Earth Science Test Rocks and Minerals
1. The three rock types are
A. intrusive, extrusive, and weathered.
B. igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic.
C. volcanic, layered, and igneous.
D. conglomerate, eroded, and slumped.
2. Metamorphic rock forms when the structure of pre-existing rock is changed. What processes can
change rock in this manner?
A. Extruding and Cooling
B. Compaction & Cementation
C. Weathering & Erosion
D. Heat & Pressure
3. The process by which rocks are broken down by water, wind, or ice is
A. mechanical weathering.
B. chemical weathering.
C. biological weathering.
D. structural weathering.
4. Several rock samples are observed to be visibly layered with similar particle size, color and
arrangement. The rock samples should be classified as
A. igneous.
B. amphibole.
C. sedimentary.
D. metamorphic.
5. A sample of basalt has smaller crystals than a sample of granite. What is the most likely reason
for this? The basalt
A. forms when magma cools slowly.
B. forms when magma cools quickly.
C. contains lighter elements than granite.
D. contains heavier elements than granite.
6. Which of the following does NOT happen in the rock cycle?
A. Organization
B. Deposition
C. Burial
D. Uplift
7. Magma is a result of what process?
A. Cementation
B. Crystallization
C. Melting
D. Metamorphism
8. Use the following diagram to answer the question.
Which two classes of rock will form near or at Earth’s surface?
A. Extrusive igneous and sedimentary
B. Sedimentary and intrusive igneous
C. Metamorphic and igneous
D. Metamorphic and sedimentary
9. Throughout the rock cycle many processes take place (weathering, sedimentation, transformation).
What happens to the total amount of material?
A. It stays the same as its form changes.
B. It increases as its form changes.
C. It decreases as its form changes.
D. It fluctuates as its form changes.
10. When rock material erodes off of a mountain and is deposited in a valley, the total amount of
rock, sand and sediments
A. increases from the amount solid parent rock.
B. decreases the amount solid parent rock.
C. remains the same as the amount of solid parent rock.
D. is unable to be determined.
11. Scientists believe the amount of rock 50 million years from now will be the same as the current
amounts. What evidence could be sited for the previous claim?
A. The total amount of rock on Earth fluctuates greatly.
B. The total amount of rock on Earth appears to be constant.
C. The amount of sedimentary rock increases while the amount of metamorphic rock decreases.
D. The amount of igneous rock increases while the amount of sedimentary rock decreases.
12. The amount of rock on the earth remains fairly constant, yet the amount of lava and magma
fluctuates. What is the BEST possible explanation?
A. The amount of lava released is so minimal that it cannot be recorded.
B. The lava is quickly eroded and so does not stay as a rock long enough to be recorded.
C. Rock is contently being melted and turned back into magma.
D. Intrusive igneous rock is not recorded until it reaches the Earth’s surface.
13) The diagram below represents the rock cycle.
(from http://www.regentsprep.org/Regents/earthsci/rockcycle.htm)
A. The melting of rocks, below the surface of the Earth produces magma (E). When magma
solidifies, what type of rock (D) can form?
B. Describe two processes this rock (D) can undergo. Provide details of where each
processes takes place.
C. What are the results of these processes discussed in part B? Complete the diagram and
provide evidence for your answers.
14) Quartz is a mineral because it is
(A). a white rock.
(B). natural, inorganic, and has a crystalline structure.
(C). an element.
(D). composed of more than one element.
15) Granite is a rock because it is
(A). made up of several minerals.
(B). natural, inorganic, and has a crystalline structure.
(C). made up of several different elements.
(D). found on the earth's surface.
16) One of the following mineral properties can be determined by observing, rather than doing something to a
sample.
(A). streak
(B). fracture
(C). luster
(D). hardness
17) When hit with a hammer, most minerals will show
(A). streak.
(B). fracture.
(C). cleavage.
(D). hardness.
18) An igneous rock that formed by rapid cooling will probably have crystals that are
(A). large.
(B). small.
(C). middle-sized.
(D). mixed large and small sizes.
19) Materials that settle out of water are known as
(A). mud.
(B). sand.
(C). sediments.
(D). hard water.
20) In which type of rock would you expect to find fossils?
(A). granite
(B). obsidian
(C). shale
(D). marble
21) A rock made up of cemented sand grains is
(A). conglomerate.
(B). quartzite.
(C). shale.
(D). sandstone.
22)Which of the following does not belong with the others?
(A). gypsum
(B). sandstone
(C). marble
(D). limestone
23)The elements that occur most frequently in the earth's crust are
(A). carbon and oxygen.
(B). hydrogen and oxygen.
(C). magnesium and iron.
(D). silicon and oxygen.
24)One of the following cooled too quickly to allow crystals to form.
(A). obsidian
(B). quartz
(C). halite
(D). mica
25)Heat and pressure can change slate to the metamorphic rock schist. What is probably formed when more
heat and pressure acts on schist?
(A). shale
(B). slate
(C). gneiss
(D). marble
26) Magma that cools slowly beneath the earth's surface produces
(A). ore minerals.
(B). intrusive igneous rocks.
(C). fine-grained metamorphic rocks.
(D). extrusive igneous rocks.
27) A fine-grained igneous rock made of mostly orthoclase feldspar, quartz crystals, and a few ferromagnesian
crystals is probably
(A). rhyolite.
(B). granite.
(C). gabbro.
(D). basalt.
28) Igneous rocks are classified by
(A). grain size and color.
(B). density and texture.
(C). mineral composition and texture.
(D). mineral composition and hardness.
29) Sedimentary rocks are classified by
(A). sediment size or chemical composition.
(B). mineral composition and color.
(C). sediment size and hardness.
(D). sediment size alone.
30) Metamorphic rocks are classified according to
(A). degree of foliation or recrystallization.
(B). grain size or sediments color.
(C). chemical composition or sediment size.
(D). extent of melting.
31)What process in the rock cycle are you performing if you pack a snowball so tightly it becomes an iceball?
(A). weathering, sedimentation
(B). melting
(C). deformation, recrystallization
(D). none of the above.
32)What process in the rock cycle are you performing if you put salt on ice on your sidewalk?
(A). weathering, sedimentation
(B). melting
(C). deformation, recrystallization
(D). none of the above.
33)What process in the rock cycle are you performing if you mix your garbage in your garden.
(A). weathering, sedimentation
(B). melting
(C). deformation, recrystallization
(D). none of the above.
34)Describe your experiment concerning your ecosystem.
Independent variable
Dependent variable
Controlled variables …list 3
Prediction
35) You have been observing your ecosystems all semester. In the space below describe the effect stagnant
water has on an ecosystem. What causes the smell often associated with stagnant water?