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Go to: Midterm Exam

Geology (GLGY 201-UCAL) Final Exam

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Question 1

How do we measure stress experienced by geologic materials in nature? (ID-GLF-112)

A	We cannot directly measure stress, but we can infer stress using strain preserved as deformations in minerals and rocks.
B	We measure stress using specialized equipment that keep track of movement of geologic masses.
C	None of the answers are correct.
D	We measure stress using changes in pressure and temperature observed within geologic materials over a period.
E	We measure stress based on detection of earthquakes and their magnitudes with respect to location.

Question 1 Explanation:

Ref: Dr. Brandon Karchewski Fall 2015 lecture notes.
Note: Most than one answer is correct. But on multiple choice exams, you should choose the MOST suitable answer. Consider this question as a good example for your future university exams.

Question 2

Diversity of genera/organisms peaked during what time? (ID-GLF-21)

A	Early Proterozoic
B	Late Cenozoic
C	Early Cambrian
D	Late Mesozoic
E	Early Cenozoic

Question 3

What is 3H on the following diagram? (ID-GLF-30)
Note: DO NOT scroll down to the Geologic Time scale on this page. Answer this question without using any AIDS.

A	Carboniferous
B	Jurassic
C	Cretaceous
D	Permian
E	Pennsylvanian
F	Devonian

Question 4

Arrange the geologic events on the following cross section from the oldest event (first one) to the youngest event (last one). (ID-GLF-83)

I. Deposition and folding of units 1 to 7
II. Intrusion of the granite pluton
III. Deposition of units A to C
IV. Formation of the unconformity
V. Faulting
VI. Intrusion of the gabbro dyke

A	VI (oldest) , I , III , V , II , IV (youngest)
B	VI (oldest) , II , III , IV , I , V (youngest)
C	V (oldest) , III , VI , IV , II , I (youngest)
D	I (oldest) , II , VI , IV , III , V (youngest)
E	I (oldest) , III , VI , IV , II , V (youngest)
F	V (oldest) , II , VI , IV , III , I (youngest)

Question 5

In Geology, the term orogenesis refers to which of the following? (ID-GLF-99)

A	Study of the origins of rocks and minerals.
B	Study of the origin of Earth and its evolution.
C	Process of magma generation and solidification.
D	Process of mountain building.
E	Process of biological and geological evolution of life and Earth.

Question 5 Explanation:

Ref: Dr. Brandon Karchewski Fall 2015 lecture notes.

Question 6

What is 3G on the following diagram? (ID-GLF-39)
Note: DO NOT scroll down to the Geologic Time scale on this page. Answer this question without using any AIDS.

A	Cenozoic
B	Devonian
C	Permian
D	Cretaceous
E	Eocene
F	Jurassic

Question 7

What is closure temperature? (ID-GLF-23)

A	The temperature below which isotopes are no longer free to move.
B	The temperature above which crystals are first formed.
C	The temperature above which the water is neither a gas nor a liquid.
D	The temperature below which crystals are first formed.
E	The temperature below which magma no longer have the ability to erupt out of the volcano.

Question 8

The two most abundant rocks within oceanic crust are... (ID-GLF-11)

A	basalt and gabbro
B	shale and gabbro
C	basalt and shale
D	shale and limestone

Question 9

Where does the mesopause boundary located? (ID-GLF-37)

A	Around the 10 km altitude.
B	Between Mesosphere and Troposphere.
C	Around the 45 km altitude.
D	Between Mesosphere and Thermosphere.
E	Between Mesosphere and Stratosphere.

Question 10

A geologic fold structure that is shaped like an arch where the limbs of the fold have the same dip angle in opposite directions is called a(an)... (ID-GLF-04)

A	symmetrical anticline
B	symmetrical syncline
C	asymmetrical anticline
D	asymmetrical syncline

Question 11

Which of the following will not result in favorable environment for meandering streams? (ID-GLF-96)

A	Narrow flood plains
B	Soft substrate with high degree of erosion
C	High sediment carrying capacity
D	Very low stream gradient

Question 11 Explanation:

Ref: Dr. Alexander Dutchak Fall 2015 lecture notes.

Question 12

What is the best estimate of the age of Earth according to current scientific observations and evidence? (ID-GLF-25)

A	4.54 Ga
B	3.87 Ga
C	3.92 Ga
D	3.55 Ga
E	4.03 Ga

Question 13

Groundwater extraction result in formation of cones of depression. Which of the following scenario would create the largest (deepest and most laterally extensive) depression cones? (ID-GLF-90)

A	Extraction of groundwater in large volumes in a small period of time.
B	Higher rate of leaking groundwater into rivers and lakes due to higher formation pressures.
C	Extraction of groundwater in large volumes in a long period of time.
D	Injection/addition of water into the ground due to heavy rainfall.

Question 13 Explanation:

Groundwater extraction at a higher rate/volume will reduce the window needed to "bounce back" of cone of depression by infilling the pore space.
Ref: Dr. Alexander Dutchak Fall 2015 lecture notes.

Question 14

Ductile behavior occurs below ____ in the crust. (ID-GLF-113)

A	5 - 7km
B	40 - 50 km
C	1000 - 1500 m
D	15 - 20 km
E	500 - 1000 m

Question 14 Explanation:

Ref: Dr. Brandon Karchewski Fall 2015 lecture notes.

Question 15

Which earthquake intensity scale takes into account the amount of slip that has occurred along the fault plane? (ID-GLF-01)

A	Mercalli scale
B	Richter scale
C	Seismic-moment magnitude scale
D	Wadati-Benioff scale

Question 16

Which of the following is an example of a orogenic mountain belt that has formed from the collision of two large continents? (ID-GLF-12)

A	Canadian Rockies
B	Basin and Range
C	Himalayas
D	Hawaiian Islands

Question 17

Which of the following sedimentary rocks would it be easiest to determine the type of rocks from which the sediment was derived? (ID-GLF-78)

A	Siltstone
B	Sandstone
C	Conglomerate
D	Mudstone

Question 18

Which of the following is most likely a trace fossil? (ID-GLF-68)

A	Petrified wood
B	Burrows
C	Shell fragments
D	Skeletons
E	Amber embedded fossils

Question 19

Alluvial fans deposits are characterized by which of the following features? (ID-GLF-95)

A	Gradual decrease in grain size from corasest to finest as moving from the mouth to the distal edge.
B	Very thick sandy deposits distally on the edge of the fan.
C	Muddy deposits closer to the mouth and sandy deposits distally at the edge.
D	High clastic sediment deposits on the edge of the fan.

Question 19 Explanation:

Ref: Dr. Alexander Dutchak Fall 2015 lecture notes.

Question 20

What is Laurentia? (ID-GLF-28)

A	The ocean that was once covered the Alberta region, which helped the formation of oil/gas deposits.
B	A continent in the early Paleozoic Era composed of today’s North America and Greenland.
C	A proposed Precambrian supercontinent that existed around 1 billion years ago.
D	None of the answers are correct.
E	A supercontinent that consisted of today’s South America, Africa, Antarctica, India, and Australia.

Question 21

What is 3L on the following diagram? (ID-GLF-20)
Note: DO NOT scroll down to the Geologic Time scale on this page. Answer this question without using any AIDS.

A	Pennsylvanian
B	Jurassic
C	Triassic
D	Devonian
E	Ordovician

Question 22

What is competence of a sediment transport system? (ID-GLF-93)

A	It measures the largest clast/sediment size a stream/river can transport.
B	It measures the rate of sediment supply to a stream/river system.
C	It measures the rate at which the transport system deposit its load.
D	It measures the volume of sediments transported by a stream/river system.
E	It measure the flow rate of sediments at a fixed given location.

Question 22 Explanation:

Ref: Dr. Alexander Dutchak Fall 2015 lecture notes.

Question 23

What is adiabatic cooling or adiabatic heating? (ID-GLF-34)

A	Cooling or heating of air or matter without increasing or decreasing of pressure.
B	Cooling or heating of air or matter through geologic uplift.
C	Cooling or heating of air or matter through compression solidification or decompression melting.
D	Cooling or heating of air or matter without decreasing or increasing of temperature.
E	Cooling or heating of air or matter without the addition or subtraction of atoms or molecules.
F	Cooling or heating of air or matter without the addition or subtraction of thermal energy.

Question 24

Why earthquakes are rare below 660 km? (ID-GLF-119)

A	Increase in pressure
B	Increase in frictional forces
C	Lack of water
D	Lower temperatures
E	Mantle is ductile

Question 24 Explanation:

Ref: Dr. Brandon Karchewski Fall 2015 lecture notes.

Question 25

This process occurs due to air becoming warmer, buoyant and rises. The primary driving force for this process is the temptation variations on the Earth's surface. What is this process? (ID-GLF-41)

A	Divergent lifting
B	Orographic lifting
C	Convergence lifting
D	Convective lifting
E	Frontal lifting

Question 26

You have been hired as a Geotechnical Specialist, a Geologist or a Geological Engineer by the City of Calgary. You have been assigned to find out why a road surface crumbles as a result of "popping-up" during wet Winter/Spring and subsiding during warm hot summers. What is the most likely fundamental conclusion you would submit to the City of Calgary? Note: This is a real world problem happening here in Dhalhouise, Calgary right now. (ID-GLF-91)

A	There must be a very large cone of depression directly under the road surface in question causing surface to subside during warm and dry seasons.
B	The groundwater must be flowing at a faster rate during wet spring and summer than during winter causing subsurface erosion.
C	Weight of the materials used to construct the road surface is effecting the groundwater pressures in the subsurface.
D	Pore pressures that holds the grains apart fluctuates causing subsidence during warm summers and uplift during wet winters and springs.

Question 26 Explanation:

Ref: Dr. Alexander Dutchak Fall 2015 lecture notes.

Question 27

Geothermal energy relies on heat from what source? (ID-GLF-76)

A	Radioactive decay within the Earth's core
B	Earth's crust
C	Friction heat produced at plate margins
D	Heat absorbed by surface rocks
E	Earth's mantle

Question 28

Which of the following is used for representing relationships between organisms and their ancestors? (ID-GLF-70)

A	phylogenetic tree
B	ancestral diagram
C	historical tree
D	taxonomy diagram
E	hierarchical diagram

Question 29

Which of the following statement regrading Appalachian orogeny is true? (ID-GLF-103)

A	Appalachian orogeny occurred at the same time as the Grenville orogeny.
B	Appalachian orogeny is occurred as a result of four separate continental collisions. Hint: Three separate continental collisions.
C	Allegheny Mountains formed before the both of the Appalachian and Grenville orogenies.
D	Appalachian orogeny occurred after the Grenville orogeny.

Question 29 Explanation:

Ref: Dr. Brandon Karchewski Fall 2015 lecture notes.

Question 30

When the ocean formed at the early stage of the Earth, the atmosphere because rich in what type of gas? (ID-GLF-32)

A	carbon dioxide
B	oxygen
C	nitrogen
D	water vapor
E	ammonia

Question 31

Geologists use this term to describe the condition where the buoyancy force pushing lithosphere up equals to the gravitational force pulling lithosphere down. (ID-GLF-104)

A	Equilibrium
B	Isostasy
C	Orogeny
D	Induced stability

Question 31 Explanation:

Ref: Dr. Brandon Karchewski Fall 2015 lecture notes.

Question 32

Which of the following characteristic of seismic belts is true? (ID-GLF-52)

A	They runs parallel to the equator of the Earth.
B	They only occur in ductile regions.
C	They usually coincide with plate boundaries.
D	They are usually stationary and has been that for since the beginning of the Earth.
E	They are defined by the magnetic forces of the Earth.

Question 33

Paleozoic era is divided in to several periods. Which is the oldest Paleozoic era? (ID-GLF-19)
Note: DO NOT scroll down to the Geologic Time scale on this page. Answer this question without using any AIDS.

A	Cretaceous
B	Devonian
C	Silurian
D	Paleogene
E	Cambrian

Question 34

Majority of volcanic gas is composed of what type of compound? (ID-GLF-31)

A	carbon dioxide
B	methane
C	ammonia
D	water
E	nitrogen

Question 35

The ____ has a relatively stable and stratified column of air that also contains most of the ozone layer in our atmosphere. (ID-GLF-36)

A	stratosphere
B	troposphere
C	exosphere
D	mesosphere
E	thermosphere

Question 36

Which of the following type of aquifer has the highest possibility for contamination and contaminant transport? (ID-GLF-87)

A	Confined aquifers with very high permeability.
B	Aquifers with very low porosity and permeability.
C	Unconfined aquifers with very high permeability.
D	Aquifers with very high porosity, but very low permeability.

Question 36 Explanation:

Ref: Dr. Alexander Dutchak Fall 2015 lecture notes.

Question 37

Seismic waves traveling through a faster medium (eg. peridotite) enter a slower medium (eg. sandstone). The waves will ______ as they enter the slower medium. (ID-GLF-74)

A	bent away from the normal
B	disintegrate
C	split into several rays
D	be refracted
E	bent towards the normal

Question 38

What is Gondwana? (ID-GLF-29)

A	The ocean that was once covered the Alberta region, which helped the formation of oil/gas deposits.
B	None of the answers are correct.
C	A supercontinent that consisted of today’s South America, Africa, Antarctica, India, and Australia.
D	A continent in the early Paleozoic Era composed of today’s North America and Greenland.
E	A proposed Precambrian supercontinent that existed around 1 billion years ago.

Question 39

What is the primary contributing factor/force for sick-slip behavior of faults? (ID-GLF-54)

A	Mineral alignment along the contact points between two moving sections.
B	Friction between two moving sections.
C	Ductile nature of the two moving sections.
D	Non-uniform boundary conditions between two moving sections.
E	Compression pressure along the contact boundary between two moving sections.

Question 40

Aquifers are __I__ and aquitards are __I__. (ID-GLF-86)

A	I. sediment or rock structures that has very low permeability II. sediment or rock structures that has very high permeability
B	I. subsurface regions where water accumulates II. subsurface structures that allow free flow of water
C	I. geologic materials that transmit water II. geologic materials that act as a barrier to flow
D	I. subsurface structures that allow free flow of water II. subsurface regions where water accumulates
E	I. geologic materials that act as a barrier to flow II. geologic materials that act as a barrier to flow
F	I. also known as vadose zones II. also known as zones of saturation

Question 40 Explanation:

Ref: Dr. Alexander Dutchak Fall 2015 lecture notes.

Question 41

The following image of a large outcrop can be best described as... (ID-GLF-107)
Please pay attention to the circled (green) area of the image.

A	deformation that resulted in folding.
B	deformation caused by extensional tectonics.
C	deformation that resulted in faulting.
D	structural feature originated primarily due to an igneous event.

Question 42

Deformation of rocks exclusively through distortion (and distortion only) will most likely result in which of the following features? (ID-GLF-108)

A	Faults
B	Folds
C	Fractures
D	Upside down beds (oldest on top)

Question 42 Explanation:

Ref: Dr. Brandon Karchewski Fall 2015 lecture notes.

Question 43

What is 2A on the following diagram? (ID-GLF-24)
Note: DO NOT scroll down to the Geologic Time scale on this page. Answer this question without using any AIDS.

A	Cenozoic
B	Mesozoic
C	Pennsylvanian
D	Phanerozoic
E	Proterozoic

Question 44

What is orogeny? (ID-GLF-43)

A	Change in pressure and temperature in magma underground which eventually leads to fractional crystallization.
B	Forces and events leading to a large structural deformation of the Earth's lithosphere resulting mountain building.
C	Change in stress fields during metamorphism creating a differential stress which result in lineation of minerals.
D	Collision of two or more air masses which result in formation of clouds, wind and rain.
E	Movement of tectonic plates that result in formation of new crust due to upwelling of magma.

Question 45

Radiometic age dating techniques using the Ab – Xy system (not areal system) in the mineral quarky (not a real mineral) in the diorite dyke found that the mineral started off with 160 parent isotopes, and today only 20 parent isotopes remain. The half life for the Ab – Xy system is 125 million years. What is the age of the diorite dyke? (ID-GLF-81)

A	125 Ma
B	375 Ma
C	300 Ma
D	100 Ma
E	250 Ma

Question 45 Explanation:

A = A* (1/2)^(t/h) where A=final amount, A*=initial amount, t= time and h=half-life. You would have to isolate t for the above answer.

Question 46

What is permineralization? (ID-GLF-67)

A	Formation of new minerals when preexisting minerals change into new minerals as a result of an increase in pressure and temperature.
B	The process by which atoms dissolved in a solution come together and form minerals.
C	The process by which a magma becomes progressively more silicic as it cools, because early formed crystals settle out.
D	The clumping together of clay suspended in river water into bunches that are large enough to settle out.
E	The fossilization process in which plant material becomes transformed into rock by the precipitation of silica from groundwater.

Question 47

The principle of inclusions state... (ID-GLF-18)

A	inclusions never appear on the surface of rocks.
B	inclusions are younger than the rock which contains them.
C	inclusions are always older than the rock which contains them.
D	inclusions only occur in magma chambers.
E	younger rocks are always will be on top of the older rocks.

Question 48

Which of the following is the main force in driving plate tectonics? (ID-GLF-13)

A	ridge push
B	trench roll back
C	slab pull
D	suction force

Question 49

Which of the following statement is correct about oxbow lakes? (ID-GLF-60)

A	A meander that has been cut off yet remains filled with water forms an oxbow lake.
B	All meandering rivers always from oxbow lakes.
C	Melting of glaciers at the surface (top) due to the heat from sun result in formation of oxbow lakes on top of the glacier itself.
D	Oxbow lakes are formed as a result of downcutting of the river into soft sediments hence they are unusually deep areas of a river.
E	Melting of glaciers due to friction between the ground and itself forms oxbow lakes at the base of the glacier.

Question 50

Where is the ocean floor deepest? (ID-GLF-10)

A	in oceanic trenches
B	on the continental shelf
C	on the abyssal plain
D	in rift valleys

Question 51

Generally, which of the following seismic wave arrive at the seismic station first? Choose the best answer. (ID-GLF-56)

A	P-wave
B	Body wave
C	Surface wave
D	Shock wave
E	S-wave

Question 52

About 99% of the air in our atmosphere lies below this altitude. (ID-GLF-33)

A	About 30 km
B	About 1 km
C	About 5 km
D	About 100 km
E	About 10 km

Question 52 Explanation:

The answers are intentionally spread apart in altitude value. This is because you do not have to know the exact altitude, but you should have a rough idea.

Question 53

The ___ is defined by the average environmental conditions while ___ is defined by the local and short term environmental conditions. (ID-GLF-42)

A	climate , weather
B	precipitation . rain
C	high pressure systems , low pressure systems
D	temperature . heat
E	weather seasons , plate tectonics

Question 54

Which of the following is not a type of primary porosity? (ID-GLF-85)

A	Dissolution
B	Inter granular porosity
C	Vesicles and voids within matrix
D	Reef framework

Question 54 Explanation:

Ref: Dr. Alexander Dutchak Fall 2015 lecture notes.

Question 55

Which of the following is a characteristic of compressional waves? (ID-GLF-114)

A	They are S-waves that intersects the land surface.
B	Material moves back and forth parallel to the wave direction.
C	They are P-waves that intersects the land surface.
D	Slower than S-waves but faster than Love waves.
E	Causes ground to ripple up and down like water waves in a lake.

Question 55 Explanation:

Ref: Dr. Brandon Karchewski Fall 2015 lecture notes.

Question 56

Precambrian is divided into two Eons as shown on the following diagram as 1C and 1D. What are they? (ID-GLF-62)
Note: DO NOT scroll down to the Geologic Time scale on this page. Answer this question without using any AIDS.

A	Proterozoic and Archean
B	Paleozoic and Phanerozoic
C	Paleozoic and Mesozoic
D	Cenozoic and Mesozoic
E	Phanerozoic and Proterozoic

Question 57

Typically orogenesis would create which of the following rock type? (ID-GLF-100)

A	Sedimentary rocks due to regional heating.
B	Sedimentary rocks due to regional subduction.
C	Igneous rocks due to uplift.
D	Metamorphic rocks due to contact metamorphism.

Question 57 Explanation:

Ref: Dr. Brandon Karchewski Fall 2015 lecture notes.

Question 58

Radiometic age dating techniques using the Ab – Xy system (not areal system) in the mineral quarky (not a real mineral) in the diorite dyke found that the mineral started off with some amount of parent isotopes, and today only 40 parent isotopes remain. The half life for the Ab – Xy system is 125 million years and the age of the diorite dyke is 250 million years. What is the initial parent isotopes count in the mineral? (ID-GLF-82)

A	160 parent isotopes
B	100 parent isotopes
C	250 parent isotopes
D	125 parent isotopes
E	40 parent isotopes

Question 58 Explanation:

A = A* (1/2)^(t/h) where A=final amount, A*=initial amount, t= time and h=half-life. You would have to isolate A* for the above answer.

Question 59

An earthquake of magnitude 5.0 is _______ than an earthquake of magnitude 4.0. (ID-GLF-118)

A	10 times less
B	100 times less
C	1 times more
D	100 times more
E	1 times less
F	10 times more

Question 59 Explanation:

Ref: Dr. Brandon Karchewski Fall 2015 lecture notes.

Question 60

The physical processes exists today also operated in the past roughly at the same rates and these processes were responsible for the formation of geologic features. This statement is best known as the... (ID-GLF-15)

A	Theory of Plate Tectonics
B	Theory of Geologic Evolution
C	Principle of Uniformitarianism
D	Principle of Superposition
E	Theory of Rock Cycle
F	Principle of Original Horizontality

Question 61

In this section of our atmosphere the short-wavelength solar energy strips nitrogen molecules and oxygen molecules if their electrons and transforms them into positive ions. (ID-GLF-38)

A	Stratosphere
B	Mesosphere
C	Troposphere
D	Exosphere
E	Ionosphere
F	Thermosphere

Question 62

You are standing on this feature if the topographic contours on either side of you are decreasing. (ID-GLF-80)

A	Ridge or hill top
B	Reverse fault line
C	Normal fault line
D	Valley or topographic depression

Question 63

What is Rodinia? (ID-GLF-27)

A	A continent in the early Paleozoic Era composed of today’s North America and Greenland.
B	A proposed Precambrian supercontinent that existed around 1 billion years ago.
C	The ocean that was once covered the Alberta region, which helped the formation of oil/gas deposits.
D	A supercontinent that consisted of today’s South America, Africa, Antarctica, India, and Australia.
E	The creatonic platform that forms the modern day Canada, USA and Mexico.

Question 64

Which of the following statement is true on biological extinction? (ID-GLF-71)

A	It occurs when the last member of a given species dies without producing any offspring.
B	It occurs when the last member of a given kingdom dies without producing any offspring.
C	It occurs when the last member of a given class dies without producing any offspring.
D	It occurs when the last member of a given genus dies without producing any offspring.
E	It occurs when the last member of a given family dies without producing any offspring.

Question 65

A rock that has undergone deformation may...(choose all the correct answers) (ID-GLF-06)

A	change its shape by shortening
B	change its orientation
C	retains the primary igneous structures.
D	most likely maintain the original mineral composition
E	change its location

Question 66

Which of the following substance is most common in ocean salts? (ID-GLF-64)

A	Magnesium
B	Sodium
C	Chloride
D	Calcium
E	Potassium

Question 67

Mountain building involves all of the following except... (ID-GLF-105)
-Deformation
-Faulting
-Folding
-Partial melting
-Foliation
-Metamorphism
-Glaciation
-Erosion
-Sedimentation

A	Partial melting and Sedimentation
B	Glaciation and Sedimentation
C	All of the above can be observed in mountain building processes.
D	Partial melting
E	Partial melting, Sedimentation and Glaciation

Question 67 Explanation:

Ref: Dr. Brandon Karchewski Fall 2015 lecture notes.

Question 68

The process whereby which early formed minerals in magma physically separate from the magma is called... (ID-GLF-14)

A	partial crystallization
B	decompression crystallization
C	fractional crystallization
D	fractional melting

Question 69

Stream piracy occurs when.... (ID-GLF-61)

A	headward erosion by one stream causes the stream to intersect another stream.
B	water levels and flow rates are too high for a river bed to maintain its shape result in collapse of valleys or canyons.
C	reversing of the flow direction due to change in the direction of slope due to tectonic of other events.
D	water levels are not high enough to maintain the flow resulting in change in stream direction.

Question 70

Mushrooms and yeast belong to this Eukarya domain. (ID-GLF-69)

A	Bacteria
B	Plantae
C	Fungi
D	Protista
E	Animalia

Question 71

Which of the following statement is most likely correct about wetlands? (ID-GLF-88)

A	The vadose zone must be extremely large (deep) in the wetland regions.
B	The water table must be relatively high in the wetland regions.
C	The hydraulic head must be very high in the wetland regions.
D	The permeability must be very low in the wetland regions.

Question 71 Explanation:

Ref: Dr. Alexander Dutchak Fall 2015 lecture notes.

Question 72

The sorted sediments deposited by a stream is known as/form... (ID-GLF-58)

A	stream terraces.
B	alluvium.
C	alluvium fan.
D	braided plane.
E	graded deposits.

Question 73

What is a river gradient? (ID-GLF-94)

A	It measures the elevation change over the distance of flow.
B	It measures the speed at which the river flows.
C	It measures the rate at which the transport system deposit its load over a distance.
D	It measures the change in capacity of sediment load over a distance.
E	It measures the largest clast/sediment size a stream/river can transport.

Question 73 Explanation:

Ref: Dr. Alexander Dutchak Fall 2015 lecture notes.

Question 74

Oil forming temperature range is known as the... (ID-GLF-51)

A	critical temperature.
B	ideal temperature.
C	ideal window.
D	decomposition temperature.
E	critical window.
F	oil window.

Question 75

What is a seismic zone? (ID-GLF-73)

A	An area that is damaged by a recent earthquake.
B	An area that has been known to have earthquakes in high frequency in the past.
C	An area where geoscientists predicted to have an earthquake in near future.
D	The epicenter of an earthquake.
E	None of the listed answers are correct.

Question 76

The following diagram depict a map view of a fault plane displacing a geologic units. Based on the displacement, what kind of fault is it? (ID-GLF-77)

A	Thrust fault
B	Right-lateral strike slip fault
C	Normal fault
D	Reverse fault
E	Left-lateral strike slip fault

Question 76 Explanation:

The key term "map view" should taken in to account. If you do not pay attention to that two words, you may pick the normal fault.

Question 77

What process result in pelagic sediment depositions? (ID-GLF-63)

A	Erosion of high standing sedimentary structures and subsequent deposition of the materials downstream.
B	Accumulation of microscopic shells and file flakes of clay at the ocean floor.
C	Deposits of rock fragments and sediments left behind after a glacier has migrated through a region.
D	Deposition of organic matter on terrestrial sediments due to decay of plants and organisms.
E	Sudden decrease in energy of a river system result in accumulation of the bedloard.

Question 78

Where do majority of fossils found? (ID-GLF-66)

A	Within fluvial deposits
B	Within underwater mudslides
C	Within sedimentary rocks
D	Within metamorphic rocks
E	Withing igneous rocks

Question 78 Explanation:

Note, almost no fossil can survive metamorphism and very few fossils have been found in very good condition in igneous rocks.

Question 79

The transition of a substance directly from the solid to the gas phase without passing through the intermediate liquid phase is known as... (ID-GLF-98)

A	sublimation.
B	infiltration.
C	precipitation.
D	transpiration.
E	evaporation.

Question 79 Explanation:

Ref: Dr. Alexander Dutchak Fall 2015 lecture notes.

Question 80

According to P-wave and S-wave arrival time equations, the difference between P-wave arrival and S-wave arrival time increases with the... (ID-GLF-116)

A	increase in density of the medium.
B	increase in travel distance.
C	decrease in density of the medium.
D	increase in density.

Question 80 Explanation:

Ref: Dr. Brandon Karchewski Fall 2015 lecture notes.
Note: Any changes in density of the medium affect both P and S waves.

Question 81

Structural geologists measure deformation on outcrops as... (ID-GLF-44)

A	lineation. Hint: This is true, but this is an observation and not a measurement.
B	pressures.
C	strain.
D	foliations. Hint: This is true, but this is an observation and not a measurement.
E	stress.

Question 82

What is the difference between a focus and an epicenter of an earthquake? (ID-GLF-53)

A	The focus is the location where a fault slips during an earthquake while epicenter is the point on the surface of the Earth directly above the focus of an earthquake.
B	They are interchangeable terms used geoscientists to describe earthquakes.
C	The term focus is used when the earthquake occur under water/in oceans while the term epicenter is used when it occurs on land.
D	The epicenter is the location where a fault slips during an earthquake while focus is the point on the surface of the Earth directly above the focus of an earthquake.
E	The focus is the geographic location of the seismometer and the epicenter is the physical position of the earthquake.

Question 83

Deep focus earthquakes are most commonly associated with ____. (ID-GLF-02)

A	hot spots
B	subduction zones
C	mid-ocean ridges
D	transform zones

Question 84

Which isotopic system has the longest half-life period? (ID-GLF-22)

A	Sm/Nd
B	Rb/Sr
C	K/Ar
D	U/Pb

Question 84 Explanation:

While you do not have to know all the isotopic system, the U/Pb system is so important that at least you should know that.

Question 85

What is 1A on the following diagram? (ID-GLF-24)
Note: DO NOT scroll down to the Geologic Time scale on this page. Answer this question without using any AIDS.

A	Phanerozoic
B	Pennsylvanian
C	Proterozoic
D	Mesozoic
E	Cenozoic

Question 86

Sediments accumulates on fairly flat surfaces. This concept is found in which of the following? (ID-GLF-16)

A	Theory of Plate Tectonics
B	Principle of Original Horizontality
C	Principle of Uniformitarianism
D	Theory of Geologic Evolution
E	Principle of Superposition

Question 87

Normal faults are more more abundant in which of the following Geologic setting? (ID-GLF-102)

A	Strike-slip environments
B	Collisional orogenesis environments
C	Extensional rifting environments
D	Mid-oceanic ridge environments

Question 87 Explanation:

Ref: Dr. Brandon Karchewski Fall 2015 lecture notes.

Question 88

What is the magnitude difference between a M5.0 and a M5.5 earthquakes? (ID-GLF-117)

A	5.5%
B	31.6%
C	5%
D	0.5%

Question 88 Explanation:

Log base-10: (10^5) / (10^5.5) x 100 =31.6%

Question 89

What is the most common cause of earthquakes? (ID-GLF-110)

A	Magma migration
B	Crustal fault slips
C	Human interference such as construction and nuclear detonations
D	Volcanic eruptions
E	Sudden changes in mineral structures

Question 89 Explanation:

Ref: Dr. Brandon Karchewski Fall 2015 lecture notes.

Question 90

The boundary between the crust and the mantle is know as the... (ID-GLF-07)

A	Mercalli discontinuity
B	Wadati-Benioff discontinuity
C	Mohorovic discontinuity
D	Wegener discontinuity

Question 91

When does sediment liquefaction occur? (ID-GLF-55)

A	It occurs as the heat from magma melts the wall rock (country rock) resulting melting of the surrounding.
B	It occurs when ground shake due to P-wave vibrates sediments hard enough resulting solids behaving like liquids.
C	It occur when the pore water pressure increased enough to push sediment grains apart from each other.
D	It occurs when sediments from deep underground which are formed under high pressure were exhumed in a short period of time.
E	It occurs due to nuclear radiation caused by decomposition of radioactive elements within sediments and minerals.

Question 92

Continental rifts are mostly associated with which of the following? (ID-GLF-120)

A	Strike-slip faults
B	Normal faults
C	Thrust faults
D	Reverse faults
E	Abnormal faults

Question 92 Explanation:

Ref: Dr. Brandon Karchewski Fall 2015 lecture notes.

Question 93

Cone of dispersion will result in... (ID-GLF-89)

A	raising of the groundwater table at the regional scale.
B	lowering of the groundwater table at the global scale.
C	lowering of the groundwater table at the regional scale.
D	increased availability of groundwater in shallow wells.
E	raising of the groundwater table at the global scale.

Question 93 Explanation:

Ref: Dr. Alexander Dutchak Fall 2015 lecture notes.

Question 94

What is the average frequency of earthquakes? (ID-GLF-109)

A	Monthly
B	Daily
C	Yearly
D	Weekly

Question 94 Explanation:

Ref: Dr. Brandon Karchewski Fall 2015 lecture notes.

Question 95

Folding usually occur under what condition? Choose the best answer. (ID-GLF-46)

A	At extensional settings
B	Brittle deformation
C	Low pressure and high temperature
D	Ductile deformation
E	High pressure and low temperature

Question 96

Upstream erosion of a river is known as... (ID-GLF-92)

A	dendritic network.
B	headward erosion.
C	fracture network.
D	drainage erosion.
E	surface erosion.

Question 96 Explanation:

Ref: Dr. Alexander Dutchak Fall 2015 lecture notes.

Question 97

Which of the following statement is true about seismic waves? (ID-GLF-115)

A	Seismic waves that enters a faster medium from a slower medium will undergo refraction towards the normal.
B	Seismic waves were first discovered by Andrija Mohorovicic.
C	Seismic waves travel faster in high density mediums.
D	Seismic waves are able to sustain their energy in softer mediums for a longer period of time.
E	Surface seismic waves are the fastest in terms of travel time.

Question 98

The ____ is the layer of air that lies between the surface of the Earth and an elevation of 5 km to 18 km. It is the first (lowest) layer of the Earth's atmosphere. (ID-GLF-35)

A	troposphere
B	thermosphere
C	stratosphere
D	ionosphere
E	exosphere
F	mesosphere

Question 99

What is the difference between a joint and a fault? (ID-GLF-106)

A	Joints are usually associated with igneous processes and faults are usually associated with orogenic processes.
B	Joints are much smaller in scale than faults.
C	Joints only occur in softer materials such as sediments and faults occur in hard rocks.
D	Joints are planar metamorphic fabrics while faults are planer surfaces of physical separations within rocks.
E	Joints are fractures that have no offsets, while faults are fractures with offsets.

Question 99 Explanation:

Ref: Dr. Brandon Karchewski Fall 2015 lecture notes.

Question 100

____ is the condition that exists when the buoyancy force pushing lithosphere up equals the gravitational force pulling lithosphere down. (ID-GLF-48)

A	Accretion
B	Induced equilibrium
C	Orogeny
D	Isostasy
E	Mesopause

Question 101

Which of the following describes the earthquake waves that travel through the interior of the Earth? (ID-GLF-08)

A	Body waves
B	Interior waves
C	Rayleigh waves
D	Love waves

Question 102

Force per unit area applied to a rock is known as.... (ID-GLF-03)

A	stress
B	deformation
C	strain
D	shear

Question 103

What is the most fundamental factor that determine the shape of a canyon or valley? (ID-GLF-59)

A	Resistance of its walls to erosion slumping.
B	Sediment load of the river/stream.
C	Its elevation from the sea level.
D	Flow rate of the water (velocity) and the volume of water.

Question 104

All hydrocarbons contain which of the following elements? (ID-GLF-50)

A	Carbon and nitrogen
B	Carbon and oxygen
C	Carbon, hydrogen and oxygen
D	Carbon and hydrogen
E	Carbon, nitrogen and oxygen

Question 105

In ___ volcanic eruption, groundwater interacts with the magma and the eruption blasts stream, ash and coarser blocks skyward, but little if any lava appears at the surface. (ID-GLF-72)

A	vulcanian
B	plinean
C	phreatic
D	surtseyan
E	strombolian

Question 106

Which of the following statement is true? (ID-GLF-65)

A	Plate tectonic movement is mostly driven by the energy obtained through the rotation of the Earth. Hint: This is what some scientists thought long time ago. This has been proven to be incorrect.
B	Higher the friction between a glacier and the ground, faster the migration of the glacier.
C	Higher the depth of a river, larger the volume of sediment deposition and accumulation on the river bed.
D	Dykes are formed primarily due to preexisting weak planes of the country rock.
E	Higher the mountains in collisional or convergent orogen, the deeper the crustal root.

Question 107

Which of the following statement is true? (ID-GLF-75)

A	Oil window is smaller that that of natural gas window.
B	Kerogen forms at the Earth's surface.
C	Highly permeable rocks make very good petroleum seals/traps. Hint: Seal or trap rock/layers must be non-permeable to prevent hydrocarbons from escaping.
D	Increasing depth often increase in hydrocarbon production. Hint: Yes, when you are within an oil/gas windows. But just because you increase in depth, doesn't mean it will favor formation of oil/gas.
E	Permeability refers to the fraction of open space within rocks.

Question 108

Which of the following energy product has the highest number of carbons in their hydrocarbon molecule? (ID-GLF-49)

A	Tar
B	Gasoline
C	Bottled gas
D	Kerosene
E	Heating oil
F	Natural gas

Question 108 Explanation:

Note tar is also the most most viscous material listed above.

Question 109

What is a fossil assemblage? (ID-GLF-17)

A	A group of fossils native to a specific region.
B	A set of fossils that can be arranged in chronological order.
C	None of the answers are correct.
D	A group of fossil species found in a specific sequence of sedimentary rock.
E	A set of fossils belongs to the same family of organisms.

Question 110

What is an isobar? (ID-GLF-40)

A	It is a line on a map used to separate different air pressures.
B	It is a bar where ice cold drinks are served only for cool geoscientists.
C	It is a representation of pressure - temperature boundaries which specific minerals may form out of a magma.
D	It is a graphical representation of change in temperature with depth in the lithosphere.
E	It is an imaginary line that separates the four major layers of atmosphere.

Question 111

What is the best description of the fold depicted in the following cross section? (ID-GLF-84)

A	Asymmetric anticline
B	Overturned syncline
C	Symmetric anticline
D	Symmetric syncline
E	Asymmetric syncline

Question 112

Following animation demonstrates ___ type of fault. (ID-GLF-45)
Note: Do not worry about the vector arrows. This animation was created for 300/500-level structure classes.
NONE

A	Right lateral strike-slip fault
B	Left lateral strike-slip fault
C	Not enough information is provided in the question.
D	Reverse fault
E	Normal fault

Question 113

At what range of depth does the brittle-plastic transition occurs in continental crust? (ID-GLF-57)

A	About 0 to 5 km
B	About 90 to 100 km
C	About 50 to 70 km
D	About 10 to 15 km
E	About 30 to 40 km

Question 114

Geophysicists recognized that the Earth’s outer core was liquid because... (ID-GLF-05)

A	L-waves disappeared at the mantle-outer core boundary
B	S-waves disappeared at the mantle-outer core boundary
C	R-waves disappeared at the mantle-outer core boundary
D	P-waves disappeared at the mantle-outer core boundary

Question 115

The point within the Earth where an earthquake originates is called the... (ID-GLF-09)

A	focus
B	trigger point
C	slip point
D	epicenter

Question 116

Abandoned deltas are characterized by which of the following? (ID-GLF-97)

A	Subsidence
B	Downcutting
C	Smaller lobes
D	Headward erosion
E	Uplift

Question 116 Explanation:

Ref: Dr. Alexander Dutchak Fall 2015 lecture notes.

Question 117

What is the exaggeration factor for a cross section with horizontal scale of 1:20,000 and vertical scale of 1:10,000? (ID-GLF-79)

A	Factor of 3
B	Factor of 10,000
C	Factor of 2
D	Factor of 1
E	Factor of 20,000

Question 118

Mountain building along convergent boundaries would result in formation of fold thrust belts _____ and the subduction related volcanoes _____. (ID-GLF-101)

A	None of the answers are correct.
B	on overriding plate , landwards
C	seawards , on the extinct arc
D	landwards , on overriding pate

Question 118 Explanation:

Ref: Dr. Brandon Karchewski Fall 2015 lecture notes.

Question 119

This type of faults occurred in subsurface and are invisible. (ID-GLF-111)

A	Inactive faults
B	Marginal faults
C	Crustal faults
D	Blind faults
E	Active faults

Question 119 Explanation:

Ref: Dr. Brandon Karchewski Fall 2015 lecture notes.

Question 120

Folds with limbs dipping away from the hinge is known as __I__ and folds with dips dipping towards the hinge is known as __II__. (ID-GLF-47)

A	I. arcs II. basins
B	I. synclines II. anticlines
C	I. anticlines II. synclines
D	I basins II. arcs

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Credits: Based on the excellent class notes provided by, Dr. Gerald Osborn during Fall 2010 and textbook ISBN-978-0-393-93750-3. This version has been updated on between September and December 2015 using excellent class notes provided by, Dr. Glenn Dolphin, Alex Dutchak and Dr. Brandon Karchewski during Fall 2015.
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Concepts and Additional Questions for Fall 2010 Final

Important!

↑ Some of these are already in the exam type questions in the quiz(above) ↑
Answers to these will NOT be posted. These are based on 2010 lecture notes!

-Know the definitions and features of Composite Volcanos (CV) and Shield volcanos (SV).
-Types of crystallization processes
-Geologic zones; subduction, mid ocean, etc and their features
-Difference between nonconformity and disconformity.
-Difference between stress and strain.
-Differences between tensile stress, compressional stress and shear stress
-Understanding geologic events based on relative deposition.
-Earthquakes and their nature of intensity.
-Types of waves; S-,P-,L- and R- waves.
-Earth’s components and their variation in composition.
-Be able to interpret features on a given map or cross-section.
-Mohorovic discontinuity and it’s importance to geologic studies.
-Know, asymmetrical syncline/anticline, symmetrical syncline/anticline.
-General history of geology as a study subject.
-Concept; slab pull, ridge push and hypothesis on why these occur.
-You should memorize this time scale. Yes, this will most likely appear on the final, but also very useful for the future of your geologic carrier. Most geologists and geophysicsts remember the Geologic Time Scale with respect to important events took place in the history.

Sanuja Senanayake

Geology 201 Final Exam-University of Calgary

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Geology (GLGY 201-UCAL) Final Exam

Concepts and Additional Questions for Fall 2010 Final

Standing on the shoulders of giants

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Geology (GLGY 201-UCAL) Final Exam

Concepts and Additional Questions for Fall 2010 Final

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Standing on the shoulders of giants