Exam 1

Question 1

A scientific __________ is a tentative or untested explanation that is proposed to explain scientific observations.

Answer 1

hypothesis

Question 2

What defines the relationship between minerals and rocks?

Answer 2

In a mineral, atoms are bonded in a regular, repetitive internal structure; a rock is a lithified or consolidated aggregate of mineral grains.

Question 3

What is NOT characteristic of a mineral?

Answer 3

variable atomic structure

Question 4

Atoms that have an electrical charge due to a gain or loss of electrons are called __________.

Answer 4

ions

Question 5

What happens when atoms form an ionic bond?

Answer 5

Electrons are transferred to form positively and negatively charged atoms.

Question 6

What characteristic describes silicate minerals?

Answer 6

Silicate minerals contain silicon and oxygen

Question 7

What mineral property is assessed by the following scale?
1: talc
2: gypsum
3: calcite
4: fluorite
5: apatite
6: orthoclase
7: quartz
8: topaz
9: corundum
10: diamond

Answer 7

Hardness

Question 8

If a rock melts and recrystallizes, it will form what type of rock?

Answer 8

Igneous

Question 9

How does cooling rate affect the crystal size of minerals in igneous rocks?

Answer 9

Slow cooling produces larger crystals; quick cooling produces smaller crystals.

Question 10

Which type of rock is made up of precipitated minerals?

Answer 10

Chemical sedimentary rock

Question 11

Metamorphism does NOT involve:

Answer 11

Melting protoliths

Question 12

What condition is necessary to create a metamorphic rock?

Answer 12

Elevated temperatures and/or pressures.

Question 13

What Earth components make up the lithosphere?

Answer 13

Crust and uppermost, rigid mantle

Question 14

At which type of tectonic boundary are ocean basins created?

Answer 14

Divergent

Question 15

What factor does NOT contribute to our understanding of plate tectonics?

Answer 15

Weather patterns

Question 16

Why are oceanic ridges more elevated than the rest of the seafloor?

Answer 16

Ridges are elevated because the rocks are hot

Question 17

Paleomagnetic records help demonstrate:

Answer 17

That ocean floor is moving away from ocean ridges

Question 18

What location is a modern-day example of an active continental rift?

Answer 18

East Africa and the Red Sea

Question 19

The location of earthquake epicenters closely correlates with the ____________________.

Answer 19

edges of the plates

Question 20

What causes an earthquake?

Answer 20

Earthquakes result when a block rapidly slips past another along a fault plane.

Question 21

If, during an earthquake, the hanging wall slides down, relative to the footwall, the fault is termed _________.

Answer 21

Normal

Question 22

The point within the Earth where an earthquake rupture takes place is termed the _________.

Answer 22

Hypocenter (focus)

Question 23

What structure does not form as a result of ductile deformation?

Answer 23

Faults

Question 24

Which seismic wave type would first reach a location some distance from an earthquake epicenter?

Answer 24

P-waves

Question 25

How does the s-p interval change as the distance from the earthquake epicenter increases?

Answer 25

S-P interval would increase

Question 26

How does the asthenosphere differ from the deep mantle?

Answer 26

Asthenosphere is fluid, while mantle is brittle

Question 27

Which Earth layer absorbs seismic shear waves?

Answer 27

Outer core

Question 28

What will increase the likelihood of ductile deformation in a rock?

Answer 28

an increase in the depth where the rock is located, a decrease in confining pressure, a decrease in rock temperature