve the function of:
A. identifying minerals
B. classifying minerals
C. holding the elements together in minerals
D. all of the above
E. none of the above
22. I described three types of chemical bonds: (a)____ bonding occurs when electrons are shared, (b)_____ bonding occurs that when electrons are removed from one atom, and (c)_____ bonding occurs as atoms ³float² in a sea of electrons.
A. (a) Covalent, (b) metallic, (c) ionic
B. (a) Metallic, (b) ionic, (c) covalent
C. (a) Ionic, (b) covalent, (c) metallic
D. (a) Covalent, (b) ionic, (c) metallic
E. none of the above combinations
23. I used an analogy with kids and potbelly stoves to try to show that a continuum exists between (a)_____ chemical bonding and when one stove is turned off, this simulated (b)_____ bonding.
A. (a) ionic and metallic, (b) ionic
B. (a) ionic and metallic, (b) metallic
C. (a) ionic and covalent, (b) ionic
D. (a) ionic and covalent, (b) covalent
E. none of the above
24. While (a)_____ is an example of a physical property of a mineral, (b)_____ best defines what physical properties of minerals are.
A. (a) color, (b) streak
B. (a) luster, (b) a measurable aspect
C. (a) crystal form (b) an observable aspect
D. (a) hardness, (b) a measurable or observable aspect
E. none of the above
25. (a)_____ is defined as an applied force, while (b)____ is a materialıs response to an applied force.
A. (a) Strain, (b) stress
B. (a) Stress, (b) strain
C. (a) Plastic deformation, (b) elastic deformation
D. (a) Elastic deformation, (b) plastic deformation
E. none of the above combinations
26. One important physical property of a mineral is how it breaks. If a mineral breaks along weak planes, it is said to exhibit _____.
A. fracture
B. cleavage
C. elastic deformation
D. dissolution
E. none of the above
27. The physical properties of minerals are:
A. used to classify minerals
B. only properties that can be seen without the aid of a microscope
C. directly related to the mineralıs crystal structure
D. all of the above
E. none of the above
28. Minerals are broadly classified based upon their chemistry and crystal structure. The chemical classification is based upon the major (a)_____ or (b)_____ occurring in the mineral.
A. (a) anion, (b) cation
B. (a) cation, (b) anionic complex
C. (a) anion, (b) cationic complex
D. (a) anion, (b) anionic complex
E. none of the above combinations
29. A cation is defined as (a)_____, while an anion is defined as (b)_____.
A. (a) an atom with fewer electrons than protons, (b) a negatively charged ion
B. (a) a negatively charged ion, (b) a positively charged ion
C. (a) a positively charged ion, (b) an atom with more electrons than protons
D. both A and C
E. none of the above combinations
30. Examples of cations are (a)_____ and examples of anions are (b)_____.
A. (a) Si4+ and Al3+, (b) Si4+ and O2-
B. (a) K1+ and Si4+, (b) O2-and S1-
C. (a) O2-and S1-, (b) K1+ and Si4+
D. all of the above combinations
E. none of the above combinations
31. When elements combine to form minerals, the charges on the corresponding cations and anions must sum to _____.
A. zero
B. a positive number
C. a negative number
D. fit together
E. none of the above
32. Quartz, the most abundant mineral in the earth's crust, has the chemical formula:
A. SiO
B. SiO2
C. SiO3
D. SiO4
E. none of the above
33. While quartz is the most abundant mineral in the earth's crust, feldspars are the most abundant mineral group, making up approximately (a)_____ of the earth's crust. All feldspars contain Al, Si, and O, and they are distinguished by the other elements they contain, which are (b)____.
A. (a) 12%, (b) K, Na, Ca
B. (a) 50%, (b) Mg, Fe
C. (a) 12%, (b) Mg, Fe
D. (a) 50%, (b) K, Na, Ca
E. none of the above
34. Sulfides and sulfates are both major mineral classes. The difference between the two is ____. And the reason we care is because the lead in a lead sulfide is less bioavailable than that in a lead sulfate.
A. sulfates cannot form in oxygen
B. sulfides are based on the anion S, while sulfates are based on the anionic complex SO4
C. sulfides form when exposed to oxygen
D. sulfates alter to sulfides when exposed to oxygen
E. none of the above
35. Along with charge considerations, the anions and cations that comprise a mineral must:
A. be the same size
B. fit together
C. repel
D. be different sizes
E. all of the above
36. In general, anions are (a)_____ than cations, because they have (b)_____ electrons than protons.
A. (a) larger, (b) fewer
B. (a) larger, (b) more
C. (a) smaller, (b) fewer
D. (a) smaller, (b) more
E. none of the above combinations
37. Chemically, silicate minerals are based on the anionic complex (a)_____, and structurally the (b)_____.
A. (a) (SiO4)4-, (b) oxygen tetrahedron
B. (a) SiO, (b) silicate tetrahedron
C. (a) Si and O in any combination, (b) silicate tetrahedron
D. (a) (SiO4)4-, (b) silicate tetrahedron
E. none of the above combinations
38. Silicate tetrahedrons (a)_____ to form several different groups of silicate minerals. Feldspars and quartz are examples of (b)_____ silicates, which have the tetrahedrons joined in three dimensions.
A. (a) polymerize, (b) framework
B. (a) join, (b) chain
C. (a) polymerize, (b) sheets
D. (a) separate, (b) framework
E. none of the above
39. Which of the following could be the correct chemical formula for a Ca feldspar (given Ca = +2, Al = +3, Si = +4, O = -2)?
A. Ca2Al2Si2O8
B. CaAl2Si2O8
C. CaAlSi3O8
D. CaAl2Si2O6
E. Ca3Al2Si2O8
40. I defined a rock as:
A. a naturally occurring solid made of minerals
B. a naturally occurring hard material
C. a collection of mineral(s) ³glued² together
D. a collection of mineral(s)
E. none of the above
41. Rocks are grouped into three major types as a function of how they formed, and termed:
A. igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic
B. granite, basalt, and sandstone
C. magma, sediment, and granite
D. quartz, feldspar, and mica
E. none of the above
42. (a)_____ rocks form from magma, (b)_____ rocks form from sediment, and (c)_____ rocks form from existing rocks.
A. (a) Metamorphic, (b) igneous, (c) sedimentary
B. (a) Sedimentary, (b) igneous, (c) metamorphic
C. (a) Metamorphic, (b) sedimentary, (c) igneous
D. (a) Igneous, (b) sedimentary, (c) metamorphic
E. none of the above combinations
43. We can distinguish between the major rock types by observing how the minerals comprising them are arranged. For instance, in (a) _____ the grains are often rounded and non-interlocking, while they are often interlocking in (b)____.
A. (a) igneous rocks, (b) sedimentary rocks
B. (a) sedimentary rocks, (b) igneous rocks
C. (a) metamorphic rocks, (b) sedimentary rocks
D. (a) granite, (b) sandstone
E. none of the above
44. In general, the different rocks types are classified based on (a)_____ (i.e., the minerals they contain) and (b)_____ (i.e., the shape and arrangement of these minerals).
A. (a) how they formed, (b) where they formed
B. (a) their appearance, (b) their chemistry
C. (a) their composition, (b) their texture
D. (a) their texture, (b) their composition
E. none of the above combinations
45. (a) _____ is the field of geology that deals with the classification and description of rocks, and (b)_____ deals with the origin of rocks.
A. (a) Petrology, (b) petrography
B. (a) Petrography, (b) petrology
C. (a) Mineralogy, (b) petrology
D. (a) Geomorphology, (b) mineralogy
E. none of the above
46. Geologists use the rock cycle to show the relationship between formation and destruction of the three major rock types. For example, (a)_____ rocks form from a cooling magma, which in turn could weather to form (b)_____. Next, (b)_____ could form a/an (c)_____ rock, which could in turn melt to form (d)_____ and complete the cycle.
A. (a) igneous, (b) sediment, (c) sedimentary, (d) magma
B. (a) lava, (b) igneous rocks, (c) metamorphic, (d) magma
C. (a) igneous, (b) sediment, (c) igneous, (d) magma
D. (a) magma, (b) sediment, (c) sedimentary, (d) granite
E. none of the above combinations
47. An example of light colored igneous rock with large mineral grains (i.e., they can be seen) is (a)_____ (this rock comprises Moscow Mountain), while an example of a dark colored igneous rock with small mineral grains (i.e., they cannot be seen with the unaided eye) is (b)_____ (this rock underlies the city of Moscow).
B. (a) garnet, (b) biotite
C. (a) basalt, (b) granite
D. (a) sandstone, (b) basalt
E. none of the above combinations
48. Different phases of a material are stable as a function of _____. Because of this we can predict where materials form on or in the earth.
A. composition
B. pressure
C. temperature
D. pressure and temperature
E. none of the above
49. Recall from the first day of class I told you the single most important way ³to succeed in college² was to:
A. come to class
B. pay attention (i.e., donıt sleep)
C. take good notes
D. read the text
E. bribe the professor
50. I have made sure that my ID and name are correctly entered on the scan sheet, I will take the test with me when I leave, and I have answered all the questions on the test and entered them on the scan sheet.
A. yes
B. no