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 | increasing , increasing |
B | increasing , decreasing |
C | None of the answers are correct because it is not the acidity that is important, it is the pH. |
D | decreasing , increasing |
E | decreasing , decreasing |
Question 2 |

A | Neither due to incorrect representation of the initial flow direction. |
B | Neither due to incorrect representation of the internal flow direction. |
C | B |
D | A |
Question 3 |
A | The highest velocity is at the bed. |
B | The lowest velocity is at the bed. |
C | At the bed, there is no slip conditions due to higher velocity. |
D | Velocity decreases as the depth increases. |
E | Velocity increases as the depth increases. |
Question 4 |
A | None of the answers are correct |
B | Below hemipelagic mud |
C | At the base of the sourced region (very bottom) |
D | Within the upper flow regime |
E | Below massive/rapid deposition |
Question 5 |

A | False |
B | True |
Question 6 |

A | 1. is an antidune 2. is an antidune |
B | 1. is a dune 2. is a dune |
C | 1. is a dune 2. is an antidune |
D | 1. is an antidune 2. is a dune |
Question 7 |
A | At the mouth of rivers |
B | Lee side of ripples |
C | Stoss side of ripples |
D | Between dunes |
E | Within channels |
Question 8 |
A | False |
B | True |
Question 9 |
A | parsimony |
B | superposition |
C | Uniformitarianism |
D | lowerposition |
E | original horizontality |
Question 10 |
A | Hydration of minerals result in increase in volume. |
B | Release of stress as a result of pressure decrease. |
C | Organic activities such as roots and biodegradation causing increase in the mineral volume. |
D | Organic activities such as roots and biodegradation causing decrease in the mineral volume. |
E | Freeze-thaw cycle result in change in volume. |
F | Increase of stress as a result of pressure increase. |
Question 11 |

A | D |
B | A |
C | E |
D | C |
E | B |
Question 12 |
A | Bathyal zone |
B | Above the normal sea level |
C | Abyssal zone |
D | Shelf (sublittoral zone) |
E | Sandy shore (littoral zone) |
Question 13 |
A | False |
B | True |
Question 14 |

A | A |
B | B |
C | C |
Question 15 |
A | Shallow marine environments |
B | Warm and tropical wet environments |
C | River bed environments |
D | None of the answers posted here are correct. |
E | Deep marine environments |
Question 16 |
A | A sub set of beds and laminations that is defined by certain depositional structures. |
B | A type of trace fossils created by echinoids. |
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 type of depositional environment that provides the best suitable conditions for organisms to thrive. |
Question 17 |
A | True |
B | False |
Question 18 |
A | A. carbonates B. silicates |
B | A. felsic rocks B. mafic rocks |
C | A. silicates B. carbonates |
D | A. mafic rocks B. felsic rocks |
Question 19 |
A | inertial acceleration |
B | spatial acceleration |
C | gravitational acceleration |
D | upwards acceleration |
E | temporal acceleration |
Question 20 |
A | True |
B | False |
Question 21 |
A | False |
B | True |
Question 22 |
A | Yep |
B | False |
Question 23 |

A | C |
B | G |
C | F |
D | D |
E | E |
Question 24 |

A | A. Magmatic arc B. Continental block C. Recycled origin |
B | A. Continental block B. Recycled origin C. Magmatic arc |
C | A. Continental block B. Magmatic arc C. Recycled origin |
D | A. Recycled origin B. Continental block C. Magmatic arc |
E | A. Quartz B. Feldspar C. Lilith fragments |
F | A. Quartz B. Lilith fragments C. Feldspar |
Question 25 |
A | (around) middle of the velocity profile. |
B | highest velocity point of the velocity profile. |
C | bed surface of the velocity profile. |
D | surface of the fluid. |
Question 26 |
A | low viscous forces in the folow |
B | turbulent flow |
C | laminar flow |
D | gravity driven flow |
Question 27 |
A | F |
B | A |
C | B |
D | D |
E | C |
F | G |
G | E |
Question 28 |
-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 | Liquified flow |
B | Debris flow |
C | Grain flow |
D | Turbidity flow |
Question 29 |
A | Shelf (sublittoral zone) |
B | Abyssal zone |
C | Bathyal zone |
D | Sandy shore (littoral zone) |
E | Above the normal sea level |
Question 30 |
h(D) = 55 m
g = 9.81 m/s2
u = 33 m/s
A | 2.37 |
B | 1.42 |
C | 0.06116 |
D | 1.95 |
E | 0.6116 |
Question 31 |
A | biological weathering |
B | artificial weathering |
C | physical weathering |
D | chemical weathering |
Question 32 |
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 sedimentary rock is a geologic structure and sediment is a type of geologic material. |
D | 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. |
Question 33 |
A | Deltaic environment with high sediment influx. |
B | Glacial environment where clasts are dragged across a flat surface. |
C | Deep subsurface environments under high pressures and temperatures. |
D | High energy environment with a one single direction of water flow. |
Question 34 |
A | Bioturbation is caused by plants. Bioerosion is caused by animal activities. |
B | They are the same except Bioturbation is the British English word for Bioerosion(US-English) |
C | 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. |
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 35 |

A | Position II just above the ripple |
B | Position V between two ripples |
C | Position I in the stoss side of the ripple |
D | Position IV in the lee side of the ripple |
E | Position III where the flow rate is consistent and smooth |
Question 36 |
A | Deeper in the fluid higher the velocity. |
B | At the top of a moving current, the velocity is close to zero. |
C | In the middle of the profile, the velocity is close to zero. |
D | Uniformly moving fluids will have an equal instantaneous velocities regardless of depth. |
E | Deeper in the fluid lower the velocity. |
Question 37 |
A | Resting |
B | Crawling |
C | Escape |
D | Feeding |
E | Dewlling |
F | Grazing |
Question 38 |
A | 75% |
B | 98% |
C | 5% |
D | 50% |
E | 90% |
Question 39 |

A | D |
B | B |
C | C |
D | F |
E | G |
F | A |
Question 40 |
A | A. suspended load B. bed load |
B | A. gravity driven load B. inertial forces driven load |
C | A. inertial forces driven load B. gravity driven load |
D | A. bed load B. suspended load |
Question 41 |
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 42 |
A | It is difficult to determine the velocity hence we heavily relies on speed of flowing rivers for analysis. |
B | At the bed, there is no slip conditions due to lower velocity. |
C | Velocity increases as the depth increases. |
D | The highest velocity is at the bed. |
Question 43 |
A | paleosols |
B | erosion |
C | pedogenesis |
D | sedimentation |
Question 44 |
A | The rock is dominated by matrix and has very few clasts. |
B | The rock is composed of highly angular clasts. |
C | The rock is composed of just two or three clast types. |
D | The rock is composed of just one clast type. |
Question 45 |
Description
-high velocity
-larger Reynold's number
-inertial forces dominates over the viscous forces

A | It could be either A or B because the description is is insufficient. |
B | A |
C | Neither |
D | B |
Question 46 |
A | Bioturbation is between 30% and 60% of the sediment affected and bedding is distinct |
B | Bioturbation is over 90% of sediment bioturbated, and bedding
is barely detectable |
C | Sediment is totally reworked by bioturbation |
D | Bioturbation affects less than 30% of the sediment sample and the bedding is distinct |
E | A sample with few discrete traces of bioturbation |
F | Bioturbation is between 60% to 90% of the sediment bioturbated and bedding indistinct |
Question 47 |
A | sandstone |
B | limestone |
C | mudstone |
D | gypsum |
E | dolostone |
Question 48 |
A | Base |
B | Base solutions in high temperature environment |
C | Low pH solutions in high temperature solutions |
D | High pH solutions |
E | Acids |
Question 49 |
A | Flow separation |
B | Gravity |
C | Sediment load |
D | Flow velocity |
E | Potential energy |
Question 50 |
A | False |
B | True |
Question 51 |
A | Geostatic pressure |
B | Pore waters |
C | Salt Diapirs |
D | Pressure dissolution |
Question 52 |
A | Turbulent sweeps |
B | Starved ripples |
C | Trough cross-lamination |
D | Planar cross-lamination |
E | Climbing ripples |
Question 53 |
A | False-it should be other way around. |
B | True |
Question 54 |
A | True |
B | False because pedogenesis is the process of creating rivers. |
C | False because pedogenesis is the process of erosion by both physical and chemical weathering. |
D | False because pedogenesis is the process of creating soil. |
Question 55 |
A | True |
B | False |
Question 56 |
A | A. oceanic crust B. continental crust |
B | A. iron rich minerals B. oxygen rich minerals |
C | A. mafic and felsic minerals B. silica rich minerals |
D | A. mafic minerals B. felsic minerals |
E | A. felsic minerals B. mafic minerals |
Question 57 |
A | High velocity currents. |
B | Medium velocity currents. |
C | Fluctuating velocity currents. |
D | Low velocity currents. |
Question 58 |
A | False |
B | True |
Question 59 |
A | It transforms sedimentary rocks into metamorphic rocks |
B | It transforms sediments into metamorphic rocks |
C | It change the chemical and physical characteristics of sediments after the deposition |
D | It transforms igneous rocks into sedimentary rocks |
E | It occurs under temperatures above 500 degree Celsius |
Question 60 |
A | a type of erosion caused by temperature and pressure change caused by exhumation of rocks/sediments. |
B | a type of chemical weathering caused by oxidation of chemical compounds within rocks. |
C | 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. |
D | a type of physical weathering caused by biogenic processes which result in breakdown of rocks/sediments. |
E | a type of chemical weathering caused by dissociation of water into H+ and OH- ions as a result of acidifying agent. |
Question 61 |

A | 98% quartz
1 % lithics
1% feldspar |
B | 60% quartz
1 % lithics
90% feldspar |
C | 98% lithics
1 % feldspar
1% quartz |
D | 50% lithics
40 % feldspar
10% quartz |
Question 62 |
A | evaporites |
B | carbonates |
C | chemical deposits |
D | clastic deposits |
E | ore deposits |
Question 63 |
A | Paleotracology Hint: LOL What the hell? |
B | Paleogeology |
C | Genology |
D | Ichnology |
Question 64 |
A | smooth current velocity model |
B | laminar velocity model |
C | turbulent velocity model |
D | rough bed velocity model |
Question 65 |
A | Minerals with very high densities resulting deposition at the bottom of a flow. |
B | Minerals that primarily formed from organic materials. |
C | Minerals that formed as a result of magmatic processes that occurs under water. |
D | Minerals that replaces (take others' place) other minerals during sedimentation. |
E | Minerals that are formed as a result of erosion due to chemical weathering. |
Question 66 |
A | False |
B | True |
Question 67 |

A | Left side has the scour region and right side is the lee side. |
B | All statements are incorrect. |
C | Left side is the stoss side and right side is the lee side. |
D | Left side is the lee side and right side is the stoss side. |
E | Left side has the scour region and right side is the stoss side. |
Question 68 |
A | dwelling |
B | extractions(pooping) |
C | fighting |
D | feeding |
E | crawling |
Question 69 |

A | Hydration/dehydration |
B | Physical |
C | Simple solution |
D | Chemical |
Question 70 |

A | A |
B | C |
C | B |
Question 71 |

A | grain size in um |
B | depth in m |
C | flow velocity in m/s |
D | grain size in mm |
E | flow velocity in cm/s |
Question 72 |
A | viscosity of the fluid |
B | type of fluid |
C | amplitude of the wave |
D | period of the wave |
Question 73 |
A | Transported rock fragments |
B | Hard organic parts from invertebrates |
C | Magmas rich in calcium carbonates |
D | Calcium carbonate produced as a by product of chemical weathering |
E | Precipitation of inorganic compounds out of water due to evaporation |
Question 74 |
A | Borings are trace fossils and burrows are body fossils. |
B | 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. |
C | Burrows are trace fossils and borings are body fossils. |
D | I have no freaking clue what the hell you asking about. |
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 created by pushing the grains to walls of the structure and boring are created by mechanically/chemically cutting the grains. |
Question 75 |
A | shear stress |
B | super-normal stress |
C | sub-normal stress |
D | tangential stress |
E | normal stress |
Question 76 |
A | Burial(shrinking) and exfoliation(swelling). |
B | Hydration(shrinking) and dehydration(swelling) |
C | Freezing(swelling) and thawing(shrinking). |
D | Freezing(shrinking) and thawing(swelling). |
E | Hydration(swelling) and dehydration(shrinking) |
Question 77 |
A | sliding |
B | rolling |
C | paleoflow |
D | saltation |
E | suspension traction |
Question 78 |
A | Extreme temperatures and pressures between different sediment successions. |
B | Differential pressure-temperature gradient that increases with depth. |
C | High pressures excreted on sediments from both through uplift and loading processes. |
D | Differential lateral compaction within bed forms resulting high pressures between bed contacts. |
E | Extreme pressure concentrated at the contacts between grains within sediments. |
Question 79 |
A | Flow of a fluid through a tapered tube results in an increase in velocity. |
B | Depositional sequences in very high energy environments. |
C | How flow rate, density of the fluid and pathway of flow dictates type of flows. |
D | Settling velocity of particles in a fluid. |
Question 80 |
A | True |
B | False |
Antidunes can be formed as a result of beds deposition in phase to the surface water wave.
Question 81 |
A | Description of the identifiable parts. |
B | Study of the mode of preservation. |
C | Study of behavior. |
D | Classification of the trace fossils. |
Question 82 |
A | Kaolinite |
B | Calcium Feldspars |
C | Olivine |
D | Pyroxene |
E | Muscovite mica |
Question 83 |

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 decrease significantly(at that point). |
D | The stream lines(red lines) converging at the yellow arrow cause the velocity to increase significantly(at that point). |
E | The pressure right above the yellow arrow is much lower than the pressure near the black rocks/sediments. |
Question 84 |
A | Pressure: soft water-bearing sediments escaping through overlying sediments |
B | High volume sediment loads |
C | Gravity: hard sediments sinking into soft underlying sediments |
D | Significant density contrast |
Question 85 |
A | Dunes are distinctly larger than ripples. |
B | Dunes form in marine environments and ripples form in non-marine river type environments. |
C | Dunes forms in turbulent waters and ripples forms in calm waters. |
D | Dunes have interbedded cross laminations and ripples do not. |
Question 86 |
A | biotite |
B | amphibole |
C | quartz |
D | olivine |
Question 87 |
A | Hydraulic jump |
B | Critical flow |
C | Change in flow regime |
D | Change in normality |
E | Gradient change |
Question 88 |

A | S to N |
B | NW to SE |
C | NE to SE |
D | N to S |
E | SE to NW |
Question 89 |
A | A. subercritical B. critical C. supcritical |
B | A. critical B. supercritical C. subcritical |
C | A. supercritical B. subcritical C. critical |
D | A. supercritical B. critical C. subcritical |
E | A. critical B. subcritical C. supercritical |
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 90 |
A | Turbidity currents |
B | Rock falls |
C | Debris flows |
D | Slumps |
E | Glacial breakups |
Question 91 |
A | 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. |
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 | Every object in a state of uniform motion tends to remain in that state of motion unless an external force is applied to it. |
Question 92 |
A | Liquified flow |
B | Turbidity current |
C | Debris flow |
D | Grain flow |
Question 93 |
A | Long contacts |
B | Point contacts |
C | Sutured contacts |
D | Subrounded contacts |
E | Concavo-convex contacts |
Question 94 |

A | D |
B | C |
C | F |
D | E |
E | No such thing on the diagram above. |
Question 95 |
A | False |
B | True |
Question 96 |
A | Sheet wash |
B | Rock fall |
C | Debris flow |
D | Turbidity current |
E | Slump |
Question 97 |
A | Deep sea ocean beds with rich organic matter |
B | Temperate climate with long cold winters and short warm summers |
C | Humid climates |
D | Dry climates with long periods of droughts |
E | Dry climates with year-round permafrost |
Question 98 |
A | ~ 90 degrees |
B | ~ 30 degrees |
C | ~ 100 degrees |
D | ~ 50 degrees |
E | ~ 10 degrees |
Question 99 |
A | Under current ripples |
B | Within oxbow lakes |
C | Within river deltas |
D | Under high-density turbidity currents |
E | Under low- to medium-density turbidity currents |
Question 100 |
A | carbonates |
B | evaporates |
C | organic deposits |
D | precipitates |
E | clastic sediments |
Question 101 |
A | chemical weathering |
B | erosion |
C | physical weathering |
D | denudation |
Question 102 |
A | I. lower II. laminar |
B | I. lower II. turbulent |
C | I. higher II. laminar |
D | None of the answers are correct. |
E | I. zero II. turbulent |
Question 103 |
A | Matrix is the substance that binds clasts together while cement is a fined grained material that deposits within crystals. |
B | Matrix is formed when the clasts are deposited under high temperatures while cement is formed when clasts are deposited under low temperatures. |
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 deposited at the same time as clasts while cement forms after the deposition of sediment as precipitate. |
Question 104 |
A | authigenic |
B | sedimentary |
C | native |
D | detrital |
E | metamorphic |
Question 105 |
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. |
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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