CA PG State Specific Exam
Questions and Answers 100% PASS
Anorthosite - CORRECT ANSWER-A plutonic igneous rock composed almost
entirely of plagioclase feldspar, found in the San Gabriel Mountains and dated at
1.022 billion years.
Connate Water - CORRECT ANSWER-Water trapped in a formation at the time
of deposition
Franciscan Formation or Group - CORRECT ANSWER-A heterogeneous unit of
sedimentary and volcanic rocks consisting of greywacke and interbedded shale,
minor amounts of chert, limestone, greenstone, and metamorphic rocks of
greenschist and blueschist facies. The formation may be 50,000 feet thick. It is one
of the basement types in the Coast Ranges.
Great Valley Sequence - CORRECT ANSWER-Shallow self to submarine fan
deposits of sandstone, shale, siltstone, and minor conglomerate and limestone of
Late Jurassic to Late Cretaceous age. These deposits, attaining a maximum
thickness of approximately 80,000 ft, were thrust over the Coast Range ophiolite
above the Franciscan formation.
,Lake Corcoran - CORRECT ANSWER-A freshwater lake that covered much of
the western San Joaquin Valley about 600,000 years ago (Late Pleistocene).
Freshwater deposits lake clays, volcanic ash, and diatomite of Corcoran Clay
member of Tulare formation.
Los Angeles Basin - CORRECT ANSWER-A large downwarped basin formed in
Late Tertiary that received thousands of feet of marine sediments. The basin
produces petroleum in prolific quantities. Located in the Peninsular Ranges in
southwest tip of CA
Ophiolite - CORRECT ANSWER-an igneous rock consisting largely of
serpentine, believed to have been formed from the submarine eruption of oceanic
crustal and upper mantle material.
Monterey Formation - CORRECT ANSWER-A widespread Miocene marine
formation consisting of siliceous shales and cherts. Silica was deposisted as
diatomites and silicic ash beds. Phosphates were also deposited in the formation.
The Monterey Formation is the most likely source of much of the petroleum and
natural as in the Transverse Ranges Province.
Overdraft - CORRECT ANSWER-The condition of water withdrawal by pumping
exceeding the amount of water recharged, occurring over a time frame longer than
a year.
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,Pelona Schist - CORRECT ANSWER-Low-grade metamorphic rock of
Cretaceous age in Transverse Ranges.
Salinian Block - CORRECT ANSWER-The structural block located west of the
San Andreas fault zone and east of the Nacimiento fault zone. The basement is
composed of Late Cretaceous granitic rocks similar in composition to the Sierra
Nevada granitic rocks. The granitics are the other main basement type in the Coast
Range Province (located along the western coast)
San Andreas Fault - CORRECT ANSWER-The most important fault in CA - a
northwest-trending, right-lateral strike slip fault, 750 miles long, extending from
Shelter Cove in the north to the east side of the Salton Trough. The fault forms the
plate boundary between the Pacific and North American Plates and separates
Franciscan formation from the Salinian Block in the Coast Ranges Province.
Sierra Nevada Batholith - CORRECT ANSWER-A great uplifted block of granitic
rocks intruded and uplifted beginning in the Late Jurassic. The bulk of the rock
was emplaced during the Cretaceous. Granitic compositions range from granite to
quartz monzonite, quartz diorite, and granodiorite.
Santa Ynez Fault - CORRECT ANSWER-Boundary fault between the Coast
Ranges and Transverse Ranges Province and separating Franciscan basement of
Late Jurassic age from Transverse Ranges basement.
Southern California Batholith - CORRECT ANSWER-The dominant rock
outcrop of the Peninsular Ranges, consisting of gabbro, diorite, quartz diorite,
, quartz monzonite, and granite. Quartz diorite predominates. Batholith was
emplaced mainly during the Cretaceous.
Subjacent Series - CORRECT ANSWER-One of two major subdivisions of rocks
in the Sierra Nevada and Klamath Mountains Province applied to the rocks
younger than the Nevadan orogeny that emplaced the Sierra Nevada batholith.
Sutter Buttes - CORRECT ANSWER-A prominent circular feature in the Central
Valley that is volcanic in origin. The core is andesite and tuff and is surrounded by
rhyolite porphyry. Explosive activity was recorded in the Pleistocene. This feature
has produced traps for natural gas.
Klamath Mountains Province - CORRECT ANSWER-Province found between
the northernmost Coast Ranges and Cascade Ranges and the Great Valley to the
south. The western boundary is defined by the South Fork Mountain thrust fault.
Several irregularly oriented mountain ranges are found in the Klamath Mountains,
including: Trinity Alps, Salmon Mountains, Scott Bar Mountains, Siskiyou
Mountains, and Marble Mountains. Topography: moderate peaks (6000-9000 ft
EL). Abundant rainfall, Salmon, Shasta, Sacramento, Scott, Klamath, and Trinity
Rivers drain the area.
Key Formations:
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Questions and Answers 100% PASS
Anorthosite - CORRECT ANSWER-A plutonic igneous rock composed almost
entirely of plagioclase feldspar, found in the San Gabriel Mountains and dated at
1.022 billion years.
Connate Water - CORRECT ANSWER-Water trapped in a formation at the time
of deposition
Franciscan Formation or Group - CORRECT ANSWER-A heterogeneous unit of
sedimentary and volcanic rocks consisting of greywacke and interbedded shale,
minor amounts of chert, limestone, greenstone, and metamorphic rocks of
greenschist and blueschist facies. The formation may be 50,000 feet thick. It is one
of the basement types in the Coast Ranges.
Great Valley Sequence - CORRECT ANSWER-Shallow self to submarine fan
deposits of sandstone, shale, siltstone, and minor conglomerate and limestone of
Late Jurassic to Late Cretaceous age. These deposits, attaining a maximum
thickness of approximately 80,000 ft, were thrust over the Coast Range ophiolite
above the Franciscan formation.
,Lake Corcoran - CORRECT ANSWER-A freshwater lake that covered much of
the western San Joaquin Valley about 600,000 years ago (Late Pleistocene).
Freshwater deposits lake clays, volcanic ash, and diatomite of Corcoran Clay
member of Tulare formation.
Los Angeles Basin - CORRECT ANSWER-A large downwarped basin formed in
Late Tertiary that received thousands of feet of marine sediments. The basin
produces petroleum in prolific quantities. Located in the Peninsular Ranges in
southwest tip of CA
Ophiolite - CORRECT ANSWER-an igneous rock consisting largely of
serpentine, believed to have been formed from the submarine eruption of oceanic
crustal and upper mantle material.
Monterey Formation - CORRECT ANSWER-A widespread Miocene marine
formation consisting of siliceous shales and cherts. Silica was deposisted as
diatomites and silicic ash beds. Phosphates were also deposited in the formation.
The Monterey Formation is the most likely source of much of the petroleum and
natural as in the Transverse Ranges Province.
Overdraft - CORRECT ANSWER-The condition of water withdrawal by pumping
exceeding the amount of water recharged, occurring over a time frame longer than
a year.
COPYRIGHT ©️ 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
,Pelona Schist - CORRECT ANSWER-Low-grade metamorphic rock of
Cretaceous age in Transverse Ranges.
Salinian Block - CORRECT ANSWER-The structural block located west of the
San Andreas fault zone and east of the Nacimiento fault zone. The basement is
composed of Late Cretaceous granitic rocks similar in composition to the Sierra
Nevada granitic rocks. The granitics are the other main basement type in the Coast
Range Province (located along the western coast)
San Andreas Fault - CORRECT ANSWER-The most important fault in CA - a
northwest-trending, right-lateral strike slip fault, 750 miles long, extending from
Shelter Cove in the north to the east side of the Salton Trough. The fault forms the
plate boundary between the Pacific and North American Plates and separates
Franciscan formation from the Salinian Block in the Coast Ranges Province.
Sierra Nevada Batholith - CORRECT ANSWER-A great uplifted block of granitic
rocks intruded and uplifted beginning in the Late Jurassic. The bulk of the rock
was emplaced during the Cretaceous. Granitic compositions range from granite to
quartz monzonite, quartz diorite, and granodiorite.
Santa Ynez Fault - CORRECT ANSWER-Boundary fault between the Coast
Ranges and Transverse Ranges Province and separating Franciscan basement of
Late Jurassic age from Transverse Ranges basement.
Southern California Batholith - CORRECT ANSWER-The dominant rock
outcrop of the Peninsular Ranges, consisting of gabbro, diorite, quartz diorite,
, quartz monzonite, and granite. Quartz diorite predominates. Batholith was
emplaced mainly during the Cretaceous.
Subjacent Series - CORRECT ANSWER-One of two major subdivisions of rocks
in the Sierra Nevada and Klamath Mountains Province applied to the rocks
younger than the Nevadan orogeny that emplaced the Sierra Nevada batholith.
Sutter Buttes - CORRECT ANSWER-A prominent circular feature in the Central
Valley that is volcanic in origin. The core is andesite and tuff and is surrounded by
rhyolite porphyry. Explosive activity was recorded in the Pleistocene. This feature
has produced traps for natural gas.
Klamath Mountains Province - CORRECT ANSWER-Province found between
the northernmost Coast Ranges and Cascade Ranges and the Great Valley to the
south. The western boundary is defined by the South Fork Mountain thrust fault.
Several irregularly oriented mountain ranges are found in the Klamath Mountains,
including: Trinity Alps, Salmon Mountains, Scott Bar Mountains, Siskiyou
Mountains, and Marble Mountains. Topography: moderate peaks (6000-9000 ft
EL). Abundant rainfall, Salmon, Shasta, Sacramento, Scott, Klamath, and Trinity
Rivers drain the area.
Key Formations:
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