Geology Questions
Explore questions in the Geology category that you can ask Spark.E!
A crystal with a well-defined shape, such as a cube, probably: A. does not reflect the arrangement of atoms in the latticeB. grew early and so was forced to grow around other mineralsC. does not have a well-defined cleavageD. will react with dilute hydrochloric acidE. none of the above
Which of the following igneous rocks would be formed by the fastest cooling? A. very coarse granite pegmatiteB. coarse granite C. medium-grained granite D. fine-grained graniteE. volcanic glass
Which of the following causes a magma to be less viscous? A. a lower temperatureB. fewer silicate chains in the magmaC. a more felsic compositionD. a higher percentage of crystalsE. none of the above
Which of the following is true about tests we can perform on a mineral? A. a softer mineral will scratch a harder mineralB. many common minerals react (effervesce) with dilute hydrochloric acidC. a streak plate is used to determine the luster of a mineralD. many minerals are strongly magneticE. none of the above
The main cause of melting along subduction zones is the: A. rise and decompression melting of mantle lithosphereB. rise and decompression melting of mantle asthenosphereC. melting of the subducting plateD. release of water from the subducting plate
Which of the following pairs of minerals is NOT part of the same nonsilicate mineral group? A. calcite and dolomiteB. hematite and magnetiteC. pyrite and galenaD. plagioclase feldspar and potassium feldspar
A mineral is light colored, transparent, has a hardness of seven, and fractures rather than cleaves. What mineral is it? A. garnetB. quartzC. biotiteD. muscoviteE. feldspar
If a mineral fractures, how many directions of cleavage does it have? A. four directions of cleavageB. three directions of cleavageC. two directions of cleavageD. one direction of cleavageE. no directions of cleavage
The main cause of caldera collapse is: A. a fissure eruption that allows the shield volcano to split into two or more partsB. collapse of the north flank by landslidesC. removal of magmas that form pillow basaltD. collapse of the roof of a magma chamber as magma eruptsE. all of the above
Hot spots in oceanic settings typically produce: A. flood basalts in the middle of a continentB. huge caldera explosionsC. island arcsD. lines or clusters of volcanic islands
What are some factors that could allow flood basalts to have high-volume eruptions? A. a large amount of magma is generated in the mantleB. magma rises to the surface along thick dikesC. the magma is hot and has a low viscosity. D. all of the aboveE. a and b only
A volcanic neck can form by: A. erosion of the volcano, leaving behind the solidified conduit inside the volcanoB. erosion of overlying rock layers exposing the conduit below the volcanoC. collapse of a cave followed by the inflow of hot watersD. all of the aboveE. a and b only
Which of the following is NOT a major class of rock-forming minerals? A. silicatesB. carbonatesC. oxidesD. argonites
How do silica tetrahedra bond in silicate minerals? A. with each other by sharing an oxygenB. with other elements, such as potassiumC. in single or double chainsD. in sheetsE. all of the above
Which of the following is NOT composed of calcium carbonate? A. calciteB. pyriteC. marbleD. shellsE. limestone
According to the rock cycle, sediment that is being transported by a river could become a metamorphic rock after: A. uplift and weatheringB. melting and solidificationC. deposition and burialD. solidification and burial
Which of the following is probably least at risk for geologic hazards? A. next to a river in low areasB. near an active faultC. on soils that expand when wetD. on gentle slopes away from mountainsE. close to, but upwind of, an active volcano
Which of the following is a way geology can help us learn about Earth's past? A. why continents have different regionsB. why a landscape looks the way it doesC. how life in the past was different than todayD. how global climate has changed since the ice agesE. all of the above
Which US region probably has the thickest crust?A. Colorado RockiesB. Great PlainsC. Mississippi RiverD. Appalachian MountainsE. East Coast
How fast do plates move relative to one another? A. centimeters per yearB. meters per yearC. kilometers per yearD. one hundred kilometers per year