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 | ~ 90 degrees |
B | ~ 100 degrees |
C | ~ 30 degrees |
D | ~ 10 degrees |
E | ~ 50 degrees |
Question 2 |
A | Olivine |
B | Calcium Feldspars |
C | Pyroxene |
D | Muscovite mica |
E | Kaolinite |
Question 3 |
A | The rock is composed of just one clast type. |
B | The rock is composed of just two or three clast types. |
C | The rock is dominated by matrix and has very few clasts. |
D | The rock is composed of highly angular clasts. |
Question 4 |
A | gravitational acceleration |
B | upwards acceleration |
C | temporal acceleration |
D | inertial acceleration |
E | spatial acceleration |
Question 5 |
A | For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. |
B | Gravitational force is proportional to the mass and acceleration due to gravity. |
C | Every object in a state of uniform motion tends to remain in that state of motion unless an external force is applied to it. |
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 6 |
A | Sheet wash |
B | Debris flow |
C | Rock fall |
D | Slump |
E | Turbidity current |
Question 7 |
A | sliding |
B | saltation |
C | rolling |
D | paleoflow |
E | suspension traction |
Question 8 |
A | precipitates |
B | carbonates |
C | clastic sediments |
D | evaporates |
E | organic deposits |
Question 9 |
A | Study of behavior. |
B | Classification of the trace fossils. |
C | Description of the identifiable parts. |
D | Study of the mode of preservation. |
Question 10 |
A | Grazing |
B | Feeding |
C | Escape |
D | Crawling |
E | Resting |
F | Dewlling |
Question 11 |
A | type of fluid |
B | amplitude of the wave |
C | period of the wave |
D | viscosity of the fluid |
Question 12 |
A | Magmas rich in calcium carbonates |
B | Precipitation of inorganic compounds out of water due to evaporation |
C | Hard organic parts from invertebrates |
D | Calcium carbonate produced as a by product of chemical weathering |
E | Transported rock fragments |
Question 13 |

A | depth in m |
B | flow velocity in m/s |
C | grain size in um |
D | grain size in mm |
E | flow velocity in cm/s |
Question 14 |
A | High volume sediment loads |
B | Pressure: soft water-bearing sediments escaping through overlying sediments |
C | Significant density contrast |
D | Gravity: hard sediments sinking into soft underlying sediments |
Question 15 |
A | True |
B | False |
Question 16 |

A | 1. is an antidune 2. is an antidune |
B | 1. is a dune 2. is a dune |
C | 1. is an antidune 2. is a dune |
D | 1. is a dune 2. is an antidune |
Question 17 |
A | Shelf (sublittoral zone) |
B | Bathyal zone |
C | Sandy shore (littoral zone) |
D | Above the normal sea level |
E | Abyssal zone |
Question 18 |
A | True |
B | False |
Question 19 |

A | Left side is the stoss side and right side is the lee side. |
B | Left side has the scour region and right side is the stoss side. |
C | Left side is the lee side and right side is the stoss side. |
D | All statements are incorrect. |
E | Left side has the scour region and right side is the lee side. |
Question 20 |
A | smooth current velocity model |
B | turbulent velocity model |
C | laminar velocity model |
D | rough bed velocity model |
Question 21 |
A | True |
B | False |
Question 22 |

A | E |
B | F |
C | No such thing on the diagram above. |
D | C |
E | D |
Question 23 |
A | D |
B | E |
C | A |
D | G |
E | C |
F | B |
G | F |
Question 24 |
A | At the bed, there is no slip conditions due to lower velocity. |
B | Velocity increases as the depth increases. |
C | It is difficult to determine the velocity hence we heavily relies on speed of flowing rivers for analysis. |
D | The highest velocity is at the bed. |
Question 25 |
A | They are the same except Bioturbation is the British English word for Bioerosion(US-English) |
B | Bioturbation is caused by plants. Bioerosion is caused by animal activities. |
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 26 |
A | Deeper in the fluid lower the velocity. |
B | Uniformly moving fluids will have an equal instantaneous velocities regardless of depth. |
C | At the top of a moving current, the velocity is close to zero. |
D | Deeper in the fluid higher the velocity. |
E | In the middle of the profile, the velocity is close to zero. |
Question 27 |

A | NE to SE |
B | S to N |
C | NW to SE |
D | N to S |
E | SE to NW |
Question 28 |
A | Low velocity currents. |
B | Medium velocity currents. |
C | High velocity currents. |
D | Fluctuating velocity currents. |
Question 29 |
A | At the base of the sourced region (very bottom) |
B | Within the upper flow regime |
C | None of the answers are correct |
D | Below massive/rapid deposition |
E | Below hemipelagic mud |
Question 30 |
A | tangential stress |
B | normal stress |
C | shear stress |
D | sub-normal stress |
E | super-normal stress |
Question 31 |
A | A. felsic minerals B. mafic minerals |
B | A. oceanic crust B. continental crust |
C | A. mafic minerals B. felsic minerals |
D | A. iron rich minerals B. oxygen rich minerals |
E | A. mafic and felsic minerals B. silica rich minerals |
Question 32 |
A | Above the normal sea level |
B | Sandy shore (littoral zone) |
C | Bathyal zone |
D | Shelf (sublittoral zone) |
E | Abyssal zone |
Question 33 |
A | False |
B | True |
Question 34 |

A | B |
B | A |
C | C |
Question 35 |

A | C |
B | A |
C | B |
Question 36 |
h(D) = 55 m
g = 9.81 m/s2
u = 33 m/s
A | 1.95 |
B | 1.42 |
C | 0.06116 |
D | 0.6116 |
E | 2.37 |
Question 37 |
A | None of the answers are correct because it is not the acidity that is important, it is the pH. |
B | increasing , increasing |
C | decreasing , increasing |
D | increasing , decreasing |
E | decreasing , decreasing |
Question 38 |

A | A |
B | Neither due to incorrect representation of the internal flow direction. |
C | Neither due to incorrect representation of the initial flow direction. |
D | B |
Question 39 |
A | A. inertial forces driven load B. gravity driven load |
B | A. suspended load B. bed load |
C | A. bed load B. suspended load |
D | A. gravity driven load B. inertial forces driven load |
Question 40 |
A | Critical flow |
B | Gradient change |
C | Change in flow regime |
D | Change in normality |
E | Hydraulic jump |
Question 41 |
A | Glacial breakups |
B | Rock falls |
C | Turbidity currents |
D | Slumps |
E | Debris flows |
Question 42 |
A | False |
B | True |
Question 43 |
A | quartz |
B | biotite |
C | amphibole |
D | olivine |
Question 44 |
A | ore deposits |
B | carbonates |
C | clastic deposits |
D | evaporites |
E | chemical deposits |
Question 45 |
A | False |
B | True |
Question 46 |
A | A. carbonates B. silicates |
B | A. silicates B. carbonates |
C | A. mafic rocks B. felsic rocks |
D | A. felsic rocks B. mafic rocks |
Question 47 |
A | Within river deltas |
B | Within oxbow lakes |
C | Under current ripples |
D | Under high-density turbidity currents |
E | Under low- to medium-density turbidity currents |
Question 48 |
A | At the mouth of rivers |
B | Between dunes |
C | Lee side of ripples |
D | Stoss side of ripples |
E | Within channels |
Question 49 |
A | False |
B | True |
Question 50 |
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 51 |
A | metamorphic |
B | detrital |
C | sedimentary |
D | authigenic |
E | native |
Question 52 |
A | I. zero II. turbulent |
B | I. lower II. turbulent |
C | None of the answers are correct. |
D | I. higher II. laminar |
E | I. lower II. laminar |
Question 53 |

A | Position I in the stoss side of the ripple |
B | Position V between two ripples |
C | Position IV in the lee side of the ripple |
D | Position II just above the ripple |
E | Position III where the flow rate is consistent and smooth |
Question 54 |
A | paleosols |
B | sedimentation |
C | pedogenesis |
D | erosion |
Question 55 |
A | True |
B | False-it should be other way around. |
Question 56 |
A | Concavo-convex contacts |
B | Long contacts |
C | Subrounded contacts |
D | Sutured contacts |
E | Point contacts |
Question 57 |
A | turbulent flow |
B | gravity driven flow |
C | laminar flow |
D | low viscous forces in the folow |
Question 58 |

A | B |
B | C |
C | E |
D | D |
E | A |
Question 59 |
A | It change the chemical and physical characteristics of sediments after the deposition |
B | It transforms sediments into metamorphic rocks |
C | It transforms igneous rocks into sedimentary rocks |
D | It transforms sedimentary rocks into metamorphic rocks |
E | It occurs under temperatures above 500 degree Celsius |
Question 60 |
A | Liquified flow |
B | Debris flow |
C | Turbidity current |
D | Grain flow |
Question 61 |
A | A. critical B. supercritical C. subcritical |
B | A. supercritical B. subcritical C. critical |
C | A. subercritical B. critical C. supcritical |
D | A. critical B. subcritical C. supercritical |
E | A. supercritical B. critical C. subcritical |
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 62 |
A | Dunes forms in turbulent waters and ripples forms in calm waters. |
B | Dunes have interbedded cross laminations and ripples do not. |
C | Dunes form in marine environments and ripples form in non-marine river type environments. |
D | Dunes are distinctly larger than ripples. |
Question 63 |
A | 98% |
B | 75% |
C | 90% |
D | 5% |
E | 50% |
Question 64 |
A | The highest velocity is at the bed. |
B | Velocity decreases as the depth increases. |
C | The lowest velocity is at the bed. |
D | Velocity increases as the depth increases. |
E | At the bed, there is no slip conditions due to higher velocity. |
Question 65 |
A | Matrix is deposited at the same time as clasts while cement forms after the deposition of sediment as precipitate. |
B | 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. |
C | Matrix is the substance that binds clasts together while cement is a fined grained material that deposits within crystals. |
D | Matrix is formed when the clasts are deposited under high temperatures while cement is formed when clasts are deposited under low temperatures. |
Question 66 |
A | 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. |
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 physical weathering caused by biogenic processes which result in breakdown of rocks/sediments. |
D | a type of erosion caused by temperature and pressure change caused by exhumation of rocks/sediments. |
E | a type of chemical weathering caused by oxidation of chemical compounds within rocks. |
Question 67 |
A | Potential energy |
B | Gravity |
C | Flow velocity |
D | Flow separation |
E | Sediment load |
Question 68 |
A | True |
B | False |
Question 69 |
A | Uniformitarianism |
B | superposition |
C | parsimony |
D | original horizontality |
E | lowerposition |
Question 70 |
A | bed surface of the velocity profile. |
B | (around) middle of the velocity profile. |
C | highest velocity point of the velocity profile. |
D | surface of the fluid. |
Question 71 |
-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 | Grain flow |
B | Liquified flow |
C | Turbidity flow |
D | Debris flow |
Question 72 |
A | biological weathering |
B | physical weathering |
C | chemical weathering |
D | artificial weathering |
Question 73 |
A | High energy and low sedimentation environments. |
B | Low energy and low sedimentation environments. |
C | Low energy and high sedimentation environments. |
D | High energy and high sedimentation environments. |
Question 74 |

A | False |
B | True |
Question 75 |

A | The stream lines(red lines) converging at the yellow arrow cause the velocity to decrease significantly(at that point). |
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 lift at the yellow arrow is caused by the high pressure at the top caused by converging streamlines. |
E | The pressure right above the yellow arrow is much lower than the pressure near the black rocks/sediments. |
Question 76 |
A | Yep |
B | False |
Question 77 |
A | False |
B | True |
Question 78 |
A | Settling velocity of particles in a fluid. |
B | Flow of a fluid through a tapered tube results in an increase in velocity. |
C | How flow rate, density of the fluid and pathway of flow dictates type of flows. |
D | Depositional sequences in very high energy environments. |
Question 79 |

A | C |
B | D |
C | A |
D | G |
E | F |
F | B |
Question 80 |
A | Dry climates with long periods of droughts |
B | Humid climates |
C | Deep sea ocean beds with rich organic matter |
D | Temperate climate with long cold winters and short warm summers |
E | Dry climates with year-round permafrost |
Question 81 |
A | Base |
B | Base solutions in high temperature environment |
C | Low pH solutions in high temperature solutions |
D | High pH solutions |
E | Acids |
Question 82 |

A | Chemical |
B | Simple solution |
C | Hydration/dehydration |
D | Physical |
Question 83 |
A | Pressure dissolution |
B | Salt Diapirs |
C | Pore waters |
D | Geostatic pressure |
Question 84 |
A | Genology |
B | Paleotracology Hint: LOL What the hell? |
C | Ichnology |
D | Paleogeology |
Question 85 |
Description
-high velocity
-larger Reynold's number
-inertial forces dominates over the viscous forces

A | A |
B | B |
C | Neither |
D | It could be either A or B because the description is is insufficient. |
Question 86 |
A | True |
B | False |
Antidunes can be formed as a result of beds deposition in phase to the surface water wave.
Question 87 |

A | A. Continental block B. Recycled origin C. Magmatic arc |
B | A. Quartz B. Feldspar C. Lilith fragments |
C | A. Quartz B. Lilith fragments C. Feldspar |
D | A. Recycled origin B. Continental block C. Magmatic arc |
E | A. Continental block B. Magmatic arc C. Recycled origin |
F | A. Magmatic arc B. Continental block C. Recycled origin |
Question 88 |
A | Minerals that replaces (take others' place) other minerals during sedimentation. |
B | Minerals that primarily formed from organic materials. |
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 with very high densities resulting deposition at the bottom of a flow. |
Question 89 |
A | limestone |
B | dolostone |
C | mudstone |
D | gypsum |
E | sandstone |
Question 90 |
A | Starved ripples |
B | Trough cross-lamination |
C | Turbulent sweeps |
D | Planar cross-lamination |
E | Climbing ripples |
Question 91 |
A | Increase of stress as a result of pressure increase. |
B | Freeze-thaw cycle result in change in volume. |
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 | Release of stress as a result of pressure decrease. |
F | Hydration of minerals result in increase in volume. |
Question 92 |
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 93 |
A | Borings are created by pushing the grains to walls of the structure and boring are created by mechanically/chemically cutting the grains. |
B | Burrows are created by pushing the grains to walls of the structure and borings are created by mechanically/chemically cutting the grains. |
C | Borings are trace fossils and burrows are body fossils. |
D | Burrows are trace fossils and borings are body fossils. |
E | I have no freaking clue what the hell you asking about. |
F | 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. |
Question 94 |

A | 50% lithics
40 % feldspar
10% quartz |
B | 98% lithics
1 % feldspar
1% quartz |
C | 60% quartz
1 % lithics
90% feldspar |
D | 98% quartz
1 % lithics
1% feldspar |
Question 95 |
A | Hydration(swelling) and dehydration(shrinking) |
B | Freezing(shrinking) and thawing(swelling). |
C | Burial(shrinking) and exfoliation(swelling). |
D | Hydration(shrinking) and dehydration(swelling) |
E | Freezing(swelling) and thawing(shrinking). |
Question 96 |
A | Differential pressure-temperature gradient that increases with depth. |
B | High pressures excreted on sediments from both through uplift and loading processes. |
C | Differential lateral compaction within bed forms resulting high pressures between bed contacts. |
D | Extreme pressure concentrated at the contacts between grains within sediments. |
E | Extreme temperatures and pressures between different sediment successions. |
Question 97 |
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 within a single type of sediment while semi-relief structures are preserved at an interface between two strata. |
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 as 2D structures while semi-relief structures are preserved as 3D structures. Both are preserved within a single type of sediment. |
Question 98 |
A | Glacial environment where clasts are dragged across a flat surface. |
B | High energy environment with a one single direction of water flow. |
C | Deltaic environment with high sediment influx. |
D | Deep subsurface environments under high pressures and temperatures. |
Question 99 |
A | False because pedogenesis is the process of creating soil. |
B | False because pedogenesis is the process of erosion by both physical and chemical weathering. |
C | True |
D | False because pedogenesis is the process of creating rivers. |
Question 100 |
A | A type of depositional environment that provides the best suitable conditions for organisms to thrive. |
B | An assemblage of trace fossils that provides an indication of the palaeoenvironment. |
C | A type of trace fossils created by echinoids. |
D | A sub set of beds and laminations that is defined by certain depositional structures. |
E | A a body of rock with specified mineralogical characteristics. |
Question 101 |
A | feeding |
B | fighting |
C | dwelling |
D | crawling |
E | extractions(pooping) |
Question 102 |
A | Sediment is totally reworked by bioturbation |
B | Bioturbation is between 30% and 60% of the sediment affected and bedding is distinct |
C | Bioturbation affects less than 30% of the sediment sample and the bedding is distinct |
D | Bioturbation is between 60% to 90% of the sediment bioturbated and bedding indistinct |
E | A sample with few discrete traces of bioturbation |
F | Bioturbation is over 90% of sediment bioturbated, and bedding
is barely detectable |
Question 103 |
A | False |
B | True |
Question 104 |
A | chemical weathering |
B | erosion |
C | denudation |
D | physical weathering |
Question 105 |

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