Earth Science

Rocks: Materials of the Solid Earth

1)

An igneous rock that contains vesicles ________.

A)

is also extrusive
B)

is also fine grained

C)

contains many small holes

D)

all of the above

2)

As the rate of cooling increases, the size of the crystals that form ________.
A)

increases
B)

decreases
C)

is not affected
D)

none of these
3)

Which one of the following is an igneous rock?

A)

limestone
B)

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rhyolite
C)

slate
D)

shale
4)

Intrusive rocks ________.

A)

are generally fine-grained

B)

form at Earth's surface

C)

are quite often vesicular

D)

none of the above

5)

Granite and gabbro ________.

A)

have a similar mineral composition

B)

have a similar texture

C)

both A and B
D)

are in no way similar

6)

Obsidian exhibits a ________ texture.

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 A)

fine-grained
B)

glassy
C)

coarse-grained
D)

porphyritic
7)

Rocks that contain crystals that are roughly equal in size and can be identified with the unaided eye are
said to exhibit a ________ texture.
A)

fine-grained
B)

glassy
C)

coarse-grained
D)

porphyritic
8)

This igneous texture is characterized by two distinctively different crystal sizes.

A)

fine-grained
B)

glassy
C)

coarse-grained

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 D)

porphyritic

9)

Rhyolite is the fine-grained equivalent of this igneous rock.

A)

basalt
B)

andesite
C)

granite
D)

diorite
10)

Select the coarse-grained rock which is composed mainly of quartz and potassium feldspar from the list
below.
A)

basalt
B)

andesite
C)

granite
D)

diorite
11)

This rock gets its name from a chain of mountains located in South America.

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 A)

basalt
B)

andesite
C)

granite
D)

diorite
12)

Which of the rocks listed below is a popular building stone?

A)

basalt
B)

andesite
C)

granite
D)

diorite
13)

The texture of an igneous rock ________.

A)

is controlled by the composition of magma

B)

determines the color of the rock

C)

is caused by leaching
D)

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records the rock's cooling history
14)

Igneous rock is formed ________.

A)

by the weathering of preexisting rocks

B)

by changes in mineral composition

C)

at great depth within Earth

D)

by crystallization of molten rock

15)

The most important mechanical weathering process is ________.

A)

frost action
B)

hydrolysis
C)

unloading
D)

thermal expansion

16)

Chemical weathering would be most effective ________.

A)

in a warm, dry climate

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 B)

in a cold, dry climate

C)

in a warm, humid climate

D)

equally in any kind of climate

17)

Which of the following is NOT a product of the chemical weathering of potassium feldspar?
A)

silica
B)

potassium ions
C)

iron oxide
D)

clay

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 18)

Which one of the following is NOT true about mechanical weathering?

A)

produces smaller pieces

B)

adds to the effectiveness of chemical weathering

C)

does not change the rock's mineral composition

D)

does not affect metamorphic rocks

19)

Which one of the following is NOT related to chemical weathering?

A)

decomposition
B)

frost wedging
C)

hydrolysis
D)

oxidation

20)

Which of these factors influence the type and rate of weathering?

A)

mineral content
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 B)

climate
C)

topography
D)

all of these

21)

Sedimentary rocks ________.

A)

may contain fossils

B)

hold important clues to Earth's history

C)

may be economically important

D)

all of the above

22)

Detrital sedimentary rocks are classified (named) primarily on the basis of ________.
A)

color
B)

type of bedding
C)

composition
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 D)

particle size

23)

Sedimentary rocks compose approximately ________ percent of Earth's outermost 10 miles.

A)

5
B)

15
C)

30
D)

50

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 24)

Which rock type is associated with a high-energy environment (such as a very turbulent stream)?
A)

conglomerate
B)

shale
C)

chert
D)

none of these

25)

Which pair of minerals is most common in detrital sedimentary rocks?

A)

quartz and olivine

B)

calcite and clay

C)

clay and quartz

D)

dolomite and gypsum

26)

Detrital sediments would predominate in all of the following environments except ________.
A)

swamp
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 B)

salt flat
C)

river floodplain
D)

delta

27)

Compaction would probably be most significant as a lithification process for ________.

A)

shale
B)

sandstone
C)

conglomerate
D)

breccia

28)

The most abundant chemical sedimentary rock is ________.

A)

limestone
B)

dolomite
C)

chert
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 D)

rock salt

29)

Which of the following best describes bedded gypsum and rock salt?
A)

detrital sedimentary rocks

B)

varieties of dolostone
C)

varieties of coal and peat

D)

evaporites; chemical, sedimentary rocks

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 30)

Coal beds originate in ________.

A)

shallow lakes in a dry, desert region

B)

channels of fast-moving streams

C)

deep, marine basins below wave action

D)

freshwater coastal swamps and bogs

31)

Metamorphism may result from ________.

A)

heat
B)

pressure
C)

chemical action
D)

all of these
32)

________ is a strong, parallel alignment of different mineral bands in a metamorphic rock.

A)

Rock cleavage
B)

Foliation
C)

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Stress streaking
D)

Marbleizing
33)

Which of the following changes may occur during metamorphism?

A)

Certain minerals may recrystallize.

B)

The rock becomes more compact.

C)

Crystals may grow larger.

D)

all of the above.

34)

The common rock produced by the metamorphism of limestone is ________.

A)

marble
B)

mica schist
C)

phyllite
D)

gneiss
35)

________ is composed of alternating bands of light and dark silicate minerals.

A)

Marble

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 B)

Mica schist
C)

Phyllite
D)

Gneiss

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 36)

This dense, nonfoliated metamorphic rock is produced most often from sandstone.
A)

phyllite
B)

mica schist
C)

quartzite
D)

marble
37)

The agents of metamorphism are ________.

A)

uplifting and folding

B)

foliation and deposition

C)

contact and regional deformation

D)

heat, pressure, and chemical fluids

38)

The primary agent of contact metamorphism is ________.

A)

folding
B)

heat
C)

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stress
D)

strain
39)

What type of metamorphic rock will shale normally become following low-grade metamorphism?
A)

marble
B)

mica schist
C)

slate
D)

gneiss
40)

Which of the following lists the rocks in the order of increasing grain size and increasing grade of
metamorphism?
A)

phyllite, slate, schist

B)

schist, slate, phyllite

C)

slate, phyllite, schist

D)

slate, schist, phyllite

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Word Analysis. Examine the words and/or phrases for each question below and determine the
relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the option which does not fit the pattern.

41)

A. shale B. sandstone C. breccia D. conglomerate

42)

A. lithification B. cementation C. weathering D. compaction

43)

A. pressure B. recrystallization C. melting D. chemical fluids

44)

A. granite B. basalt C. diorite D. gabbro

45)

A. oxidation B. dissolution C. hydrolysis D. sheeting

46)

Bowen's reaction series predicts the sizes of the different mineral grains that grow from crystallizing
magmas.
47)

Olivine and quartz are commonly found together in the same rock.
48)

One magma can produce several different igneous rocks having different mineral compositions.
49)

Basalt is the fine-grained equivalent of gabbro.

50)

Glassy igneous rocks form when magma cools too fast for mineral grains to grow.
51)

Quartz is quite resistant to weathering and is an important component of sands in riverbeds and on
beaches.

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 52)

Like most other liquids, water decreases in volume when it freezes.

53)

The particles in breccia are primarily silt sized.

54)

The most abundant sedimentary rock is shale.

55)

Evaporites have a biochemical origin.

56)

Particle size is the primary basis for distinguishing among various detrital sedimentary rocks.
57)

Most limestone has a biochemical origin.

58)

Compaction is most significant as a lithification process for sedimentary rocks composed of sand-sized
particles.
59)

During metamorphism the material undergoing deformation remains a solid.

60)

The single most characteristic feature of sedimentary rocks is strata, or beds.

61)

The largest quantity of metamorphic rock is produced by regional metamorphism.

62)

Slate is associated with high-grade metamorphism.

63)

Metamorphism is commonly associated with mountain building.

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 64)

Metamorphism can affect only sedimentary rocks.

65)

________ is the name given to molten rock below the Earth's surface.

66)

________ refers to the removal and isolation of early-formed mineral grains that can cause the
composition of the remaining magma to change.
67)

Igneous rocks are classified on the basis of what two main characteristics?
68)

Obsidian exhibits a(n) ________ texture.

69)

The two most common minerals in detrital sedimentary rocks are ________ and ________.
70)

The most abundant chemical sedimentary rock is ________.

71)

When a sedimentary rock consists of angular, gravel-sized particles, it is called ________.

72)

Rock salt and rock gypsum are common examples of a group of chemical sedimentary rocks called
________.
73)

________ refers to the processes by which unconsolidated sediments are transformed into solid
sedimentary rocks.
74)

Probably the single most characteristic feature of sedimentary rocks is ________.

75)

The partial decomposition of plant remains in an oxygen-poor swamp creates a layer of soft, brown
material that is not yet coal. This material is known as ________.
76)

List three agents of metamorphism.

77)

Metamorphism that occurs because of close proximity to a mass of magma is called ________
metamorphism.
78)
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When a metamorphic rock exhibits a layered or banded appearance, it is said to exhibit a(n) ________
texture.
79)

Which metamorphic rock or rocks exhibit alternating layers or bands of different light- and dark-colored
minerals?
Critical Thinking and Discussion. Use complete sentences, correct spelling, and the information
presented in the module to answer the questions below.

80)

Considering the various processes involved in mechanical and chemical weathering, what are some of the
factors that influence or control the weathering of earth materials? Also, which of these factors would be
most important?

81)

How might a geologist infer ancient climatic conditions using sedimentary rocks? (Hint: Think in terms of
the conditions necessary to form certain rocks and also the features, structures, and fossils found in
sedimentary rocks.)

82)

The size of crystals in igneous rocks is generally a function of the rate of cooling. However, within the
same rock, crystal size does not necessarily reflect the order of crystallization for individual minerals.
Without using Bowen's Reaction Series, how might you determine the order of crystallization of minerals
in an individual rock sample? (Hint: Think about the texture.)

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 83)

Fill in the missing rock names on the chart below.

84)

What type of stress (pressure) is illustrated in the diagram below?

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 85)

What type of stress (pressure) is illustrated in the diagram below?

86)

a. What kind of sedimentary structure is pictured in the photograph below?

b. Explain how this kind of sedimentary structure forms.

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