COMPLETE ANSWER KEY
ENVIRONMENTAL GEOLOGY LABO
RATORY MANUAL 2ND EDITION BY
TOM FREEMAN
Chapter 1: Maps & Topographic Interpretation
Q1: What does a topographic map primarily show?
Answer: B. Elevation and landforms
Rationale: Topographic maps use contour lines to represent the three-
dimensional shape of the Earth's surface, showing elevation changes and
terrain features such as hills, valleys, and slopes .
Q2: If contour lines form a "V" shape pointing uphill, what does it
indicate?
Answer: B. Valley/stream
Rationale: When contour lines form a "V" pattern pointing uphill, it
indicates a valley with a stream flowing downhill. The "V" points upstream
in valleys .
Q3: What is the contour interval?
Answer: B. Elevation difference between lines
Rationale: The contour interval represents the vertical distance between
adjacent contour lines on a topographic map .
Q4: Widely spaced contour lines indicate:
Answer: B. Gentle slope
,Rationale: Widely spaced contour lines indicate gradual elevation changes,
meaning the slope is gentle .
Q5: What is the fractional scale on the Menan Buttes Quadrangle?
Answer: 1:24,000
Rationale: This is the standard scale for USGS 7.5-minute topographic
quadrangles, where 1 unit on the map equals 24,000 units on the ground .
Q6: What size quad is the Menan Buttes Quadrangle?
Answer: 7 1/2-minute
Rationale: The 1:24,000 scale map represents a 7.5-minute quadrangle,
covering 7.5 minutes of latitude and longitude .
Q7: What is the distance between the benchmark (elevation 4826 feet)
and the approximate center of South Menan Butte?
Answer: 1.4 miles
Rationale: Using the map scale, the measured distance converts to 1.4
miles .
Q8: What is the latitude at (A) the north pole? (B) The south pole?
Answer: 90°N and 90°S
Rationale: Latitude ranges from 0° at the equator to 90° at the poles .
Q9: What is the maximum longitude value on earth?
Answer: 180° (180°W or 180°E)
Rationale: Longitude ranges from 0° at the Prime Meridian to 180° east or
west .
Q10: How far is the well in section 11 from the southwest corner of
section 10?
Answer: 1.8 kilometers
Rationale: Distance measured using the map's graphic scale converts to 1.8
kilometers .
,Q11: The southwest corner of section 10 is approximately what
direction from the approximate center of North Menan Butte?
Answer: S 30° W
Rationale: This bearing indicates the direction using compass degrees
measured from south toward west .
Q12: What does stippled areas in section 23 designate?
Answer: Sand or mud area, dunes or shifting sand
Rationale: On topographic maps, stippled patterns typically indicate sandy
areas or dunes .
Q13: What can you say about the elevation of the higher of the two
hills in Figure 1.19?
Answer: The higher hill is more than 20 feet high but less than 25 feet
high
Rationale: Contour intervals constrain elevation within specific ranges .
Q14: What happens to the usefulness of the fractional scale as you
enlarge your map?
Answer: The fractional scale is no longer applicable
Rationale: Enlarging a map changes the scale relationship, making the
fractional scale inaccurate .
Q15: What happens to the usefulness of the graphic scale as you
enlarge your map?
Answer: The graphic scale continues to be applicable because it
changes in size along with the map
Rationale: The graphic scale enlarges proportionally with the map,
maintaining its utility .
Q16: Contour lines with tick-marks on South Menan Butte indicate:
Answer: A depression
, Rationale: Hachured contour lines (with tick marks pointing inward)
indicate closed depressions .
Q17: What is the approximate depth of the feature bounded by tick-
marks on South Menan Butte?
Answer: Between 107 and 117 feet
Rationale: The depression depth is calculated from the contour interval .
Q18: In the elevation range of 4900-5100 feet, where is the slope
steeper on South Menan Butte?
Answer: On the southwest side of the butte
Rationale: Closely spaced contour lines indicate steeper slopes. The
southwest side has tighter contour spacing .
Q19: What accounts for the asymmetry of South Menan Butte?
Answer: Wind out of the southwest blew cinders and ash towards the
northeast, creating a larger and more gently sloping accumulation on
the northeast side
Rationale: As a cinder cone, prevailing winds distribute volcanic tephra
asymmetrically .
Q20: What is the elevation of the triangulation marker in section 3?
Answer: 5,619 feet
Rationale: Triangulation markers are precisely surveyed points with
elevations indicated on the map .
Chapter 2: Mineral Identification
Q21: Which mineral property is most reliable for identification?
Answer: C. Hardness
ENVIRONMENTAL GEOLOGY LABO
RATORY MANUAL 2ND EDITION BY
TOM FREEMAN
Chapter 1: Maps & Topographic Interpretation
Q1: What does a topographic map primarily show?
Answer: B. Elevation and landforms
Rationale: Topographic maps use contour lines to represent the three-
dimensional shape of the Earth's surface, showing elevation changes and
terrain features such as hills, valleys, and slopes .
Q2: If contour lines form a "V" shape pointing uphill, what does it
indicate?
Answer: B. Valley/stream
Rationale: When contour lines form a "V" pattern pointing uphill, it
indicates a valley with a stream flowing downhill. The "V" points upstream
in valleys .
Q3: What is the contour interval?
Answer: B. Elevation difference between lines
Rationale: The contour interval represents the vertical distance between
adjacent contour lines on a topographic map .
Q4: Widely spaced contour lines indicate:
Answer: B. Gentle slope
,Rationale: Widely spaced contour lines indicate gradual elevation changes,
meaning the slope is gentle .
Q5: What is the fractional scale on the Menan Buttes Quadrangle?
Answer: 1:24,000
Rationale: This is the standard scale for USGS 7.5-minute topographic
quadrangles, where 1 unit on the map equals 24,000 units on the ground .
Q6: What size quad is the Menan Buttes Quadrangle?
Answer: 7 1/2-minute
Rationale: The 1:24,000 scale map represents a 7.5-minute quadrangle,
covering 7.5 minutes of latitude and longitude .
Q7: What is the distance between the benchmark (elevation 4826 feet)
and the approximate center of South Menan Butte?
Answer: 1.4 miles
Rationale: Using the map scale, the measured distance converts to 1.4
miles .
Q8: What is the latitude at (A) the north pole? (B) The south pole?
Answer: 90°N and 90°S
Rationale: Latitude ranges from 0° at the equator to 90° at the poles .
Q9: What is the maximum longitude value on earth?
Answer: 180° (180°W or 180°E)
Rationale: Longitude ranges from 0° at the Prime Meridian to 180° east or
west .
Q10: How far is the well in section 11 from the southwest corner of
section 10?
Answer: 1.8 kilometers
Rationale: Distance measured using the map's graphic scale converts to 1.8
kilometers .
,Q11: The southwest corner of section 10 is approximately what
direction from the approximate center of North Menan Butte?
Answer: S 30° W
Rationale: This bearing indicates the direction using compass degrees
measured from south toward west .
Q12: What does stippled areas in section 23 designate?
Answer: Sand or mud area, dunes or shifting sand
Rationale: On topographic maps, stippled patterns typically indicate sandy
areas or dunes .
Q13: What can you say about the elevation of the higher of the two
hills in Figure 1.19?
Answer: The higher hill is more than 20 feet high but less than 25 feet
high
Rationale: Contour intervals constrain elevation within specific ranges .
Q14: What happens to the usefulness of the fractional scale as you
enlarge your map?
Answer: The fractional scale is no longer applicable
Rationale: Enlarging a map changes the scale relationship, making the
fractional scale inaccurate .
Q15: What happens to the usefulness of the graphic scale as you
enlarge your map?
Answer: The graphic scale continues to be applicable because it
changes in size along with the map
Rationale: The graphic scale enlarges proportionally with the map,
maintaining its utility .
Q16: Contour lines with tick-marks on South Menan Butte indicate:
Answer: A depression
, Rationale: Hachured contour lines (with tick marks pointing inward)
indicate closed depressions .
Q17: What is the approximate depth of the feature bounded by tick-
marks on South Menan Butte?
Answer: Between 107 and 117 feet
Rationale: The depression depth is calculated from the contour interval .
Q18: In the elevation range of 4900-5100 feet, where is the slope
steeper on South Menan Butte?
Answer: On the southwest side of the butte
Rationale: Closely spaced contour lines indicate steeper slopes. The
southwest side has tighter contour spacing .
Q19: What accounts for the asymmetry of South Menan Butte?
Answer: Wind out of the southwest blew cinders and ash towards the
northeast, creating a larger and more gently sloping accumulation on
the northeast side
Rationale: As a cinder cone, prevailing winds distribute volcanic tephra
asymmetrically .
Q20: What is the elevation of the triangulation marker in section 3?
Answer: 5,619 feet
Rationale: Triangulation markers are precisely surveyed points with
elevations indicated on the map .
Chapter 2: Mineral Identification
Q21: Which mineral property is most reliable for identification?
Answer: C. Hardness
