Q&A Hero

Q: The mantle can be separated into two different portions: the lower mantle and the upper mantle. The lower mantle is A) completely solid due to extreme pressure that prevents iron-rich silica rocks from melting. B) composed of silly putty that flows like molasses. C) rigid and has no capability of flow. D) predominantly liquid silica.

Q: Continental crust is A) thinner than oceanic crust. B) less dense than oceanic crust. C) more dense than oceanic crust. D) thinner and more dense than oceanic crust.

Q: The asthenosphere is part of the A) crust. B) lithosphere. C) mantle. D) outer core.

Q: The outer core is A) rock. B) plastic. C) liquid. D) the source for volcanoes.

Q: Earth's magnetic field is not stable; throughout geologic time it has changed direction. This change is attributed to A) changes in the direction of fluid flow in the molten outer core of Earth. B) magnetic pole reversals. C) fluctuations in the time / space continuum. D) changes in the direction of fluid flow in the molten inner core of Earth.

Q: The Earth's magnetic field is attributed to the A) flow of molten liquid in Earth's inner core. B) flow of molten fluid in Earth's outer core. C) movement of lithospheric plates in the outer mantle. D) movement of lithospheric plates at Earth's surface.

Q: Evidence to support the fact that Earth's central core is solid can be attributed to A) a decrease in S-wave velocity as they encounter and move through the inner core. B) an increase in P-wave velocity as they encounter and move through the inner core. C) a decrease in P-wave velocity as they encounter and move through the inner core. D) an increase in S-wave velocity as they encounter and move through the inner core.

Q: Because S-waves do not travel through Earth's outer core, scientists inferred that the outer core is A) impenetrable. B) molten liquid. C) solid. D) very dense.

Q: The Mohorovicic discontinuity marks the change in rock density elasticity between the A) inner and outer core. B) core and the mantle. C) mantle and the crustal surface. D) asthenosphere and lithosphere.

Q: P-waves travel faster through the inner core than the outer core because the inner core is A) hotter than the outer core. B) the same as the outer core. C) rock. D) solid.

Q: Which seismic waves produce a wave shadow? A) P-waves. B) Love waves. C) S-waves. D) P- and S- waves

Q: How is a seismogram similar to an X-ray?

Q: Compare the relative speeds of primary and secondary seismic waves, and relate speeds of travel to the medium in which the waves travel.

Q: Body waves can be divided into two typesprimary waves and secondary waves. What is the difference between these two types of body waves?

Q: What are the two major kinds of waves an earthquake produces?

Q: How can the location and the strength of an earthquake be determined?

Q: In comparison to S-waves, P-waves A) cannot travel through solids, they only travel through fluids. B) are the fastest of all seismic waves and the first to register on a seismograph. C) are the second to register on a seismograph. D) all of the above

Q: In comparison to S-waves, P-waves A) vibrate the particles of their medium up and down and side-to-side. B) can travel through solid granite, magma, water and/or air. C) can travel only through solids, not through fluids. D) are the second seismic wave to register on a seismograph.

Q: In comparison to P-waves, S-waves A) compress and expand the rock as they move through it. B) can travel through all mediumssolid granite, magma, water and/or air. C) can travel only through solidsnot in fluids. D) are fast and the first to register on a seismograph.

Q: Earth's internal layers were discovered by studying the propagation of P- and S- waves through Earth's interior. In comparison to P-waves, the movement of S-waves are A) faster and compresses and expands the rock as they move through it. B) faster and vibrates rock particles up and down and side-to-side. C) slower and can travel through solid granite, magma, water or air. D) slower and they can only travel through solids, not liquids.

Q: Earth's internal layers were discovered by studying the movement of P- and S- waves through Earth's interior. In comparison to S-waves, the movement of P-waves is A) fast, compressing and expanding the rock as they move through it. B) fast, vibrating the rock particles up and down and side-to-side. C) slower and can travel through solid granite, magma, water or air. D) slower and can travel only through solids, not liquids.

Q: Earth's internal layers were discovered by studying A) seismic waves. B) the Mohorovicic discontinuity. C) Rayleigh and Love waves. D) convection cells.

Q: An Earthquake occurs as A) seismic waves travel to Earth's surface. B) energy released from Earth's interior travels to Earth's surface. C) energy released at Earth's surface travels to Earth's interior. D) seismic waves travel to Earth's interior. E) energy released from Earth's interior travels in the form of seismic waves to Earth's surface.

Q: The movement of seismic waves through Earth's interior provides evidence of internal layering. The first boundary discovered was between the A) upper and lower mantle. B) inner and outer core. C) outer core and the mantle. D) mantle and the crust.

Q: Secondary waves can travel through all areas of Earth except the A) surface. B) outer core. C) inner core. D) mantle.

Q: A seismograph A) predicts earthquakes. B) measures ground movement. C) helps prevent earthquakes. D) measures fault displacement.

Q: Earthquake P-waves A) travel in straight lines through Earth's core. B) cannot move through Earth's core. C) are transverse vibrations similar to sound waves. D) are longitudinal vibrations similar to sound waves.

Q: The fastest seismic wave is a A) Primary wave. B) Secondary wave. C) Tertiary wave. D) Rayleigh wave.

Q: Motion in a P-wave is A) side to side. B) transverse. C) longitudinal. D) up and down.

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

Q: Andesitic magma produces A) andesite rocks. B) granitic rocks. C) basaltic rocks. D) metamorphic rocks.

Q: Metamorphic rock that is weathered and broken down into small pieces can become A) igneous rock. B) recrystallized. C) sediments which can then become sedimentary rock. D) fossilized.

Q: Sedimentary rocks subjected to melting become A) lithified. B) metamorphic rocks. C) igneous rocks. D) limestone.

Q: The type of mineral formed is determined by A) crystallization. B) the elements present and the conditions that lead to formation. C) silica content. D) chemical bonding.

Q: Rocks formed by cooling from a molten state are A) precipitated rocks. B) igneous rocks. C) sedimentary rocks. D) metamorphic rocks.

Q: Most rock-forming minerals are members of the group called A) silicates. B) carbonates. C) sulfates. D) oxides.

Q: Plutonic rocks subjected to high temperature and pressure transform by A) recrystallization of existing mineral grains. B) deformation of mineral grains. C) melting down of existing minerals. D) any of these

Q: As sediments accumulate, compaction and cementation produce sedimentary rock. This process is called A) consolidation. B) solidification. C) lithification. D) solifluction.

Q: Rocks can begin to melt if A) a decrease in pressure results in a sufficient decrease in the rock's melting point. B) the rock's water content increases thereby decreasing the rock's melting point. C) heated by rising magma from the Earth's interior. D) all of the above. E) none of the above.

Q: What effect do fluids have on metamorphism?

Q: Can metamorphism, caused solely by elevated temperature, occur without the presence of magma? Why or why not?

Q: Distinguish between metamorphic foliation and sedimentary layering.

Q: What are the chief types of metamorphic rocks?

Q: The metamorphism of coal to anthracite occurs due to A) high pressure and high temperature. B) high temperatures. C) contact metamorphism. D) crystallization of organic matter.

Q: Zoned sequences of minerals are a characteristic of A) contact metamorphism. B) regional metamorphism. C) foliated metamorphism. D) mechanical deformation.

Q: Metamorphic foliation is A) the same as sedimentary layering. B) the prominent orientation of recrystallized minerals. C) caused by the interaction with chemical fluids. D) a layered appearance caused by mineral growth perpendicular to direction of pressure.

Q: All of the following occur during metamorphism except A) melting. B) recrystallization. C) interaction with chemical fluids. D) changes in composition.

Q: Regional metamorphic rocks are distinguished from igneous rocks because A) they are finer grained. B) regionally metamorphosed rocks are foliated and igneous rocks are not. C) igneous rocks have interlocking grains and metamorphic rocks do not. D) metamorphic rocks often have a "baked zone" and igneous rocks do not.

Q: Foliation in metamorphic rocks is due to directed stress, which causes elongated minerals to orient themselves A) in parallel planes with the face of each plane parallel to the direction of maximum stress. B) in alignment. C) so that smaller crystals precede larger crystals. D) in parallel planes perpendicular to the direction of maximum stress.

Q: 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.

Q: The characteristic that distinguishes schist from slate is that schist is A) foliated and slate is not. B) fine-grained and slate is coarse-grained. C) coarse-grained and slate is fine-grained. D) not foliated and slate is foliated.

Q: Metamorphism caused by the alteration of rock by both thermal and mechanical means is called A) contact metamorphism. B) dynamic metamorphism. C) regional metamorphism. D) none of the above

Q: Fluids in a metamorphic reaction A) speed up the process. B) neutralize the process. C) slow down the process. D) have no effect on the process of metamorphism.

Q: 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

Q: Limestone may be metamorphosed into A) schist. B) marble. C) quartzite. D) gneiss.

Q: 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.

Q: In contact metamorphism, we generally find A) water-rich, high-temperature rocks at the contact border. B) dry, high-temperature rocks at the contact border. C) water-rich, low-temperature rocks at the contact border. D) dry, low-temperature rocks at the contact border.

Q: The metamorphic equivalent of limestone is A) gneiss. B) marble. C) quartzite. D) schist.

Q: Metamorphism caused by the close proximity of a magma source is called A) contact metamorphism. B) dynamic metamorphism. C) regional metamorphism. D) none of these

Q: The rock that has undergone the greatest extent of metamorphic change is A) gneiss. B) slate. C) shale. D) schist.

Q: A non-foliated metamorphic rock is A) slate. B) schist. C) gneiss. D) quartzite.

Q: Mica is not found in A) slate. B) schist. C) gneiss. D) quartzite.

Q: The metamorphic property of flat or elongated mineral grains in parallel layers is called A) schist. B) cleavage. C) foliation. D) lithification.

Q: A nonfoliated metamorphic rock composed of carbonate minerals is A) gneiss. B) quartzite. C) slate. D) marble.

Q: A foliated metamorphic rock derived from granite is A) gneiss. B) quartzite. C) slate. D) marble.

Q: The layered appearance of foliated metamorphic rocks is due to the A) laying down of micaceous minerals, layer upon layer. B) realignment of sheet-structured minerals so that they are perpendicular to compressive forces. C) recrystallization of minerals. D) mechanical deformation of sheet-structured minerals.

Q: Layered sedimentary rocks and foliated metamorphic rocks share similarities because A) most foliated metamorphic rocks are derived from layered sedimentary rocks. B) they both are formed layer upon layer. C) the minerals in these two types of rocks form in parallel planes. D) both rock types are subjected to compressive forces.

Q: Slate is metamorphosed A) granite, a foliated rock with alternating layers of dark platy minerals and lighter granular minerals. B) shale, a foliated rock composed of very small particles and flakes of mica. C) marble, a foliated rock with water-tight crystals. D) limestone.

Q: How does sediment turn into sedimentary rock?

Q: Which of the following rocks would be the first to weather in a humid climate? Which would be the last? Defend your answers. (a) granite (b) sandstone (c) limestone (d) halite

Q: How does sediment turn into sedimentary rock?

Q: Pebbles of granite are very common in a conglomerate, whereas pebbles of marble are relatively uncommon. Why is this? What are the properties of the different minerals in these rocks?

Q: What are the processes that transform sediment into sedimentary rock?

Q: Coal is considered to be a A) biochemical sedimentary rock. B) clastic sedimentary rock. C) fossiliferous sedimentary rock. D) chemical sedimentary rock.

Q: Which of the following is not a characteristic of clastic sedimentary rock? A) They are composed of small pieces of weathered rock. B) They are classified by particle size. C) They are created by precipitation. D) They may contain organic matter.

Q: How is erosion different from weathering? A) Erosion is the process of removing sediment from weathered rock. B) Erosion produces more sediment than weathering. C) Erosion produces less sediment than weathering. D) Erosion and weathering are different ways of saying the same thing.

Q: The most characteristic feature of sedimentary rocks is that they are A) observed in great thicknesses. B) formed in layered sequences-strata. C) fossiliferous. D) made from unconsolidated sediments.

Q: The main producer of sediment is A) mechanical weathering. B) ice wedging. C) chemical Weathering. D) erosion.

Q: Rocks break down to form sediment via A) erosion. B) transportation. C) sedimentation. D) weathering.

Q: Coal is formed from A) anthracite. B) deeply buried oil sediments. C) swamps. D) lithified peat.