WEATHERING AND SEDIMENTARY ROCKS

Question 1

The figure shows several different magnified samples of sediments. Which of the samples displays the BEST sorting?

Answer 1

D (evenly spaced out)

Question 2

Which of the four main classes of sedimentary rock forms by the precipitation of minerals directly from water, without help from living organisms?

Answer 2

Chemical

Question 3

The transformation of loose sediment into solid rock is a process called

Answer 3

lithification

Question 4

Which type of weathering is responsible for changing the composition of the rock?

Answer 4

chemical weathering

Question 5

A very fine-grained clastic sedimentary rock is called a

Answer 5

shale

Question 6

Coral reefs that are preserved as sedimentary rocks are classified as

Answer 6

limestones

Question 7

Reactions of iron-bearing minerals with Earth’s atmosphere result in a type of chemical weathering called

Answer 7

oxidation

Question 8

More mature sediments are typically

Answer 8

further from their source and better sorted.

Question 9

There are four main forces of weathering. Which one is responsible for the greatest amount of erosion?

Answer 9

water

Question 10

Which chemical reaction breaks down feldspars into clay minerals?

Answer 10

Hydrolysis

Question 11

What type of environment likely created the bedding structure shown?

Answer 11

Desert with migrating dunes

Question 12

In the environment shown, the waves sort the beach sediments. What type of clastic sedimentary rock is most likely to form in this environment? (looks like a beach)

Answer 12

Sandstone

Question 13

What type of clastic sedimentary rock will form in the environment shown?

Answer 13

Conglomerate

Question 14

Layers of sedimentary rocks are called

Answer 14

beds

Question 15

Coal is an example of which type of sedimentary rock?

Answer 15

organic

Question 16

The breakdown of exposed rock into small fragments and dissolved ions is termed

Answer 16

weathering

Question 17

Large layers of cross-bedded sand can be indicative of a __________ environment.

Answer 17

desert

Question 18

Which of the following processes involves the creation of ions in solution?

Answer 18

weathering

Question 19

Cementation of sediments occurs when minerals __________ the spaces between sediment grains.

Answer 19

precipitate in

Question 20

Consult the figure below. Here, distinct internal laminations are inclined at an angle to the boundary of the main sedimentary layers. This is termed __________ bedding.

Answer 20

cross

Question 21

The process by which solid material is ground away by glaciers, rivers, wind, or waves is called

Answer 21

erosion

Question 22

If a geologist found preserved polygonal cracks in a sedimentary rock, he or she could conclude that the environment in which they formed

Answer 22

was once covered in wet mud.

Question 23

Lithification, the process by which sediments are turned into sedimentary rocks, includes

Answer 23

compaction and cementation.

Question 24

What type of sediment is typically found in lake bottoms?

Answer 24

clay/mud

Question 25

A fine-grained clastic sedimentary rock that splits into thin sheets is

Answer 25

shale

Question 26

A well-sorted sandstone with asymmetric ripples was MOST likely deposited as sand by a(n)

Answer 26

river (far from source).

Question 27

Lithification occurs

Answer 27

in the shallow subsurface.

Question 28

Precipitation of gypsum caused by evaporation of seawater produces which kind of sedimentary rock?

Answer 28

chemical

Question 29

Which of the following does NOT reflect transport distance?

Answer 29

type of cement

Question 30

Clastic sedimentary rocks are primarily classified on the basis of

Answer 30

grain size.

Question 31

Cemented shells of marine organisms form which kind of sedimentary rock?

Answer 31

biochemical

Question 32

Thick accumulations of sediments and fossils in the deep ocean tend to be __________-sized because of the low amounts of energy.

Answer 32

clay

Question 33

If water is the primary transport mechanism for a given sediment, the grain size MOST closely indicates the

Answer 33

velocity of the water at the moment the sediment settled to the bottom.

Question 34

Geologists call individual layers of sedimentary rocks __________, whereas several of them together are called __________.

Answer 34

beds; strata

Question 35

Coal and oil shale are considered __________ sedimentary rocks.

Answer 35

organic