Notice
If you get a question wrong, you can still click on the other answers. This will open up hints and explanations(if available) with additional information.My personal advice: Since the exams are written, if you score less than 90% on the following MC questions, seriously reconsider your study strategies for this class.
Disclaimer: While every reasonable effort is made to ensure that the information provided is accurate, no guarantees for the currency or accuracy of information are made. It takes several proof readings and rewrites to bring the quiz to an exceptional level. If you find an error, please contact me as soon as possible. Please provide a description of the question because server may randomize the questions and answers.
Go to: Midterm II | Final
Geology (GLGY 381-UCAL) Midterm Exam I
Congratulations - you have completed Geology (GLGY 381-UCAL) Midterm Exam I.
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Question 1 |
A | Change in normality |
B | Hydraulic jump |
C | Gradient change |
D | Critical flow |
E | Change in flow regime |
Question 2 |
A | carbonates |
B | organic deposits |
C | evaporates |
D | clastic sediments |
E | precipitates |
Question 3 |

A | A |
B | C |
C | F |
D | G |
E | D |
F | B |
Question 4 |
A | Lee side of ripples |
B | Stoss side of ripples |
C | At the mouth of rivers |
D | Between dunes |
E | Within channels |
Question 5 |
A | True |
B | False |
Question 6 |
A | Every object in a state of uniform motion tends to remain in that state of motion unless an external force is applied to it. |
B | For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. |
C | Gravitational force is proportional to the mass and acceleration due to gravity. |
D | The relationship between an object's mass m, its acceleration a, and the applied force F is F = ma. Acceleration and force are vectors (as indicated by their symbols being displayed in slant bold font); in this law the direction of the force vector is the same as the direction of the acceleration vector. |
Question 7 |
A | Hydration of minerals result in increase in volume. |
B | Increase of stress as a result of pressure increase. |
C | Release of stress as a result of pressure decrease. |
D | Organic activities such as roots and biodegradation causing increase in the mineral volume. |
E | Freeze-thaw cycle result in change in volume. |
F | Organic activities such as roots and biodegradation causing decrease in the mineral volume. |
Question 8 |
A | Gravity |
B | Sediment load |
C | Flow velocity |
D | Potential energy |
E | Flow separation |
Question 9 |
A | Dunes form in marine environments and ripples form in non-marine river type environments. |
B | Dunes forms in turbulent waters and ripples forms in calm waters. |
C | Dunes have interbedded cross laminations and ripples do not. |
D | Dunes are distinctly larger than ripples. |
Question 10 |
A | bed surface of the velocity profile. |
B | surface of the fluid. |
C | highest velocity point of the velocity profile. |
D | (around) middle of the velocity profile. |
Question 11 |
A | Crawling |
B | Resting |
C | Grazing |
D | Escape |
E | Feeding |
F | Dewlling |
Question 12 |
A | False |
B | True |
Question 13 |
A | None of the answers are correct. |
B | I. zero II. turbulent |
C | I. higher II. laminar |
D | I. lower II. turbulent |
E | I. lower II. laminar |
Question 14 |
A | Turbidity currents |
B | Debris flows |
C | Slumps |
D | Glacial breakups |
E | Rock falls |
Question 15 |
A | Climbing ripples |
B | Planar cross-lamination |
C | Trough cross-lamination |
D | Starved ripples |
E | Turbulent sweeps |
Question 16 |
Description
-high velocity
-larger Reynold's number
-inertial forces dominates over the viscous forces

A | Neither |
B | A |
C | B |
D | It could be either A or B because the description is is insufficient. |
Question 17 |
A | False |
B | True |
Antidunes can be formed as a result of beds deposition in phase to the surface water wave.
Question 18 |
A | False because pedogenesis is the process of creating soil. |
B | True |
C | False because pedogenesis is the process of creating rivers. |
D | False because pedogenesis is the process of erosion by both physical and chemical weathering. |
Question 19 |
A | Uniformitarianism |
B | original horizontality |
C | parsimony |
D | superposition |
E | lowerposition |
Question 20 |
A | Sedimentary rocks are unconsolidated materials that forms at the Earth's surface while sediments are formed as a result of burial and lithification of these sediment materials. |
B | Sediments are unconsolidated materials that forms at the Earth's surface while sedimentary rocks are formed as a result of burial and lithification of these sediment materials. |
C | Even though they have the similar names, they are unrelated each other because sediment is a geologic structure and sedimentary rock is a type of geologic material. |
D | Even though they have the similar names, they are unrelated each other because sedimentary rock is a geologic structure and sediment is a type of geologic material. |
Question 21 |
A | Differential lateral compaction within bed forms resulting high pressures between bed contacts. |
B | Differential pressure-temperature gradient that increases with depth. |
C | Extreme temperatures and pressures between different sediment successions. |
D | Extreme pressure concentrated at the contacts between grains within sediments. |
E | High pressures excreted on sediments from both through uplift and loading processes. |
Question 22 |

A | The lift at the yellow arrow is caused by the high pressure at the top caused by converging streamlines. |
B | The pressure from above is much higher causing the grains to push hard against the bed. |
C | The stream lines(red lines) converging at the yellow arrow cause the velocity to increase significantly(at that point). |
D | The pressure right above the yellow arrow is much lower than the pressure near the black rocks/sediments. |
E | The stream lines(red lines) converging at the yellow arrow cause the velocity to decrease significantly(at that point). |
Question 23 |
A | Burial(shrinking) and exfoliation(swelling). |
B | Hydration(swelling) and dehydration(shrinking) |
C | Freezing(swelling) and thawing(shrinking). |
D | Freezing(shrinking) and thawing(swelling). |
E | Hydration(shrinking) and dehydration(swelling) |
Question 24 |
A | 5% |
B | 90% |
C | 98% |
D | 75% |
E | 50% |
Question 25 |

A | Left side has the scour region and right side is the stoss side. |
B | Left side has the scour region and right side is the lee side. |
C | Left side is the lee side and right side is the stoss side. |
D | Left side is the stoss side and right side is the lee side. |
E | All statements are incorrect. |
Question 26 |
A | smooth current velocity model |
B | turbulent velocity model |
C | laminar velocity model |
D | rough bed velocity model |
Question 27 |
A | None of the answers are correct because it is not the acidity that is important, it is the pH. |
B | decreasing , decreasing |
C | decreasing , increasing |
D | increasing , decreasing |
E | increasing , increasing |
Question 28 |
A | A. bed load B. suspended load |
B | A. suspended load B. bed load |
C | A. inertial forces driven load B. gravity driven load |
D | A. gravity driven load B. inertial forces driven load |
Question 29 |
-high viscosity
-poorly sorted grains
-often larger clasts are separated by fine grained materials
-low Reynolds number and considered as a laminar flow
-low velocity (40-50 km/h)
A | Debris flow |
B | Grain flow |
C | Liquified flow |
D | Turbidity flow |
Question 30 |
A | Minerals that primarily formed from organic materials. |
B | Minerals with very high densities resulting deposition at the bottom of a flow. |
C | Minerals that are formed as a result of erosion due to chemical weathering. |
D | Minerals that formed as a result of magmatic processes that occurs under water. |
E | Minerals that replaces (take others' place) other minerals during sedimentation. |
Question 31 |
A | A type of trace fossils created by echinoids. |
B | A type of depositional environment that provides the best suitable conditions for organisms to thrive. |
C | A a body of rock with specified mineralogical characteristics. |
D | An assemblage of trace fossils that provides an indication of the palaeoenvironment. |
E | A sub set of beds and laminations that is defined by certain depositional structures. |
Question 32 |
A | sandstone |
B | limestone |
C | gypsum |
D | dolostone |
E | mudstone |
Question 33 |

A | A. Continental block B. Recycled origin C. Magmatic arc |
B | A. Recycled origin B. Continental block C. Magmatic arc |
C | A. Quartz B. Lilith fragments C. Feldspar |
D | A. Quartz B. Feldspar C. Lilith fragments |
E | A. Continental block B. Magmatic arc C. Recycled origin |
F | A. Magmatic arc B. Continental block C. Recycled origin |
Question 34 |

A | A |
B | C |
C | B |
Question 35 |
A | Significant density contrast |
B | High volume sediment loads |
C | Gravity: hard sediments sinking into soft underlying sediments |
D | Pressure: soft water-bearing sediments escaping through overlying sediments |
Question 36 |
A | A. mafic and felsic minerals B. silica rich minerals |
B | A. felsic minerals B. mafic minerals |
C | A. mafic minerals B. felsic minerals |
D | A. oceanic crust B. continental crust |
E | A. iron rich minerals B. oxygen rich minerals |
Question 37 |
A | False |
B | True |
Question 38 |
A | Semi- relief structures are preserved within a single type of sediment while full-relief structures are preserved at an interface between two strata. |
B | Full relief structures are preserved as 2D structures while semi-relief structures are preserved as 3D structures. Both are preserved within a single type of sediment. |
C | Full relief structures are partially preserved within a single type of sediment while semi-relief structures are fully preserved at an interface between two strata. |
D | Full relief structures are preserved within a single type of sediment while semi-relief structures are preserved at an interface between two strata. |
Question 39 |
A | Yep |
B | False |
Question 40 |
A | a type of physical weathering caused by biogenic processes which result in breakdown of rocks/sediments. |
B | a type of chemical weathering caused by dissociation of water into H+ and OH- ions as a result of acidifying agent. |
C | a type of erosion caused by temperature and pressure change caused by exhumation of rocks/sediments. |
D | a type of physical weathering caused by water or hydrous fluids penetrate rocks/sediments and expand as a result of freezing; leads to cracks and physical breakdown of materials. |
E | a type of chemical weathering caused by oxidation of chemical compounds within rocks. |
Question 41 |
A | True |
B | False |
Question 42 |
A | chemical weathering |
B | denudation |
C | physical weathering |
D | erosion |
Question 43 |

A | No such thing on the diagram above. |
B | D |
C | E |
D | C |
E | F |
Question 44 |
h(D) = 55 m
g = 9.81 m/s2
u = 33 m/s
A | 2.37 |
B | 1.42 |
C | 0.6116 |
D | 0.06116 |
E | 1.95 |
Question 45 |
A | detrital |
B | native |
C | sedimentary |
D | authigenic |
E | metamorphic |
Question 46 |
A | Fluctuating velocity currents. |
B | Low velocity currents. |
C | High velocity currents. |
D | Medium velocity currents. |
Question 47 |
A | Slump |
B | Rock fall |
C | Sheet wash |
D | Turbidity current |
E | Debris flow |
Question 48 |
A | spatial acceleration |
B | temporal acceleration |
C | upwards acceleration |
D | gravitational acceleration |
E | inertial acceleration |
Question 49 |
A | River bed environments |
B | Warm and tropical wet environments |
C | Deep marine environments |
D | Shallow marine environments |
E | None of the answers posted here are correct. |
Question 50 |
A | artificial weathering |
B | physical weathering |
C | chemical weathering |
D | biological weathering |
Question 51 |

A | 60% quartz
1 % lithics
90% feldspar |
B | 50% lithics
40 % feldspar
10% quartz |
C | 98% lithics
1 % feldspar
1% quartz |
D | 98% quartz
1 % lithics
1% feldspar |
Question 52 |
A | Calcium Feldspars |
B | Olivine |
C | Muscovite mica |
D | Kaolinite |
E | Pyroxene |
Question 53 |
A | ~ 50 degrees |
B | ~ 10 degrees |
C | ~ 100 degrees |
D | ~ 90 degrees |
E | ~ 30 degrees |
Question 54 |
A | super-normal stress |
B | sub-normal stress |
C | tangential stress |
D | normal stress |
E | shear stress |
Question 55 |
A | Turbidity current |
B | Debris flow |
C | Grain flow |
D | Liquified flow |
Question 56 |

A | depth in m |
B | grain size in um |
C | flow velocity in m/s |
D | grain size in mm |
E | flow velocity in cm/s |
Question 57 |

A | SE to NW |
B | NW to SE |
C | S to N |
D | NE to SE |
E | N to S |
Question 58 |
A | Paleotracology Hint: LOL What the hell? |
B | Paleogeology |
C | Ichnology |
D | Genology |
Question 59 |
A | It occurs under temperatures above 500 degree Celsius |
B | It transforms igneous rocks into sedimentary rocks |
C | It transforms sedimentary rocks into metamorphic rocks |
D | It change the chemical and physical characteristics of sediments after the deposition |
E | It transforms sediments into metamorphic rocks |
Question 60 |
A | Study of behavior. |
B | Description of the identifiable parts. |
C | Classification of the trace fossils. |
D | Study of the mode of preservation. |
Question 61 |
A | amphibole |
B | biotite |
C | olivine |
D | quartz |
Question 62 |
A | A. critical B. supercritical C. subcritical |
B | A. supercritical B. subcritical C. critical |
C | A. supercritical B. critical C. subcritical |
D | A. critical B. subcritical C. supercritical |
E | A. subercritical B. critical C. supcritical |
supercritical = Fr > 1 and the velocity of the stream is greater than the velocity of the surface wave.
subcritical = Fr < 1 and the velocity of the stream is lower than the velocity of the surface wave.
Question 63 |
A | Glacial environment where clasts are dragged across a flat surface. |
B | Deltaic environment with high sediment influx. |
C | Deep subsurface environments under high pressures and temperatures. |
D | High energy environment with a one single direction of water flow. |
Question 64 |

A | Neither due to incorrect representation of the internal flow direction. |
B | B |
C | Neither due to incorrect representation of the initial flow direction. |
D | A |
Question 65 |
A | A. felsic rocks B. mafic rocks |
B | A. carbonates B. silicates |
C | A. mafic rocks B. felsic rocks |
D | A. silicates B. carbonates |
Question 66 |
A | viscosity of the fluid |
B | type of fluid |
C | period of the wave |
D | amplitude of the wave |
Question 67 |
A | True |
B | False |
Question 68 |
A | Magmas rich in calcium carbonates |
B | Calcium carbonate produced as a by product of chemical weathering |
C | Precipitation of inorganic compounds out of water due to evaporation |
D | Hard organic parts from invertebrates |
E | Transported rock fragments |
Question 69 |
A | Matrix is the substance that binds clasts together while cement is a fined grained material that deposits within crystals. |
B | Matrix is deposited at the same time as clasts while cement forms after the deposition of sediment as precipitate. |
C | Both terms describes a material that binds clasts but the term "matrix" is used when the rock is mostly composed of clasts while cement is used when majority of the rock is composed of fined grained materials. |
D | Matrix is formed when the clasts are deposited under high temperatures while cement is formed when clasts are deposited under low temperatures. |
Question 70 |
A | Sutured contacts |
B | Point contacts |
C | Subrounded contacts |
D | Long contacts |
E | Concavo-convex contacts |
Question 71 |
A | High energy and high sedimentation environments. |
B | Low energy and low sedimentation environments. |
C | High energy and low sedimentation environments. |
D | Low energy and high sedimentation environments. |
Question 72 |
A | False |
B | True |
Question 73 |
A | Bathyal zone |
B | Abyssal zone |
C | Above the normal sea level |
D | Sandy shore (littoral zone) |
E | Shelf (sublittoral zone) |
Question 74 |
A | Depositional sequences in very high energy environments. |
B | Settling velocity of particles in a fluid. |
C | Flow of a fluid through a tapered tube results in an increase in velocity. |
D | How flow rate, density of the fluid and pathway of flow dictates type of flows. |
Question 75 |
A | Within the upper flow regime |
B | None of the answers are correct |
C | Below massive/rapid deposition |
D | At the base of the sourced region (very bottom) |
E | Below hemipelagic mud |
Question 76 |
A | Burrows and borings are created by two distinct type of creatures that in burrows the sediments are removed mechanically and in borings the sediments are dissolved chemically. |
B | Burrows are trace fossils and borings are body fossils. |
C | I have no freaking clue what the hell you asking about. |
D | Borings are created by pushing the grains to walls of the structure and boring are created by mechanically/chemically cutting the grains. |
E | Burrows are created by pushing the grains to walls of the structure and borings are created by mechanically/chemically cutting the grains. |
F | Borings are trace fossils and burrows are body fossils. |
Question 77 |

A | Hydration/dehydration |
B | Physical |
C | Simple solution |
D | Chemical |
Question 78 |
A | D |
B | B |
C | E |
D | F |
E | A |
F | C |
G | G |
Question 79 |
A | True |
B | False |
Question 80 |
A | paleoflow |
B | suspension traction |
C | sliding |
D | saltation |
E | rolling |
Question 81 |

A | Position II just above the ripple |
B | Position I in the stoss side of the ripple |
C | Position IV in the lee side of the ripple |
D | Position III where the flow rate is consistent and smooth |
E | Position V between two ripples |
Question 82 |

A | C |
B | E |
C | D |
D | F |
E | G |
Question 83 |

A | A |
B | E |
C | D |
D | C |
E | B |
Question 84 |
A | Velocity increases as the depth increases. |
B | At the bed, there is no slip conditions due to higher velocity. |
C | Velocity decreases as the depth increases. |
D | The highest velocity is at the bed. |
E | The lowest velocity is at the bed. |
Question 85 |
A | Shelf (sublittoral zone) |
B | Sandy shore (littoral zone) |
C | Abyssal zone |
D | Above the normal sea level |
E | Bathyal zone |
Question 86 |
A | extractions(pooping) |
B | fighting |
C | crawling |
D | dwelling |
E | feeding |
Question 87 |
A | low viscous forces in the folow |
B | laminar flow |
C | turbulent flow |
D | gravity driven flow |
Question 88 |

A | True |
B | False |
Question 89 |
A | Deep sea ocean beds with rich organic matter |
B | Dry climates with long periods of droughts |
C | Humid climates |
D | Dry climates with year-round permafrost |
E | Temperate climate with long cold winters and short warm summers |
Question 90 |
A | True |
B | False |
Question 91 |
A | True |
B | False |
Question 92 |
A | sedimentation |
B | erosion |
C | paleosols |
D | pedogenesis |
Question 93 |

A | 1. is an antidune 2. is an antidune |
B | 1. is a dune 2. is an antidune |
C | 1. is an antidune 2. is a dune |
D | 1. is a dune 2. is a dune |
Question 94 |
A | Bioturbation affects less than 30% of the sediment sample and the bedding is distinct |
B | Bioturbation is between 60% to 90% of the sediment bioturbated and bedding indistinct |
C | Sediment is totally reworked by bioturbation |
D | Bioturbation is between 30% and 60% of the sediment affected and bedding is distinct |
E | A sample with few discrete traces of bioturbation |
F | Bioturbation is over 90% of sediment bioturbated, and bedding
is barely detectable |
Question 95 |
A | In the middle of the profile, the velocity is close to zero. |
B | Deeper in the fluid lower the velocity. |
C | At the top of a moving current, the velocity is close to zero. |
D | Uniformly moving fluids will have an equal instantaneous velocities regardless of depth. |
E | Deeper in the fluid higher the velocity. |
Question 96 |
A | The rock is dominated by matrix and has very few clasts. |
B | The rock is composed of just one clast type. |
C | The rock is composed of highly angular clasts. |
D | The rock is composed of just two or three clast types. |
Question 97 |
A | Under current ripples |
B | Under low- to medium-density turbidity currents |
C | Within river deltas |
D | Under high-density turbidity currents |
E | Within oxbow lakes |
Question 98 |
A | Pressure dissolution |
B | Geostatic pressure |
C | Pore waters |
D | Salt Diapirs |
Question 99 |
A | They are the same except Bioturbation is the British English word for Bioerosion(US-English) |
B | Bioturbation is the reworking of soils and sediments by animals or plants. Bioerosion is caused by mechanically or chemically cutting/removing the grains by organisms. |
C | Bioturbation is caused by plants. Bioerosion is caused by animal activities. |
D | Bioerosion is the reworking of soils and sediments by animals or plants. Bioturbation is caused by mechanically or chemically cutting/removing the grains by organisms. |
Question 100 |

A | B |
B | A |
C | C |
Question 101 |
A | False-it should be other way around. |
B | True |
Question 102 |
A | clastic deposits |
B | chemical deposits |
C | ore deposits |
D | evaporites |
E | carbonates |
Question 103 |
A | At the bed, there is no slip conditions due to lower velocity. |
B | It is difficult to determine the velocity hence we heavily relies on speed of flowing rivers for analysis. |
C | The highest velocity is at the bed. |
D | Velocity increases as the depth increases. |
Question 104 |
A | True |
B | False |
Question 105 |
A | Acids |
B | Base |
C | Low pH solutions in high temperature solutions |
D | High pH solutions |
E | Base solutions in high temperature environment |
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Credits: Based on the excellent class notes provided by, Dr. Melissa Giovanni during Fall 2012.
FAQ | Report an Error
Some of the Lab Midterm sample images | Click here
Concepts and Additional Questions for Fall 2012 Midterm I
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 lecture notes!
-velocity profile; what is idealized modal’s limitations; where is the viscous sublayer and what is it
-bed formation; shape of the bed, x-beds, directional flows
-bed load vs suspended load
-Stoke’s law and the settling velocity
-flow separation concepts; eddy; stoss/lee with respect to x-beds in dunes and anti-dunes; water surface in or out of phase of bed formation
-unidirectional flow vs ocillating flow; be able to draw and describe the differences between them; wave base “feel my bottom”.
-type of sediment gravity flows; debris flow; grain flow; liquefied flow (remember that debris flow and liquefied flow are similar in operation, but different in terms of size of rocks/grains involved.
Dr. Spila’s stuff
-4 steps involving accurately identifying fossils; preservation, description, behaviour, classification(we don’t have to know how to name them)
-What is ichnology
-difference between biotrubation and bioerrosion; which is the most common type; what is the formula for degree of bioturbation
-what are borings and what are borrows
-6 major common categories of behaviours and their reliefs; crawling(semi), resting(semi), feeding(full), gazing(semi), dewlling(full), escape(full).
-meniscae and few other definitions
-preservation differences between full and semi-relief