Earth Science Mid-Unit Study Guide
Name:
Geo-Features
1. A geological feature that occurs when silt and clay are deposited in a
basin at the mouth of a slow-moving river.
2. A geological feature that occurs when a fast moving river erodes rock
from a plateau.
3. This geological feature forms when flood volumes of water carry
sediments of various sizes into a basin.
4. Describe the geological variable that would most likely result in the
creation of a deep canyon like the Grand Canyon.
Sedimentary Rock
5. Rock that is composed primarily of sand-sized sediment.
6. Rock that is composed of silt and clay-sized particles.
7. The type of sedimentary rock that is most likely to be found in a
swamp or other environment with stagnant water.
8. The main components of limestone.
9. Describe the processes that form sedimentary rock from sediment.
Processes of Weathering
10. The type of weathering that occurs when rock breaks into smaller
parts and sediments in water over a long period of time.
11. A type of weathering that results from the expansion and
contraction of water during freezing.
12. The type of sedimentary rock that is most likely to weather
chemically.
13. Processes of weathering that occur during erosion when rocks
collide with each other.
14. Which came first: The sand or the sandstone?
Deposition:
15. Under normal flow volumes, these particles would be deposited by
moving water before sand particles are deposited.
16. This kind of sedimentary rock would most likely form highest on a
fast-moving river's banks.
17. Deposits that form in a basin at the mouth of a river would be
composed of these particles.
18. Certain types of shale are found at mile 52 but not mile 20 of the
Grand Canyon. Infer how the processes of deposition may be
responsible for this.
Geological Time
19. A canyon is observed to have a layer of sandstone on top of a layer of
limestone. What conclusion can you make about when the layers were
deposited?
20. A canyon is observed to have a layer of shale on top of a layer of
limestone. What conclusion can you make about the ecosystems that
were in this location when the layers were deposited?
21. A layer of shale contains fossilized trilobites. What conclusions can
you make about when the layer was deposited?
22. Describe how fossils can be used to infer when rock strata are
deposited.