Earth Science Review Quiz

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Questions and Answers

What occurs during the process of hydration in chemical weathering?

Water reacts with minerals and breaks down

Water reacts with oxygen and creates minerals

Water absorbs into the crystal structure of minerals and expands (correct)

Water absorbs nutrients and dissolves

Which process is exemplified when a plant grows into the base of a stone monument and creates a crack?

Chemical weathering

Thawing

Mechanical weathering (correct)

Freezing

What type of weathering process might be indicated by reddish-brown stains on rocks after heavy rainfall?

Frost Wedging

Thermal Expansion

Oxidation (correct)

Dissolution

Which environment is most likely to form loess deposits through wind erosion?

Desert Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following processes is considered an odd one out?

Thermal Expansion Signup and view all the answers

During hydration, what happens to the minerals in rocks?

They swell and cause internal stress Signup and view all the answers

What is the process called when sediment transported by water settles at the bottom of a lake?

Deposition Signup and view all the answers

How does radioactive decay contribute to the heat in the Earth's interior?

By releasing energy that is absorbed by surrounding rocks Signup and view all the answers

What type of metamorphism occurs under conditions of high-pressure shock waves?

Shock metamorphism Signup and view all the answers

Which factor does not significantly affect the process of metamorphism?

Wind erosion Signup and view all the answers

What is the irreversible stage of deformation known as?

Ductile deformation Signup and view all the answers

What name is given to the starting point of an earthquake located below the ground?

Hypocenter Signup and view all the answers

Which seismic wave is noted for being the fastest during an earthquake?

Primary wave Signup and view all the answers

What instrument is used to record ground motion during an earthquake?

Seismograph Signup and view all the answers

Which term describes the supercontinent proposed by Alfred Wegener?

Pangaea Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'Pangaea' mean?

All Earth Signup and view all the answers

What effect does the cooling rate of magma have on the size of crystals formed in igneous rocks?

Slow cooling forms large crystals, while rapid cooling forms small crystals Signup and view all the answers

Which type of igneous rock is formed when magma cools slowly beneath the Earth's surface?

Intrusive Signup and view all the answers

Bowen's Reaction Series is crucial for understanding what aspect of geology?

Mineral crystallization temperatures Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary factor determining whether magma will reach the Earth's surface?

The pressure and density differences between the magma and surrounding rocks Signup and view all the answers

What primarily drives mineralogical changes in rocks undergoing metamorphism?

Temperature and pressure conditions Signup and view all the answers

The term 'phaneritic' describes igneous rocks with which characteristic?

Coarse-Grained Texture Signup and view all the answers

At a mid-ocean ridge, the type of melting occurring is most likely what?

Decompression Melting Signup and view all the answers

A fold type where layers bend upwards is known as which structure?

Anticline Signup and view all the answers

How many half-lives have passed if only 12.5% of Carbon-14 remains in a sample?

3 Signup and view all the answers

What is the stable product of Uranium-238 decay?

Lead-206 Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes the beginning of the Cambrian Period?

Rapid diversification of marine life Signup and view all the answers

Which geologic era is known as the 'Age of Mammals'?

Cenozoic Signup and view all the answers

Why is the Precambrian eon subdivided differently from other eons in the geologic time scale?

It is the longest eon in Earth's history Signup and view all the answers

What theory is supported by the study of fossil distribution across different continents?

Continental Drift Signup and view all the answers

What does finding glacial deposits in Africa suggest about its past location?

It was located closer to the poles Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is identified as a mammal-like reptile that was as large as a modern wolf?

Cynognathus Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary cause of the breakup of Pangaea?

Plate tectonics Signup and view all the answers

In a region where two tectonic plates are pulling apart, what geological feature would you expect to find?

Mid-Ocean Ridge Signup and view all the answers

What evidence supports the theory of seafloor spreading?

The symmetrical pattern of magnetic stripes on either side of mid-ocean ridges Signup and view all the answers

How does the age of oceanic crust change as you move away from a mid-ocean ridge?

It becomes older Signup and view all the answers

What geological process occurs at divergent plate boundaries?

Seafloor spreading Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary mechanism that causes earthquakes at convergent boundaries?

By building up stress as plates collide and release energy when they slip Signup and view all the answers

Who proposed the idea of seafloor spreading?

Harry Hess Signup and view all the answers

What does the principle of superposition indicate about rock layers?

The oldest layer is at the bottom Signup and view all the answers

Which type of plate boundary involves two plates sliding past one another?

Transform Signup and view all the answers

What is meant by an unconformity in geological terms?

A gap in the rock record due to erosion or non-deposition Signup and view all the answers

What is the main goal of relative dating in geology?

To arrange rocks in a sequence of events Signup and view all the answers

Radiometric dating is based on which principle?

Radioactive isotope decay Signup and view all the answers

Why is radiocarbon dating not suitable for dating rocks that are millions of years old?

Because carbon-14 has a short half-life of about 5,730 years Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Earth Science Review Questions and Answers

Disclaimer: This review is a helpful tool, but thorough study from the text is advised for complete understanding. It does not cover every lesson in detail.
Chemical Weathering - Hydration: Water entering a mineral's crystal structure and expanding is the chemical weathering process called hydration.
Mechanical Weathering: Plant growth in a stone monument causing cracks is a form of mechanical weathering.
Chemical Weathering - Oxidation: Reddish-brown stains on rocks after rain indicate the weathering process of oxidation.
Wind Erosion and Loess Deposits: Deserts are the primary environment where wind erosion creates loess deposits.
Odd One Out - Thermal Expansion: Thermal expansion is different from slide, fall, or topple.
Hydration and Minerals in Rocks: During hydration, minerals swell and cause internal stress.
Deposition: The process where sediments settle in a calm area, transported by water.
Radioactive Decay and Earth's Heat: Radioactive decay releases absorbed energy within Earth's rocks.
Cooling Rate and Igneous Rocks: Slow cooling creates large crystals in igneous rocks, while rapid cooling creates small ones.
Intrusive Igneous Rocks: Intrusive igneous rocks form when magma cools slowly below the Earth's surface.
Bowen's Reaction Series: Bowen's Reaction Series is crucial for understanding mineral crystallization temperatures.
Magma and Earth Surface Reach: The primary factor determining if magma reaches the Earth's surface is pressure and density differences between magma and surrounding rocks.
Metamorphism and Driver: Temperature and pressure conditions are the main drivers of mineral changes in metamorphic rocks.
Phaneritic Rocks: Phaneritic rocks exhibit a coarse-grained texture.
Mid-Ocean Ridge Melting: Decompression melting is the most likely type of melting occurring along mid-ocean ridges.
Fold Type: An anticline is a fold where layers bend upwards.
Irreversible Deformation: Ductile deformation is the irreversible stage of deformation.
High-Pressure Metamorphism: Cataclastic metamorphism occurs due to high-pressure shock waves.
Metamorphism Factors: Wind erosion does not significantly affect metamorphism.
Foliated Metamorphic Rocks: Regional metamorphism leads to changes that create foliated metamorphic rocks, influenced by plate movement stress.
Earthquake Starting Point: Hypocenter is the starting point of an earthquake beneath the ground.
Fastest Seismic Wave: Primary waves travel the fastest of all seismic waves.
Earthquake Recording Instrument: The instrument used to record ground motion during earthquakes is a seismograph.
Rayleigh Waves and Motion: Circular motion of rock particles causes Rayleigh waves.
Alfred Wegener's Supercontinent: Pangaea is the supercontinent proposed by Alfred Wegener.
Pangaea Meaning: The word Pangaea means “one land.”
Cartographer and Coastlines: Abraham Ortelius first noticed the geometrical similarities between South America and Africa's coastlines.
Wegener's Supporting Evidence/Fossil Distribution: Fossils found in different places support the theory of continental drift.
Continental Drift and Fossils: Fossils found on different continents matching across ocean basins support the theory of continental drift.
Africa and Glacial Deposits: Glacial deposits in Africa suggest it was once closer to Earth's poles.
Glossopteris: Glossopteris was a plant fossil.
Cynognathus: Cynognathus was a mammal-like reptile as large as a modern wolf.
Pangaea Breakup Cause: Plate tectonics is the main cause of the Pangaea breakup.
Geologic Time Scale - Epochs: Epochs are not considered the largest divisions of geologic time.
"Age of Mammals": The Cenozoic era is known as the “Age of Mammals.”
Cambrian Period Start: The Cambrian period began with a rapid diversification of marine life.
Precambrian Eon Subdivisions: The Precambrian eon is subdivided differently from other eons due to the lack of plentiful fossils for dating.
Relative Dating Purpose: Relative dating arranges rocks in a sequence of events, determining their order rather than precise ages.
Principle of Superposition: In undisturbed layers, the oldest layer is at the bottom.
Unconformity in Geology: An unconformity is a gap in the rock record due to erosion or non-deposition.
Radiometric Dating Principle: Radiometric dating uses radioactive isotope decay to determine the age of rocks.
Radiocarbon Dating Limitations: Radiocarbon dating is not suitable for dating rocks millions of years old due to carbon-14's short half-life.
Carbon-14 Half-lives: If only 12.5% of Carbon-14 remains, three half-lives have passed.
Uranium-238 Stable Product: Lead-206 is the stable product of Uranium-238 decay.
Uranium-238 Half-Lives: Four half-lives for Uranium-238 correspond to approximately 18 billion years.
Paleozoic Era: The Paleozoic era saw the rise of multicellular life and the formation of the supercontinent Pangaea.
Largest Geologic Time Division: The eon is the largest division of geologic time.
Plate Boundaries and Structure: Plates moving apart typically form mid-ocean ridges.
Seafloor Spreading & Evidence: Symmetrical magnetic stripes on both sides of mid-ocean ridges support seafloor spreading.
Oceanic Crust Age: The age of oceanic crust increases as you move away from a mid-ocean ridge
Divergent Plate Boundaries: Divergent plate boundaries exhibit seafloor spreading.
Seafloor Spreading Proposer: Harry Hess proposed the idea of seafloor spreading.
Transform Plate Boundaries: Transform plate boundaries feature two plates sliding past one another.
Guyots and Plate Tectonics: Guyots provide evidence for seafloor spreading along with other related theories.
Tectonic Movements and Earthquakes: Tectonic plate collisions cause stress buildup, leading to earthquakes.
Relative Dating Principle: Relative dating determines the sequential relationship of rock events in the geologic record, not actual numeric ages.

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Description

Test your knowledge on key concepts of Earth Science, including weathering processes, erosion, and deposition. This quiz covers various topics like chemical and mechanical weathering, and the effects of wind erosion. It serves as a review tool to enhance understanding before delving deeper into the subject.