Multiple Choice
b. organic
Which characteristic of a mineral is the most easily observed but the least reliable?
a. color
b. luster
c. streak
d. hardness
a. color
Which mineral property is determined by rubbing it on a rough surface?
a. color
b. luster
c. streak
d. hardness
c. streak
The Moh’s scale shows the range of which mineral property?
a. color
b. luster
c. streak
d. hardness
d. hardness
Describe the principle of uniformitarianism.
The principle of uniformitarianism states that the same processes of erosion, deposition, and subterranean heat that are currently observable formed the landforms we see today slowly over millions of years.
Which of the following would be found in a quarry?
a. gold
b. copper
c. sand
d. iron
c. sand
You found a glassy mineral with no visible crystals in it. What can you tell about the formation of this mineral?
a. It was formed by slowly cooling magma
b. It was formed by rapidly cooling magma
c. It was formed from igneous rocks
d. None of these is correct.
b. It was formed by rapidly cooling magma
Which of the following is NOT true of mining?
a. It will likely become more costly to mine in the future.
b. We can reduce our need to mine by recycling mineral-containing materials.
c. Minerals are used to produce household items such as electronics and cosmetics.
d. The environmental impact of mining will likely remain the same in the future.
d. The environmental impact of mining will likely remain the same in the future.
Which type of igneous rock has a high silica content?
a. felsic
b. mafic
c. ultramafic
d. intermediate
a. felsic
Compare and contrast the safety and environmental impacts of subsurface mining v. surface mining.
Surface mining is safer and less expensive but has large impacts on the environment because it drastically alters the landscape. Subsurface mining has less impacts on the surface landscape, but is more expensive, less safe, and can still cause acid mine drainage.
Which type of igneous rock has mineral crystals of two different sizes because it cooled slowly then more quickly?
a. coarse grained
b. fine grained
c. glassy
d. porphyritic
d. porphyritic
Which type of metamorphism is caused by the bending and folding of preexisting rock?
a. contact metamorphism
b. dynamic metamorphism
c. regional metamorphism
d. hydrothermal metamorphism
b. dynamic metamorphism
Which type of sedimentary rock is formed when minerals fall out of solution, leaving sediment behind?
a. clastic
b. chemical
c. organic
d. foliated
b. chemical
What type of metamorphic rock contains parallel layers that can break apart?
a. foliated
b. organic
c. mafic
d. conglomerate
a. foliated
Explain the difference between the terms reclamation and restoration in reference to mining.
Reclamation is the rehabilitation of a disturbed site for a useful or desirable purpose, while restoration is a legal term that involves returning a disturbed mining sit to a nearly natural state.
Acid rain slowly degrades a statue. This is a type of
a. parent weathering
b. physical weathering
c. organic weathering
d. chemical weathering
d. chemical weathering
The Dust Bowl lifted sediment into the air in large clouds of dust and soil. This was an example of which type of wind erosion?
a. creep
b. saltation
c. suspension
d. eluviation
c. suspension
Which soil particle is the smallest?
a. sand
b. silt
c. clay
c. clay
You dug a hole in your backyard and water began to flow into it from the surrounding soil. What property is your backyard soil demonstrating?
a. permeability
b. saltation
c. porosity
d. suspension
a. permeability
Explain how the composition of soil incorporates all 4 spheres of the earth.
Soil is composed of bits of rock (geosphere), the water (hydrosphere) and air (atmosphere) pockets between the rock particles, and pieces of organic matter and plant roots (biosphere).
The smell that attracts camels to water in the desert is
a. rain
b. geosmin
c. silt
d. loam
b. geosmin
What two processes cause sediments to stick together into a sedimentary rock?
a. weathering & compaction
b. lithification & contact metamorphism
c. crystallization & compaction
d. compaction & lithification
d. compaction & lithification
What is "parent rock"?
a soil horizon made of slightly weathered rock
What is "marine won"?
mineral deposits harvested from under the ocean
List and describe 4 farming techniques used to conserve topsoil.
Conservation tillage: disturb soil and plant cover as little as possible; crop rotation: planting different crops in one field each year; contour plowing: planting fields along curves of a slope; conservation buffers: waterways and riparian buffers promote biodiversity; windbreaks: rows of trees or shrubs prevent wind erosion; terracing: stair step planting to prevent water runoff; wetlands: catch and hold water to slow soil erosion