HISTORICAL GEOLOGY LECTURE TEST # 1 – 2009
1. An unconformity between granite and a sandstone would be a A.paraconformity B.nonconformity
C.disconformity D.angular unconformity
2. The fundamental unit of worldwide time-stratigraphic classification is the A.eonothem B.stage
C.series D.erathem E.system
3. Sedimentary ? include the size, shape and arrangement of grains. A.texture B.structure
C.sedimentary texture and structure include the size, shape and arrangement of grains
4. A ? is the "time unit" equivalent of a system. A.age B.epoch C.era D.eon E.period
5. Most rock-forming minerals are A.oxides B.sulfides C.silicates D.native elements E.sulfates
6. ? are sand-size concentrically-ringed carbonate particles. A.intraclasts B.pellets C.oolites D.micrite
E.sparite
7. Which of the following are "organic-walled microfossils"? A.acritarchs B.dinoflagellates C.spores
D.pollen E.all of these are "organic-walled microfossils"
8. Well logs and seismic techniques are often used for stratigraphic A.diagenesis B.facies C.correlation
D.biostratigraphy E.chronostratigraphy
9. Isotopes of a particular element would have a different number of A.protons B.neutrons C.isotopes
of a particular element may have different numbers of protons or neutrons
10. The most abundant mineral group in the Earth's crust is A.quartz B.amphibole C.pyroxene
D.carbonates E.feldspar
11. ? sedimentary structures are usually due to groundwater interaction with buried sediments or rocks.
A.primary B.secondary C.both primary and secondary structures are usually due to groundwater
interaction with buried sediments or rocks
12. ? is a body of sedimentary rocks with distinctive characteristics. A.facies B.primary sedimentary
structures C.secondary sedimentary structures D.sedimentary textures E.diagenesis
13. A good index fossil should occur during a ? biostratigraphic interval of time. A.short B.long
14. Ka represents ? of years in the radioisotopic time scale. A.thousands B.millions C.billions
15. ? magmas are characteristic of the oceanic crust. A.mafic B.felsic C.both mafic and felsic magmas
are characteristic of the oceanic crust
16. The atomic nucleus has a ? charge. A.positive B.negative C.neutral
17. Lithology is A.fossil content B.a biostratigraphic unit C.rock type D.geochemical criteria E.a
transgressive sequence
18. The Cambrian and Cretaceous are A.stages B.series C.erathems D.systems E.eonothems
19. Soil duricrusts typically form in areas of ? rainfall. A.high B.low
20. ? is magma blown onto the Earth's surface. A.migmatite B.schist C.tephra D.hornfels E.carbonate
21. ? facies are constructed by organisms. A.lacustrine B.fluvial C.deltaic D.reef E.terrigenous shelf
22. ? are desert lakes. A.alluvial fans B.paleosols C.playas D.crevasse splays E.steppes
23. ? are "dry washes". A.alluvial fans B.barchan dunes C.monsoons D.wadis E.playas
24. Ions are A.charged atoms B.atoms with no mass C.ions are charged atoms with no mass
25. ? rocks are the most important rocks for interpreting Earth history. A.igneous B.sedimentary
C.metamorphic
26. Climate type A.does not affect soil formation B.greatly affects soil formation
27. A meandering river facies typically ?-upward in grain size. A.fines B.coarsens
28. ? cannot be recognized at outcrops. A.paraconformities B.nonconformities C.disconformities
D.angular unconformities
29. ? dating often is used to date zircon grains in igneous and metamorphic rocks. A.carbon-14
B.uranium-lead C.potassium-argon
30. ? is the degree of curvature of the corners of sedimentary particles. A.roundness B.sphericity C.this
defines both roundness and sphericity
31. Most deserts are due to A.the presence of "rain shadow" topography B.the presence of adjoining
cold ocean currents with dry air above them C.global circulation patterns
32. The Earth's magnetic field is due to motions in the Earth's A.crust B.mantle C.core
33. Epicontinental shelves A.are very common now B.were more common during periods of sea level
rise in the geologic past
34. The basic mapping unit in geology is the A.bed B.member C.group D.formation E.supergroup
35. ? are mineral segregations that replace or force aside the surrounding sediment. A.concretions
B.nodules C.geodes D.these are all mineral segregations that replace or force aside the surrounding
sediment
36. The Comanchean and Gulfian are ? of the Cretaceous. A.stages B.series C.erathems D.systems
E.eonothems
37. Cyclothems, and upward-coarsening grain size, is diagnostic of ? facies. A.beach B.fluvial
C.deltaic D.paleosol E.glacial
38. The Law of ? is especially utilized to determine if the strata have been deformed. A.superposition
B.inclusions C.original horizonality D.cross-cutting relationships
39. Alluvial fans are especially common in ? environments. A.desert B.delta C.lacustrine D.fluvial
E.eolian
40. Sedimentary cement is often in the form of A.calcite B.quartz C.both calcite and quartz often form
sedimentary cement
41. A "key bed" A.has economic significance B.is used in mapping C.key beds may be useful for
mapping or may be of economic significance
42. Lagoonal facies would typically be characterized by the presence of A.sand B.mud C.lagoonal
facies typically have a mixture of sand and mud
43. Stoping is characteristic of ? processes. A.sedimentary B.metamorphic C.igneous
44. ? are broad, shallow seas that form over continental areas. A.continental shelves B.epeiric
platforms C.terrigenous shelves D.carbonate shelves E.reefs
45. ? is the ability of fluids to flow through sediment or sedimentary rocks. A.porosity B.permeability
C.this defines both porosity and permeability
46. Biostratigraphic distributions are controlled by A.evolution B.paleoecology C.biostratigraphic
distributions are controlled by both paleoecology and evolution
47. Which of the following is a clastic rock? A.limestone B.dolomite C.gypsum D.sandstone E.all of
these are clastic rocks
48. ? are subdivided into ?. A.groups, formations B.formations, groups
49. Plutonic igneous rocks are characterized by ? crystals. A.small B.large C.the crystals may be large
or small, depending upon whether the plutonic rock is intrusive or extrusive
50. Lacustrine environments include A.rivers B.deltas C.lakes D.wadis E.lacustrine environments
include all of the above
51. Pellets and intraclasts are found in A.sandstones B.conglomerates C.evaporites D.limestones
E.pellets and intraclasts are found in all of these rocks
52. Provenance is A.the source of sediments B.sedimentary process, including transport and deposition
C.provenance includes all of the above
53. Conformities represent A.continuous depositional histories B.breaks in deposition
54. "Mammal Ages" are special types of A.taxon range zones B.concurrent range zones C.assemblage
zones D.mammal ages consist of all of the above
55. Limestones and dolomites ? be precipitated in lakes. A.can B.cannot
56. A ? is a mountain-building event. A.diagenesis B.migmatite C.orogeny D.lithification E.facies
57. Gypsum and halite is precipitated A.only in marine environments B.in both marine and nonmarine
environments
58. ? are large fossils (macrofossils) that have proven very useful for Permian and Mesozoic correlation.
A.Foramininferans B.Radiolarians C.Acritarchs D.Condonts E.Ammonites
59. Extinction and emigration controls the ? appearances of fossil types. A.first B.last C.extinction and
emigration control both first and last appearances
60. ? load includes the sedimentary particles carried by a current. A.physical B.chemical C.this
includes both physical and chemical load
61. The Phanerozoic and Proterozoic are A.stages B.series C.erathems D.systems E.eonothems
62. Sediment sorting is typically ? in meandering rivers versus braided rivers. A.better B.worse
63. A steppe is a A.biostratigraphic unit B.lacustrine facies C.fluvial facies D.paleosol E.semiarid
area
64. Primary sedimentary structures are formed ? the sediment is deposited. A.when B.after
65. In limestones the matrix is termed A.cement B.pellets C.oolites D.micrite E.sparite
66. Hornfels and phyllites are ? rocks. A.igneous B.sedimentary C.metamorphic
67. ? dating is not useful for dating materials much over 50 thousand years old. A.carbon-14
B.uranium-lead C.potassium-argon
68. Stratification is most characteristic of ? rocks. A.igneous B.metamorphic C.sedimentary
69. Polarity reversals are preserved in ? rocks. A.igneous B.sedimentary C.polarity reversals may be
preserved in either igneous or sedimentary rocks
70. Alpine glaciers are ? than continental glaciers. A.smaller B.larger C.the terms "alpine" and
"continental" refer to the same types of glaciers
71. In ?, the tetrahedra may be isolated or form single chains, double chains, sheets, or frameworks.
A.oxides B.sulfides C.silicates D.native elements E.sulfates
72. ? rocks are made from magma. A.sedimentary B.metamorphic C.igneous
73. ? are subdivisions of ?. A.series, systems B.systems, series
74. The most common element in the Earth's crust is A.iron B.silicon C.aluminum D.calcium
E.oxygen
75. Barrier islands and beaches are built primarily by ? action. A.wave B.tidal C.wave and tidal action
are both important for building beaches and barrier islands
76. Magnetite and hematite are ? minerals. A.oxide B.sulfide C.carbonate D.silicate E.sulfate
77. ? are represented by overlapping ranges of taxa. A.taxon range zones B.concurrent range zones
C.assemblage zones
78. ? dating measures the number of electrons caught in defects in the crystal structure of minerals.
A.fission track B.paleomagnetic C.potassium-argon D.uranium-lead E.thermoluminescence
79. Tuffs are ? rocks. A.sedimentary B.contact metamorphic C.regional metamorphic D.intrusive
igneous E.extrusive igneous
80. A ? is a relative drop in sea level. A.transgression B.regression
81. Humus is an important component of A.limestones B.dolomites C.sandstones D.evaporites E.soil
82. Massive beds in sedimentary rocks are typically formed when sedimentary conditions are A.constant
B.continuously changing
83. The term "terrigenous" means that the sediments were derived from A.land B.the marine
environment C.terrigenous sediments could come from land or the marine environment
84. In a clastic shelf environment, the facies typically ?-upward during regressive sequences. A.fine
B.coarsen C.it depends upon the type of clastic shelf
85. ? are due to deformation of the underlying beds. A.paraconformities B.nonconformities
C.disconformities D.angular unconformities
86. ? dating techniques yield dates in years before present. A.relative B.absolute C.both of these dating
techniques yield dates in years before present
87. Sand dunes form ? facies. A.turbidite B.pelagic C.lacustrine D.fluvial E.eolian
88. Oozes are composed mostly of A.quartz B.feldspar C.sand-size rock fragments D.plankton shells
E.evaporites
89. ? defines rock units on the basis of their physical features. A.chronostratigraphy B.biostratigraphy
C.lithostratigraphy D.all of these define rock units on the basis of their physical features
90. Lake characteristics ? influenced by climate. A.are B.are not
91. A dike cutting across sedimentary layers would be ? than the sedimentary layers. A.older B.younger
C.you cannot determine which would be younger by this information
92. Bauxites and laterites typically form in areas of ? rainfall. A.high B.low
93. Cross-bedding is especially utilized to determine A.sedimentary textures B.postdepositional
structures C.secondary structures D.graded bedding E.paleocurrent direction
94. Most mapping of formations is by A.ground reconnaissance B.aerial photography
95. ? includes the physical, chemical and biologic changes that occur after deposition and before
metamorphism. A.facies B.primary sedimentary structures C.secondary sedimentary structures
D.sedimentary textures E.diagenesis
96. Cyclical, repetitive sedimentary units are especially characteristic of ? facies. A.eolian B.braided
river C.meandering river D.lacustrine E.alluvial fan
97. Carbonate shelves typically develop in ? climates. A.temperate B.tropical C.carbonate shelves are
very common in both temperate and tropical climates
98. ? was a Scottish gentleman farmer who formulated the concept of "uniformitarianism". A.Lyell
B.Darwin C.Playfair D.Hutton E.Steno
99. ? are composed of ?. A.rocks, minerals B.minerals, rocks
100. Calcite is a ? mineral. A.oxide B.sulfide C.carbonate D.silicate E.sulfate