Geologist In Training Exam Questions
with Correct Answers
Apparent Dip - Answer-The Inclination of a plane measured in a direction *not*
perpendicular to strike.
Apparent Dip Direction - Answer-The bearing of the vertical plane containing the
apparent dip angle.
Attitude - Answer-The orientation in space.
ß - Answer-The angle between strike and apparent dip direction.
Bearing - Answer-The horizontal angle between a line and a specified coordinate
direction, usually north or south.
Depth - Answer-The vertical distance from the ground surface downward to a feature of
interest.
Dip - Answer-The inclination of the line of greatest slope of an inclined plane, measured
perpendicular to strike.
Directed Line - Answer-A line described by its bearing and plunge.
Fold Line - Answer-A hinge line along which a vertical cross section may be constructed
and then flattened out to a horizontal or map view.
Inclination - Answer-A general term for the vertical angle between the horizontal and a
plane of line, measured downward.
Outcrop Width - Answer-The width of an outcrop, as measured in map view,
perpendicular to strike.
Pole - Answer-A line perpendicular to a plane, and represented as a point on a
stereographic projection.
Plunge - Answer-The vertical angle between a line and horizontal.
Precision - Answer-The degree of agreement or consistency of repeated
measurements.
Projection - Answer-The process by which points on one surface are transferred to
another surface, such that in each view (map or cross section) the points correspond.
,Rake (pitch) - Answer-The angle measured in a specific plane between a line and the
horizontal. The angle between a lineation and strike on a fault plane.
Slope Angle - Answer-The angle from the horizontal down to the slope.
Stereonet - Answer-A representation of angular relationships between planes and lines.
Strike - Answer-The bearing of a horizontal line in an inclined plane.
Thickness - Answer-The perpendicular distance between the top and bottom of a
geologic unit.
Trend - Answer-The bearing of the vertical plane containing a line.
Blind Thrust - Answer-A thrust fault that does not reach the ground surface.
Detachment Fault - Answer-A low angle normal fault associated with regional extension.
Dip-Slip Fault - Answer-A fault in which the movement is parallel to the dip of the fault
plane, such as a normal, reverse or listric fault.
Fenster - Answer-A window into the rocks underlying a thrust fault.
Footwall block - Answer-The block that underlies a non vertical fault.
Ga - Answer-Giga Annum, one billion years.
GIS - Answer-Geographic Information System
GPS - Answer-Global Positioning System
Growth Fault - Answer-A fault that forms contemporaneously with deposition in
sedimentary rock. The throw increases with depth and the sedimentary units on the
downthrown side are thicker than the corresponding units on the upthrown side.
Hanging wall block - Answer-The block that overlies a non vertical fault.
Heave - Answer-The amount of horizontal displacement on a fault.
Ka - Answer-Kilo Annum, one thousand years
Klippe - Answer-An outlier of a thrust sheet completely surrounded by the exposed
footwall.
Key Beds - Answer-A well-defined, easily identified strata that is distinctive enough to
be useful in correlation in mapping.
, Listric Fault - Answer-A fault with a curved fault plane. Near the surface the fault plane
is steeply dipping, but it becomes progressively flatter with depth. Listric faults may be
normal or reverse.
Ma - Answer-Abbreviation for Mega annum, one million years.
Magnetic Declination - Answer-The angle between true north and magnetic north.
Nappe - Answer-A sheetlike rock unit that has moved over other rocks (allochthonous)
on a predominantly horizontal surface.
Net Slip - Answer-The distance between two formerly adjacent points on either side of
the fault, measured on the fault surface.
Nonconformity - Answer-An unconformity formed by older igneous rocks in contact with
younger sediments, indicating a missing time after the igneous intrusion.
Normal fault - Answer-A dip-slip fault in which the hanging wall has moved down relative
to the footwall. The dip of the fault is between 45˚ and 90˚.
Oblique slip fault - Answer-A fault in which movement is not parallel to the strike or dip
of the fault plane.
Offset - Answer-The horizontal component of displacement measured perpendicular to
the strike of the disrupted unit.
Reverse fault - Answer-A dip-slip fault in which the hanging wall has moved up relative
to the footwall. The dip of the fault is between 45˚ and 90˚.
Rule of V's - Answer-The outcrop pattern of a formation as it crosses a valley forms a V
shape. The V points in the direction that the formation underlines the valley.
State Plane Coordinate System - Answer-A two dimensional coordinate system
developed by the National Geodetic Survey for use in states and countries.
Strike Separation - Answer-The horizontal distance between a stratigraphic unit offset
by a fault, measured along the strike of the fault. It is an apparent displacement.
Strike-slip fault - Answer-A fault in which movement is parallel to the strike of the fault
plane.
Throw - Answer-The amount of vertical displacement on the fault, also, the vertical
component of net slip
Thrust fault - Answer-A verse fault in which the fault plane dips less than 45˚.
with Correct Answers
Apparent Dip - Answer-The Inclination of a plane measured in a direction *not*
perpendicular to strike.
Apparent Dip Direction - Answer-The bearing of the vertical plane containing the
apparent dip angle.
Attitude - Answer-The orientation in space.
ß - Answer-The angle between strike and apparent dip direction.
Bearing - Answer-The horizontal angle between a line and a specified coordinate
direction, usually north or south.
Depth - Answer-The vertical distance from the ground surface downward to a feature of
interest.
Dip - Answer-The inclination of the line of greatest slope of an inclined plane, measured
perpendicular to strike.
Directed Line - Answer-A line described by its bearing and plunge.
Fold Line - Answer-A hinge line along which a vertical cross section may be constructed
and then flattened out to a horizontal or map view.
Inclination - Answer-A general term for the vertical angle between the horizontal and a
plane of line, measured downward.
Outcrop Width - Answer-The width of an outcrop, as measured in map view,
perpendicular to strike.
Pole - Answer-A line perpendicular to a plane, and represented as a point on a
stereographic projection.
Plunge - Answer-The vertical angle between a line and horizontal.
Precision - Answer-The degree of agreement or consistency of repeated
measurements.
Projection - Answer-The process by which points on one surface are transferred to
another surface, such that in each view (map or cross section) the points correspond.
,Rake (pitch) - Answer-The angle measured in a specific plane between a line and the
horizontal. The angle between a lineation and strike on a fault plane.
Slope Angle - Answer-The angle from the horizontal down to the slope.
Stereonet - Answer-A representation of angular relationships between planes and lines.
Strike - Answer-The bearing of a horizontal line in an inclined plane.
Thickness - Answer-The perpendicular distance between the top and bottom of a
geologic unit.
Trend - Answer-The bearing of the vertical plane containing a line.
Blind Thrust - Answer-A thrust fault that does not reach the ground surface.
Detachment Fault - Answer-A low angle normal fault associated with regional extension.
Dip-Slip Fault - Answer-A fault in which the movement is parallel to the dip of the fault
plane, such as a normal, reverse or listric fault.
Fenster - Answer-A window into the rocks underlying a thrust fault.
Footwall block - Answer-The block that underlies a non vertical fault.
Ga - Answer-Giga Annum, one billion years.
GIS - Answer-Geographic Information System
GPS - Answer-Global Positioning System
Growth Fault - Answer-A fault that forms contemporaneously with deposition in
sedimentary rock. The throw increases with depth and the sedimentary units on the
downthrown side are thicker than the corresponding units on the upthrown side.
Hanging wall block - Answer-The block that overlies a non vertical fault.
Heave - Answer-The amount of horizontal displacement on a fault.
Ka - Answer-Kilo Annum, one thousand years
Klippe - Answer-An outlier of a thrust sheet completely surrounded by the exposed
footwall.
Key Beds - Answer-A well-defined, easily identified strata that is distinctive enough to
be useful in correlation in mapping.
, Listric Fault - Answer-A fault with a curved fault plane. Near the surface the fault plane
is steeply dipping, but it becomes progressively flatter with depth. Listric faults may be
normal or reverse.
Ma - Answer-Abbreviation for Mega annum, one million years.
Magnetic Declination - Answer-The angle between true north and magnetic north.
Nappe - Answer-A sheetlike rock unit that has moved over other rocks (allochthonous)
on a predominantly horizontal surface.
Net Slip - Answer-The distance between two formerly adjacent points on either side of
the fault, measured on the fault surface.
Nonconformity - Answer-An unconformity formed by older igneous rocks in contact with
younger sediments, indicating a missing time after the igneous intrusion.
Normal fault - Answer-A dip-slip fault in which the hanging wall has moved down relative
to the footwall. The dip of the fault is between 45˚ and 90˚.
Oblique slip fault - Answer-A fault in which movement is not parallel to the strike or dip
of the fault plane.
Offset - Answer-The horizontal component of displacement measured perpendicular to
the strike of the disrupted unit.
Reverse fault - Answer-A dip-slip fault in which the hanging wall has moved up relative
to the footwall. The dip of the fault is between 45˚ and 90˚.
Rule of V's - Answer-The outcrop pattern of a formation as it crosses a valley forms a V
shape. The V points in the direction that the formation underlines the valley.
State Plane Coordinate System - Answer-A two dimensional coordinate system
developed by the National Geodetic Survey for use in states and countries.
Strike Separation - Answer-The horizontal distance between a stratigraphic unit offset
by a fault, measured along the strike of the fault. It is an apparent displacement.
Strike-slip fault - Answer-A fault in which movement is parallel to the strike of the fault
plane.
Throw - Answer-The amount of vertical displacement on the fault, also, the vertical
component of net slip
Thrust fault - Answer-A verse fault in which the fault plane dips less than 45˚.
