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Geology (GLGY 201-UCAL) Final Exam

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Question 1

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

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

Question 2

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

Question 3

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

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

Question 4

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

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

Question 4 Explanation:

Ref: Dr. Brandon Karchewski Fall 2015 lecture notes.

Question 5

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

Question 6

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

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

Question 7

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 syncline
B	asymmetrical anticline
C	symmetrical anticline
D	asymmetrical syncline

Question 8

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

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

Question 8 Explanation:

Ref: Dr. Brandon Karchewski Fall 2015 lecture notes.

Question 9

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

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

Question 9 Explanation:

Ref: Dr. Alexander Dutchak Fall 2015 lecture notes.

Question 10

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

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

Question 11

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 12

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

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

Question 13

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	Ordovician
E	Devonian

Question 14

____ 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	Mesopause
C	Isostasy
D	Induced equilibrium
E	Orogeny

Question 15

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

A	Yearly
B	Weekly
C	Daily
D	Monthly

Question 15 Explanation:

Ref: Dr. Brandon Karchewski Fall 2015 lecture notes.

Question 16

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

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

Question 17

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	Isostasy
B	Equilibrium
C	Orogeny
D	Induced stability

Question 17 Explanation:

Ref: Dr. Brandon Karchewski Fall 2015 lecture notes.

Question 18

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

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

Question 18 Explanation:

Ref: Dr. Brandon Karchewski Fall 2015 lecture notes.

Question 19

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

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

Question 19 Explanation:

Ref: Dr. Brandon Karchewski Fall 2015 lecture notes.

Question 20

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	Mesozoic
B	Pennsylvanian
C	Cenozoic
D	Phanerozoic
E	Proterozoic

Question 21

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	strombolian
B	vulcanian
C	phreatic
D	surtseyan
E	plinean

Question 22

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	thermosphere
B	exosphere
C	troposphere
D	ionosphere
E	mesosphere
F	stratosphere

Question 23

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

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

Question 24

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

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

Question 25

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	High clastic sediment deposits on the edge of the fan.
C	Muddy deposits closer to the mouth and sandy deposits distally at the edge.
D	Very thick sandy deposits distally on the edge of the fan.

Question 25 Explanation:

Ref: Dr. Alexander Dutchak Fall 2015 lecture notes.

Question 26

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

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

Question 26 Explanation:

Ref: Dr. Brandon Karchewski Fall 2015 lecture notes.

Question 27

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

A	Higher the depth of a river, larger the volume of sediment deposition and accumulation on the river bed.
B	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.
C	Higher the friction between a glacier and the ground, faster the migration of the glacier.
D	Higher the mountains in collisional or convergent orogen, the deeper the crustal root.
E	Dykes are formed primarily due to preexisting weak planes of the country rock.

Question 28

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

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

Question 29

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

Question 29 Explanation:

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

Question 30

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

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

Question 31

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	Cretaceous
B	Cenozoic
C	Eocene
D	Permian
E	Jurassic
F	Devonian

Question 32

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

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

Question 32 Explanation:

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

Question 33

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

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

Question 34

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

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

Question 35

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

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

Question 35 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 36

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

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

Question 36 Explanation:

Ref: Dr. Alexander Dutchak Fall 2015 lecture notes.

Question 37

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

Question 37 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 38

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

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

Question 38 Explanation:

Ref: Dr. Alexander Dutchak Fall 2015 lecture notes.

Question 39

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

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

Question 40

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

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

Question 40 Explanation:

Ref: Dr. Alexander Dutchak Fall 2015 lecture notes.

Question 41

What is Rodinia? (ID-GLF-27)

A	The creatonic platform that forms the modern day Canada, USA and Mexico.
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	A continent in the early Paleozoic Era composed of today’s North America and Greenland.

Question 42

What is Gondwana? (ID-GLF-29)

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

Question 43

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	Mesosphere
B	Troposphere
C	Exosphere
D	Thermosphere
E	Stratosphere
F	Ionosphere

Question 44

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

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

Question 45

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

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

Question 46

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

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

Question 47

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	Conglomerate
B	Sandstone
C	Siltstone
D	Mudstone

Question 48

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

A	The focus is the geographic location of the seismometer and the epicenter is the physical position of the earthquake.
B	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.
C	They are interchangeable terms used geoscientists to describe earthquakes.
D	The term focus is used when the earthquake occur under water/in oceans while the term epicenter is used when it occurs on land.
E	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.

Question 49

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

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

Question 50

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

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

Question 51

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

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

Question 51 Explanation:

Ref: Dr. Alexander Dutchak Fall 2015 lecture notes.

Question 52

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

Question 52 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 53

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

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

Question 54

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	Hawaiian Islands
C	Himalayas
D	Basin and Range

Question 55

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

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

Question 56

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

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

Question 56 Explanation:

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

Question 57

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

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

Question 57 Explanation:

Ref: Dr. Brandon Karchewski Fall 2015 lecture notes.

Question 58

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	Proterozoic
B	Cenozoic
C	Phanerozoic
D	Mesozoic
E	Pennsylvanian

Question 59

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

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

Question 60

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

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

Question 60 Explanation:

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

Question 61

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

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

Question 62

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	mesosphere
B	stratosphere
C	troposphere
D	exosphere
E	thermosphere

Question 63

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

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

Question 64

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

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

Question 64 Explanation:

Ref: Dr. Brandon Karchewski Fall 2015 lecture notes.

Question 65

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

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

Question 66

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

A	strain
B	shear
C	deformation
D	stress

Question 67

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

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

Question 68

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 68 Explanation:

Ref: Dr. Brandon Karchewski Fall 2015 lecture notes.

Question 69

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

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

Question 69 Explanation:

Ref: Dr. Brandon Karchewski Fall 2015 lecture notes.

Question 70

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

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

Question 71

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

Question 72

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

A	Calcium
B	Magnesium
C	Potassium
D	Sodium
E	Chloride

Question 73

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

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

Question 74

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

Question 75

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

Question 75 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 76

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

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

Question 77

What is permineralization? (ID-GLF-67)

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

Question 78

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

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

Question 78 Explanation:

Ref: Dr. Alexander Dutchak Fall 2015 lecture notes.

Question 79

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

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

Question 80

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

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

Question 81

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

A	epicenter
B	slip point
C	focus
D	trigger point

Question 82

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

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

Question 83

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

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

Question 83 Explanation:

Ref: Dr. Brandon Karchewski Fall 2015 lecture notes.

Question 84

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

Question 84 Explanation:

Ref: Dr. Alexander Dutchak Fall 2015 lecture notes.

Question 85

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	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.
C	Oxbow lakes are formed as a result of downcutting of the river into soft sediments hence they are unusually deep areas of a river.
D	Melting of glaciers due to friction between the ground and itself forms oxbow lakes at the base of the glacier.
E	All meandering rivers always from oxbow lakes.

Question 86

What is orogeny? (ID-GLF-43)

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

Question 87

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

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

Question 88

What is Laurentia? (ID-GLF-28)

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

Question 89

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

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

Question 89 Explanation:

Ref: Dr. Brandon Karchewski Fall 2015 lecture notes.

Question 90

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

Question 91

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

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

Question 92

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

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

Question 92 Explanation:

Ref: Dr. Brandon Karchewski Fall 2015 lecture notes.

Question 93

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

Question 93 Explanation:

Ref: Dr. Alexander Dutchak Fall 2015 lecture notes.

Question 94

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

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

Question 94 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 95

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

A	methane
B	carbon dioxide
C	water
D	ammonia
E	nitrogen

Question 96

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	Permian
B	Cretaceous
C	Devonian
D	Pennsylvanian
E	Carboniferous
F	Jurassic

Question 97

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

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

Question 98

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	Frontal lifting
C	Convective lifting
D	Orographic lifting
E	Convergence lifting

Question 99

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

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

Question 100

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

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

Question 101

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

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

Question 102

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

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

Question 103

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

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

Question 103 Explanation:

Ref: Dr. Alexander Dutchak Fall 2015 lecture notes.

Question 104

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	Paleogene
B	Cretaceous
C	Devonian
D	Cambrian
E	Silurian

Question 105

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

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

Question 105 Explanation:

Ref: Dr. Alexander Dutchak Fall 2015 lecture notes.

Question 106

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

A	Fungi
B	Bacteria
C	Protista
D	Animalia
E	Plantae

Question 107

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

Question 108

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

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

Question 108 Explanation:

Ref: Dr. Brandon Karchewski Fall 2015 lecture notes.

Question 109

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

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

Question 110

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

A	Permeability refers to the fraction of open space within rocks.
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	Oil window is smaller that that of natural gas window.

Question 111

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

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

Question 111 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 112

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

Question 113

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

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

Question 114

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

Question 114 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 115

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

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

Question 115 Explanation:

Ref: Dr. Brandon Karchewski Fall 2015 lecture notes.

Question 116

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

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

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 2
C	Factor of 1
D	Factor of 20,000
E	Factor of 10,000

Question 118

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

Question 119

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

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

Question 119 Explanation:

Ref: Dr. Alexander Dutchak Fall 2015 lecture notes.

Question 120

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	Appalachian orogeny occurred after the Grenville orogeny.
D	Allegheny Mountains formed before the both of the Appalachian and Grenville orogenies.

Question 120 Explanation:

Ref: Dr. Brandon Karchewski Fall 2015 lecture notes.

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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