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
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Question 1 |
A | Differential pressure-temperature gradient that increases with depth. |
B | High pressures excreted on sediments from both through uplift and loading processes. |
C | Extreme temperatures and pressures between different sediment successions. |
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 2 |

A | False |
B | True |
Question 3 |

A | Hydration/dehydration |
B | Chemical |
C | Physical |
D | Simple solution |
Question 4 |
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 5 |
A | Gravity: hard sediments sinking into soft underlying sediments |
B | Significant density contrast |
C | Pressure: soft water-bearing sediments escaping through overlying sediments |
D | High volume sediment loads |
Question 6 |
A | 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. |
B | 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. |
C | 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. |
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 7 |
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 8 |

A | NW to SE |
B | NE to SE |
C | SE to NW |
D | N to S |
E | S to N |
Question 9 |
A | None of the answers posted here are correct. |
B | River bed environments |
C | Warm and tropical wet environments |
D | Shallow marine environments |
E | Deep marine environments |
Question 10 |
A | amphibole |
B | olivine |
C | biotite |
D | quartz |
Question 11 |
A | Calcium Feldspars |
B | Pyroxene |
C | Olivine |
D | Kaolinite |
E | Muscovite mica |
Question 12 |
A | Low pH solutions in high temperature solutions |
B | Base solutions in high temperature environment |
C | Base |
D | Acids |
E | High pH solutions |
Question 13 |
A | Dunes have interbedded cross laminations and ripples do not. |
B | Dunes forms in turbulent waters and ripples forms in calm waters. |
C | Dunes form in marine environments and ripples form in non-marine river type environments. |
D | Dunes are distinctly larger than ripples. |
Question 14 |
A | bed surface of the velocity profile. |
B | surface of the fluid. |
C | (around) middle of the velocity profile. |
D | highest velocity point of the velocity profile. |
Question 15 |
h(D) = 55 m
g = 9.81 m/s2
u = 33 m/s
A | 1.95 |
B | 0.6116 |
C | 1.42 |
D | 2.37 |
E | 0.06116 |
Question 16 |

A | 60% quartz
1 % lithics
90% feldspar |
B | 98% lithics
1 % feldspar
1% quartz |
C | 50% lithics
40 % feldspar
10% quartz |
D | 98% quartz
1 % lithics
1% feldspar |
Question 17 |
A | False |
B | True |
Question 18 |
A | physical weathering |
B | chemical weathering |
C | artificial weathering |
D | biological weathering |
Question 19 |
A | Hydraulic jump |
B | Change in flow regime |
C | Gradient change |
D | Change in normality |
E | Critical flow |
Question 20 |

A | D |
B | G |
C | C |
D | F |
E | E |
Question 21 |
A | Matrix is formed when the clasts are deposited under high temperatures while cement is formed when clasts are deposited under low temperatures. |
B | Matrix is the substance that binds clasts together while cement is a fined grained material that deposits within crystals. |
C | Matrix is deposited at the same time as clasts while cement forms after the deposition of sediment as precipitate. |
D | 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. |
Question 22 |
A | True |
B | False |
Question 23 |
A | True |
B | False |
Question 24 |
A | Release of stress as a result of pressure decrease. |
B | Freeze-thaw cycle result in change in volume. |
C | Increase of stress as a result of pressure increase. |
D | Organic activities such as roots and biodegradation causing increase in the mineral volume. |
E | Hydration of minerals result in increase in volume. |
F | Organic activities such as roots and biodegradation causing decrease in the mineral volume. |
Question 25 |
A | Below hemipelagic mud |
B | Below massive/rapid deposition |
C | At the base of the sourced region (very bottom) |
D | None of the answers are correct |
E | Within the upper flow regime |
Question 26 |

A | B |
B | Neither due to incorrect representation of the initial flow direction. |
C | Neither due to incorrect representation of the internal flow direction. |
D | A |
Question 27 |
A | Sheet wash |
B | Turbidity current |
C | Slump |
D | Rock fall |
E | Debris flow |
Question 28 |

A | E |
B | F |
C | D |
D | C |
E | No such thing on the diagram above. |
Question 29 |

A | The lift at the yellow arrow is caused by the high pressure at the top caused by converging streamlines. |
B | The pressure right above the yellow arrow is much lower than the pressure near the black rocks/sediments. |
C | The pressure from above is much higher causing the grains to push hard against the bed. |
D | The stream lines(red lines) converging at the yellow arrow cause the velocity to increase significantly(at that point). |
E | The stream lines(red lines) converging at the yellow arrow cause the velocity to decrease significantly(at that point). |
Question 30 |
A | True |
B | False |
Question 31 |
A | Shelf (sublittoral zone) |
B | Above the normal sea level |
C | Sandy shore (littoral zone) |
D | Abyssal zone |
E | Bathyal zone |
Question 32 |
A | a type of chemical weathering caused by oxidation of chemical compounds within rocks. |
B | a type of physical weathering caused by biogenic processes which result in breakdown of rocks/sediments. |
C | a type of erosion caused by temperature and pressure change caused by exhumation of rocks/sediments. |
D | a type of chemical weathering caused by dissociation of water into H+ and OH- ions as a result of acidifying agent. |
E | 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. |
Question 33 |

A | A. Quartz B. Feldspar C. Lilith fragments |
B | A. Continental block B. Magmatic arc C. Recycled origin |
C | A. Magmatic arc B. Continental block C. Recycled origin |
D | A. Continental block B. Recycled origin C. Magmatic arc |
E | A. Recycled origin B. Continental block C. Magmatic arc |
F | A. Quartz B. Lilith fragments C. Feldspar |
Question 34 |
A | The rock is composed of highly angular clasts. |
B | The rock is composed of just two or three clast types. |
C | The rock is composed of just one clast type. |
D | The rock is dominated by matrix and has very few clasts. |
Question 35 |
A | Turbidity currents |
B | Slumps |
C | Glacial breakups |
D | Rock falls |
E | Debris flows |
Question 36 |
A | native |
B | authigenic |
C | metamorphic |
D | detrital |
E | sedimentary |
Question 37 |
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 38 |
A | ~ 30 degrees |
B | ~ 90 degrees |
C | ~ 10 degrees |
D | ~ 100 degrees |
E | ~ 50 degrees |
Question 39 |
A | increasing , increasing |
B | decreasing , decreasing |
C | increasing , decreasing |
D | None of the answers are correct because it is not the acidity that is important, it is the pH. |
E | decreasing , increasing |
Question 40 |
A | False |
B | True |
Question 41 |
A | normal stress |
B | tangential stress |
C | super-normal stress |
D | shear stress |
E | sub-normal stress |
Question 42 |
A | Crawling |
B | Grazing |
C | Dewlling |
D | Escape |
E | Feeding |
F | Resting |
Question 43 |
A | pedogenesis |
B | erosion |
C | sedimentation |
D | paleosols |
Question 44 |
A | True |
B | False |
Question 45 |
A | At the bed, there is no slip conditions due to lower velocity. |
B | The highest velocity is at the bed. |
C | Velocity increases as the depth increases. |
D | It is difficult to determine the velocity hence we heavily relies on speed of flowing rivers for analysis. |
Question 46 |
A | True |
B | False |
Question 47 |
A | A. supercritical B. critical C. subcritical |
B | A. supercritical B. subcritical C. critical |
C | A. subercritical B. critical C. supcritical |
D | A. critical B. supercritical 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 48 |
A | Lee side of ripples |
B | Within channels |
C | Between dunes |
D | Stoss side of ripples |
E | At the mouth of rivers |
Question 49 |
A | A. bed load B. suspended load |
B | A. gravity driven load B. inertial forces driven load |
C | A. suspended load B. bed load |
D | A. inertial forces driven load B. gravity driven load |
Question 50 |
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 51 |
A | I. higher II. laminar |
B | I. lower II. laminar |
C | I. zero II. turbulent |
D | I. lower II. turbulent |
E | None of the answers are correct. |
Question 52 |
A | It transforms igneous rocks into sedimentary rocks |
B | It change the chemical and physical characteristics of sediments after the deposition |
C | It occurs under temperatures above 500 degree Celsius |
D | It transforms sediments into metamorphic rocks |
E | It transforms sedimentary rocks into metamorphic rocks |
Question 53 |
A | Gravitational force is proportional to the mass and acceleration due to gravity. |
B | 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. |
C | For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. |
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 54 |
A | Burrows are created by pushing the grains to walls of the structure and borings are created by mechanically/chemically cutting the grains. |
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 | Borings are created by pushing the grains to walls of the structure and boring are created by mechanically/chemically cutting the grains. |
D | Burrows are trace fossils and borings are body fossils. |
E | Borings are trace fossils and burrows are body fossils. |
F | I have no freaking clue what the hell you asking about. |
Question 55 |
A | Paleogeology |
B | Ichnology |
C | Paleotracology Hint: LOL What the hell? |
D | Genology |
Question 56 |
A | A. iron rich minerals B. oxygen rich minerals |
B | A. mafic minerals B. felsic minerals |
C | A. mafic and felsic minerals B. silica rich minerals |
D | A. felsic minerals B. mafic minerals |
E | A. oceanic crust B. continental crust |
Question 57 |
A | denudation |
B | physical weathering |
C | chemical weathering |
D | erosion |
Question 58 |

A | A |
B | B |
C | E |
D | D |
E | C |
Question 59 |
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 60 |
A | dolostone |
B | gypsum |
C | sandstone |
D | limestone |
E | mudstone |
Question 61 |
A | Minerals that replaces (take others' place) other minerals during sedimentation. |
B | Minerals that formed as a result of magmatic processes that occurs under water. |
C | Minerals that are formed as a result of erosion due to chemical weathering. |
D | Minerals with very high densities resulting deposition at the bottom of a flow. |
E | Minerals that primarily formed from organic materials. |
Question 62 |
A | At the bed, there is no slip conditions due to higher velocity. |
B | The lowest velocity is at the bed. |
C | Velocity increases as the depth increases. |
D | The highest velocity is at the bed. |
E | Velocity decreases as the depth increases. |
Question 63 |
A | Turbidity current |
B | Liquified flow |
C | Grain flow |
D | Debris flow |
Question 64 |
A | turbulent velocity model |
B | smooth current velocity model |
C | rough bed velocity model |
D | laminar velocity model |
Question 65 |
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 | 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. |
D | 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. |
Question 66 |
Description
-high velocity
-larger Reynold's number
-inertial forces dominates over the viscous forces

A | A |
B | It could be either A or B because the description is is insufficient. |
C | Neither |
D | B |
Question 67 |

A | B |
B | C |
C | A |
Question 68 |
A | Trough cross-lamination |
B | Starved ripples |
C | Turbulent sweeps |
D | Climbing ripples |
E | Planar cross-lamination |
Question 69 |
A | sliding |
B | rolling |
C | suspension traction |
D | saltation |
E | paleoflow |
Question 70 |
A | How flow rate, density of the fluid and pathway of flow dictates type of flows. |
B | Flow of a fluid through a tapered tube results in an increase in velocity. |
C | Settling velocity of particles in a fluid. |
D | Depositional sequences in very high energy environments. |
Question 71 |
A | carbonates |
B | evaporites |
C | chemical deposits |
D | clastic deposits |
E | ore deposits |
Question 72 |
A | False |
B | Yep |
Question 73 |
A | Freezing(shrinking) and thawing(swelling). |
B | Freezing(swelling) and thawing(shrinking). |
C | Hydration(shrinking) and dehydration(swelling) |
D | Burial(shrinking) and exfoliation(swelling). |
E | Hydration(swelling) and dehydration(shrinking) |
Question 74 |

A | C |
B | F |
C | D |
D | G |
E | A |
F | B |
Question 75 |
A | 98% |
B | 90% |
C | 5% |
D | 50% |
E | 75% |
Question 76 |
A | Sutured contacts |
B | Long contacts |
C | Point contacts |
D | Subrounded contacts |
E | Concavo-convex contacts |
Question 77 |

A | 1. is a dune 2. is an antidune |
B | 1. is an antidune 2. is a dune |
C | 1. is a dune 2. is a dune |
D | 1. is an antidune 2. is an antidune |
Question 78 |
A | False-it should be other way around. |
B | True |
Question 79 |
A | viscosity of the fluid |
B | amplitude of the wave |
C | type of fluid |
D | period of the wave |
Question 80 |

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 81 |
A | upwards acceleration |
B | spatial acceleration |
C | gravitational acceleration |
D | temporal acceleration |
E | inertial acceleration |
Question 82 |
A | False |
B | True |
Question 83 |
-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 | Grain flow |
C | Debris flow |
D | Turbidity flow |
Question 84 |
A | Geostatic pressure |
B | Pore waters |
C | Salt Diapirs |
D | Pressure dissolution |
Question 85 |
A | Within river deltas |
B | Under low- to medium-density turbidity currents |
C | Within oxbow lakes |
D | Under current ripples |
E | Under high-density turbidity currents |
Question 86 |
A | False |
B | True |
Antidunes can be formed as a result of beds deposition in phase to the surface water wave.
Question 87 |
A | Fluctuating velocity currents. |
B | Medium velocity currents. |
C | High velocity currents. |
D | Low velocity currents. |
Question 88 |
A | Above the normal sea level |
B | Abyssal zone |
C | Shelf (sublittoral zone) |
D | Bathyal zone |
E | Sandy shore (littoral zone) |
Question 89 |
A | parsimony |
B | superposition |
C | Uniformitarianism |
D | original horizontality |
E | lowerposition |
Question 90 |
A | E |
B | G |
C | A |
D | D |
E | F |
F | C |
G | B |
Question 91 |

A | A |
B | B |
C | C |
Question 92 |
A | Deltaic environment with high sediment influx. |
B | High energy environment with a one single direction of water flow. |
C | Glacial environment where clasts are dragged across a flat surface. |
D | Deep subsurface environments under high pressures and temperatures. |
Question 93 |
A | Description of the identifiable parts. |
B | Classification of the trace fossils. |
C | Study of the mode of preservation. |
D | Study of behavior. |
Question 94 |
A | 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. |
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 preserved within a single type of sediment while semi-relief structures are preserved at an interface between two strata. |
D | Semi- relief structures are preserved within a single type of sediment while full-relief structures are preserved at an interface between two strata. |
Question 95 |
A | True |
B | False |
Question 96 |
A | True |
B | False |
Question 97 |
A | evaporates |
B | organic deposits |
C | precipitates |
D | carbonates |
E | clastic sediments |
Question 98 |
A | fighting |
B | crawling |
C | dwelling |
D | extractions(pooping) |
E | feeding |
Question 99 |

A | Position III where the flow rate is consistent and smooth |
B | Position V between two ripples |
C | Position IV in the lee side of the ripple |
D | Position I in the stoss side of the ripple |
E | Position II just above the ripple |
Question 100 |
A | laminar flow |
B | low viscous forces in the folow |
C | turbulent flow |
D | gravity driven flow |
Question 101 |
A | High energy and high sedimentation environments. |
B | Low energy and high sedimentation environments. |
C | Low energy and low sedimentation environments. |
D | High energy and low sedimentation environments. |
Question 102 |

A | grain size in mm |
B | flow velocity in cm/s |
C | grain size in um |
D | depth in m |
E | flow velocity in m/s |
Question 103 |
A | A sample with few discrete traces of bioturbation |
B | Bioturbation is between 60% to 90% of the sediment bioturbated and bedding indistinct |
C | Bioturbation is over 90% of sediment bioturbated, and bedding
is barely detectable |
D | Sediment is totally reworked by bioturbation |
E | Bioturbation is between 30% and 60% of the sediment affected and bedding is distinct |
F | Bioturbation affects less than 30% of the sediment sample and the bedding is distinct |
Question 104 |
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 | An assemblage of trace fossils that provides an indication of the palaeoenvironment. |
D | A a body of rock with specified mineralogical characteristics. |
E | A type of depositional environment that provides the best suitable conditions for organisms to thrive. |
Question 105 |
A | Potential energy |
B | Flow velocity |
C | Sediment load |
D | Gravity |
E | Flow separation |
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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