NCEA Level 1 Science (90190) 2009 — page 1 of 5
Assessment Schedule – 2009
Science: Describe aspects of geology (90190)
Evidence Statement
Q
ONE
(a)
Achievement
(Statements)
Merit
(Explanations)
Excellence
(Expanded explanations)
Correct statement.
Pumice: light coloured or yellow
very low density
full of gas holes
crumbles and breaks easily
small crystals / fine grained.
OR
Obsidian: black / brown colour
Higher density
glassy (fractures)
breaks with sharp edges
(fractures)
no crystals.
(b)
Q1
Judge
Correct statement to do with
formation.
Explains feature in terms of
formation.
Discusses formation of both rocks
and links their physical features to
formation.
Eg:
Pumice / obsidian cools quickly.
OR
Pumice is from silica-rich lava.
OR
Pumice has a high gas content.
OR
Pumice / Obsidian is formed outside
of a volcano / extrusive.
OR
Pumice is formed from explosively
blown out material (pyroclastic).
OR
Obsidian is cooled quickly.
OR
Obsidian is from silica rich lava.
OR
Obsidian has low / no gas content.
OR
Obsidian is formed from highly
viscous lava / erupted quietly.
Eg:
Pumice is rich in silica, hence the
light colour.
OR
Pumice is explosively blown into the
air (pyroclastic) forming gas holes.
OR
Obsidian is cooled quickly leading
to no crystals.
OR
Obsidian is formed from low gas
content therefore it has a greater
density.
Eg:
Pumice is rich in silica, hence the
light colour, explosively blown into
the air (pyroclastic). This results in
rock being highly gaseous, and low
density. It is fine grained as it cools
rapidly.
Obsidian is erupted (quietly) from a
volcano rich in silica, as a thick
(highly viscous) sluggish lava flow.
Therefore low gas content leading to
greater density. It cools so quickly
that no crystals form.
3a=A
from (a) or (b)
2m=M
1e=E
NCEA Level 1 Science (90190) 2009 — page 2 of 5
TWO
Correct statement AND rock
named. (a)
Example 1:
Lithification
Weathering and erosion /
transport.
OR
Compaction and cementing of
sediment.
OR
Lithification of sediment.
OR
Layers formed in deep water
environment.
AND
One rock named.
Example 2:
Metamorphism
Heat and pressure.
OR
Original rock is deeply buried /
subducted / plate tectonics
pushes the rock down.
OR
Regional metamorphism and
pressure.
OR
Contact metamorphism and heat.
OR
Recrystallisation / chemical
altering.
AND
One rock named
Example 3:
Melting
Rocks melt due to high
temperatures / extreme heat (+
pressure).
OR
Subduction and heat / friction.
OR
Melted by / turned into magma /
mantle.
OR
Original rock is melted with
different combinations of
(minerals) in new rock.
AND
One rock named.
Q2
Judge
1a=A
Correct statement about a
named rock AND explains the
process. (m)
Correct statement about a
named rock AND fully
discusses the process. (e)
Example 1:
Lithification – explains that rock
is weathered and eroded /
transport
OR
Lithification –compacted and
cemented (over millions of
years).
AND
One rock named
Example 1:
Lithification – explains that rock
is weathered and eroded and
turns into sediment which is then
deposited by size. The sediment
is then compacted and cemented
over millions of years.
Example 2:
Metamorphism –deeply buried /
subduction for metamorphism to
occur.
OR
Metamorphism - existing rock
undergoes extreme heat and
pressure causing the rock to
change its characteristics.
AND
One rock named.
Example 3:
Melting – rocks are subducted
and due to increased
temperatures / extreme heat,
melt.
AND
One rock named
AND
Start and finish rock named.
Eg andesite – conglomerate
Example 2:
Metamorphism - Continued deep
burial / subduction / plate
tectonics pushes the rock to
depths sufficient for rocks to be
changed / recrystallise /
chemically alter by heat and
pressure.
AND
Start and finish rock named.
Eg limestone to marble
Eg granite – gneiss
Eg shale / mudstone / claystone
to slate / schist / gneiss
Eg coal to bitumous coal
Example 3:
Melting – explains that rocks are
pushed down by plate tectonic
processes (subduction) to depths
where temperatures and
pressures are high enough to remelt the rock into liquid magma.
Original rock is melted with
different combinations of
(minerals) in new rock.
AND
Start and finish rock named
linking any metamorphic rock to
any igneous rock.
1m=M
1e=E
NCEA Level 1 Science (90190) 2009 — page 3 of 5
THREE
Describe geological event /
process or environment
relating to a rock formation.
Eg:
Explains TWO geological
events / processes and
environments relating to a
rock formation.
Eg:
Relates or Justifies consecutive
geological events / processes
and environments in relation
to the rock formations.
Eg:
NCEA Level 1 Science (90190) 2009 — page 4 of 5
Q3
Judge
States that the fault is older than
the coal seam.
OR
Folded layers are the oldest.
OR
Folded / tilted due to plate
tectonic movement.
OR
Coal forms in a swampy area.
OR
Deposition at different times
OR
Uneven surface due to erosion.
OR
Layers formed underwater.
OR
Faults caused by tectonic
movement.
OR
Uplift of land by tectonic
movement.
The fault is younger than the
tilted layers and folded layers.
OR
Deposition of sediments occurs
underwater. The layers are then
folded / tilted.
OR
Layers are folded and tilted then
movement on the fault line
occurs.
OR
Land sinks then coal is
deposited.
Rock layers require land to be
eroded so sediments are formed
for deposition.
OR
Layers (of sedimentary rock)
formed before uplift / tilting /
folding because they are
horizontal when they are formed
in water.
OR
Tectonic plate movement /
subduction / converging plates
caused layers to fold.
OR
Folded layers are older than the
tilted one because they are
moving up and the tilted layer is
moving down.
OR
The layers (under coal) must
have been uplifted to bring
layers above water so erosion
could occur.
OR
Erosion occurs after tilting
because of unconformity /
incomplete layers.
OR
Tilted / folding occurs before
coal is deposited because it is
horizontal / flat / cut across
layers.
OR
For another (sedimentary) rock
to form above coal, land must
have sunk.
OR
All layers must have been
uplifted for the surface to be
eroded.
OR
Tectonic plate movement /
subduction causes uplift.
2a=A
2m=M
2e=E
NCEA Level 1 Science (90190) 2009 — page 5 of 5
QUESTION THREE
Full sequence of events:
• Layers form below sea level from sediment
• Then folded / tilted
• Then faulting, moving RHS up and LHS down
• Then erosion
• Then eroded down / sinks to esturine swamp environment
• Then coal material deposited
• Then sinks below sea and top layer deposited
• All layers uplifted
• Then further erosion.
Judgement Statement
Achievement
Achievement with Merit
Achievement with Excellence
2 A or above
1A
1M
1M
1E
Lower case a, m, e may be used throughout the paper to indicate contributing evidence for overall grades for
questions.
Only the circled upper case A, M and E grades shown at the end of each full question are used to make the final
judgement.