NAME _____________________________________________ HISTORICAL GEOLOGY TEST # 1
MULTIPLE CHOICE:
___ 1. ? represents billions of years on the radiometeric time scale. A.Ka B.Ma C.Ga
___ 2. Terrigenous shelves consist primarily of ?-derived sediments. A.marine B.land C.terrigenous shelves
have both marine- and land-derived sediments
___ 3. A ? is an unconformity between essentially parallel strata that is recognizable in outcrop.
A.paraconformity B.nonconformity C.disconformity D.angular unconformity
___ 4. Which of the following transport agents typically have the best sorted sediments? A.gravity B.water
C.glaciers D.air
___ 5. In an outcrop, crossbedded sandstones consisted of very well sorted coarse silt and fine sand. The
crossbeds had "set" heights of up to a hundred feet or more. This sandstone was most likely formed
within an ancient A.beach B.lagoon C.eolian sand dune D.river E.lake
___ 6. The Wentworth Scale measures A.current velocity B.sorting C.particle shape D.particle size
E.settling velocity of particles
___ 7. Essentially all of the particles in a sediment are sand. This sediment is ? sorted. A.well B.poorly
___ 8. The Cretaceous is an example of a A.erathem B.eonothem C.system D.series E.stage
___ 9. The degree of curvature of the corners of particles is termed A.roundness B.sphericity
___ 10. Repetitive sedimentary sequences are termed A.migmatites B.tektites C.rhyolites D.arenites
E.cyclothems
___ 11. ? is used primarily for archeology and late Pleistocene geology. A.rubidium-strontium B.potassiumargon C.uranium-235/lead-207 D.Carbon-14 E.uranium-238/lead-206
___ 12. Which of the following is not true concerning deltas? A.often with repetitive sedimentary sequences
B.forms where a river discharges into a body of water; this may be an ocean or a lake C.is typically
formed from coarser grain sizes D.is usually cone-shaped, but shape is determined mostly by amount
of river input versus erosion by tides and waves E.typically coarsens upward in grain size
___ 13. A ? is a surface separating tilted or folded strata from overlying undisturbed strata. A.paraconformity
B.nonconformity C.disconformity D.angular unconformity
___ 14. Folded rocks have been deformed by tectonism. We define this by means of the principle of
A.inclusions B.original horizontality C.cross-cutting relationships D.faunal relationships
E.superposition
___ 15. A rock facies consists of a well-sorted, crossbedded, quartz arenite. This facies is most characteristic of
a ? environment. A.lagoon B.bay C.lacustrine D.glacial E.beach
___ 16. The chronostratigraphic equivalent of an epoch is the A.erathem B.eonothem C.system D.series
E.stage
___ 17. Tides are primarily due to A.strong ocean currents B.bioturbation C.moon-sun gravity D.turbidites
E.eolianites
___ 18. ? has a half-life of 5730 years. A.rubidium-strontium B.potassium-argon C.uranium-235/lead-207
D.Carbon-14 E.uranium-238/lead-206
___ 19. ? rocks solidify from magma. A.metamorphic B.sedimentary C.igneous D.all of the above E.none of
the above
___ 20. The basic mapping unit is the A.supergroup B.group C.member D.formation E.bed
___ 21. A sequence of rocks consists of alternating layers of lava and tephra. This represents an A.intrusive
sequence B.extrusive sequence C.the sequence is alternating, intrusive and extrusive
___ 22. Invertebrate feces are termed A.oolites B.intraclasts C.pellets D.fossils
___ 23. ? rocks are formed from pre-existing rocks through solid state transformation. A.sedimentary
B.igneous C.metamorphic D.all of the above E.none of the above
___ 24. The smallest unit of formal chronostratigraphic classification is the A.chronozone B.eonothem
C.system D.series E.stage
___ 25. A sedimentary facies has many turbidites consisting of graded beds of sand through mud. This facies
was probably formed within a ? environment. A.continental shelf B.pelagic C.reef D.barrier island
E.continental slope
___ 26. A portion of the Earth's surface with distinctive physical, chemical and biological characteristics is a
sedimentary A.environment B.diagenesis C.structure D.texture E.facies
___ 27. A body of sediment or rocks with distinctive characteristics is a sedimentary A.environment
B.diagenesis C.structure D.texture E.facies
___ 28. ? is concerned with grain characteristics. A.texture B.structure C.all of the above D.none of the
above
___ 29. A sedimentologist defining the environmental significance of sedimentary facies would probably be
concerned with A.deposit shapes B.rock types C.sedimentary structures D.determining if a sequence
fines- or coarsens upward E.all of the above are important for environmental interpretation
___ 30. Organic reefs are primarily made of A.dolomite B.halite C.hematite D.limestone E.rhyolite
___ 31. Currently, the Earth has ? polarity. A.normal B.reversed C.you cannot tell whether the Earth's polarity
is normal or reversed at this time
___ 32. ? stated that the vertical sequence of rocks may reflect the horizontal succession of environments or
facies. A.Hutton B.Playfair C.Walther D.Lyell E.Steno
___ 33. ? consist of rock debris and humus. A.andesites B.turbidites C.soil D.flysch E.diorites
___ 34. Bauxites and laterites typically form in ? environments. A.tropical B.subtropical arid C.temperate
D.arctic
___ 35. At Big Bend National Park, the Santa Elena Formation is a very thick, structureless limestone which
formed under nearly constant conditions. This is a good example of A.graded bedding
B.crossbedding C.massive bedding D.all of the above E.none of the above
___ 36. A ? is unrecognizable in outcrop without use of fossils or absolute dating. A.paraconformity
B.nonconformity C.disconformity D.angular unconformity
___ 37. ? structures are typically formed due to the action of groundwater. A.Primary B.Secondary C.both
primary and secondary structures are due to the action of groundwater
___ 38. Irregular, round, flat structures formed by filling voids in sediment are termed A.concretions B.geodes
C.nodules D.turbidites E.flysch
___ 39. Which of the following rock types is least amenable to radiometric dating? A.igneous B.metamorphic
C.sedimentary D.all of the above are equally amenable to radiometric dating
___ 40. The chronostratigraphic equivalent of an age is the A.erathem B.eonothem C.system D.series E.stage
___ 41. Clastic rocks may be made from ? particles. A.feldspar B.rock particles from schists and cherts
C.quartz D.all of the above E.none of the above
___ 42. Lake basins may be formed by A.glacial action B.crustal warping C.faulting D.all of the above
E.none of the above
___ 43. A ? is an erosional surface between sedimentary and igneous or metamorphic rocks. A.paraconformity
B.nonconformity C.disconformity D.angular unconformity
___ 44. Formations must have A.mappability B.lithologic constancy C.all of the above D.none of the above
___ 45. ? environments are the major transporting and depositional agents for continental sediments. A.glacial
B.eolian C.lacustrine D.backbarrier E.fluvial
___ 46. ? streams are typically formed where there is "flashy" water discharge. A.meandering B.braided C.all
of the above D.none of the above
___ 47. ? are often characterized by interior drainage. A.fluvial environments B.deserts C.continental shelves
D.pelagic environments E.continental slopes
___ 48. There ? a strong correlation between latitudinal position and the presence of extensive desert areas.
A.is B.is not
___ 49. Steppes typically contain A.grasslands B.no vegetation
___ 50. A wadi, or arroyo, is most like a ? stream. A.braided B.meandering C.a wadi is not comparable to
either a braided or meandering stream
___ 51. ? deposits are formed by wind transport. A.eolian B.fluvial C.lacustrine D.sabkha E.turbidite
___ 52. A sedimentary deposit consisted of the shells of siliceous microscopic animals. It was believed that
calcium-carbonate secreting organisms should also have been represented in the facies, but were not
preserved due to dissolution by acidic ocean waters. This is probably a ? deposit. A.continental shelf
B.reef C.lacustrine D.pelagic E.fluvial
___ 53. Hollow, subspherical structures that form around water-filled pockets by crystals growing inward are
termed A.concretions B.geodes C.nodules D.turbidites E.flysch
___ 54. Glacial systems may contain ? environments. A.fluvial B.eolian C.lacustrine D.shallow marine E.all
of the above
___ 55. The Doctrine of Uniformitarianism says that the laws of nature A.have changed B.have not changed
___ 56. ? was an English geologist that wrote the Principles of Geology. A.Walther B.Hutton C.Lyell
D.Playfair E.Steno
___ 57. The smallest rock-stratigraphic unit (not capitalized) is the A.supergroup B.group C.member
D.formation E.bed
___ 58. Sedimentary rocks are formed A.from the remains of plants or animals B.by chemical precipitation
C.from loose sediment D.all of the above E.none of the above
___ 59. Sandstones and conglomerates are types of ? rocks. A.chemical B.clastic C.all of the above D.none
of the above
___ 60. Multigrained features formed during or after accumulation of sediment and before lithification are
sedimentary A.textures B.structures
___ 61. In an outcrop, we find many small, repetitive fining-upward sequences of sand and clay. Rocks found
include oolitic limestones, bits of clam shells, and small coal seams. There are also sand-filled
channels. The type of facies we are looking at is most like ? environments. A.delta B.tidalinfluenced C.pelagic D.continental slope E.fluvial
___ 62. The most important limestone particles are A.oolites B.intraclasts C.pellets D.fossils E.all of the
above are equally important
___ 63. ? is fine-grained material deposited with the rock particles. A.cement B.matrix C.all of the above
D.none of the above
___ 64. ? is transported in solution by groundwater and precipitates between grain particles after they are
deposited. A.cement B.matrix C.all of the above D.none of the above
___ 65. Sparite and microcrystalline silica are types of A.cement B.matrix C.all of the above D.none of the
above
___ 66. Epeiric platforms are seaways that form over ? crust. A.oceanic B.continental
___ 67. In a regressive sequence, a terrigenous shelf facies will typically ?-upward. A.fine B.coarsen
___ 68. Carbonate shelf environments A.create limestones B.form in tropical and subtropical environments
C.all of the above are true D.none of the above is true
___ 69. ? limestones are formed in marine environments. A.all B.not all
___ 70. Clay and micrite are types of A.cement B.matrix C.all of the above D.none of the above