ESS 101 Midterm UW Questions With
Correct Answers.
What mineral group is a major economic source of lead? - ANSWER- sulfide
The _____ mineral group is a major economic source lime for cement. - ANSWER-
carbonate
Meteorites that strike the earth are predominantly composed of _____? - ANSWER-
iron-nickel and silicate minerals
Why are P-waves completely absorbed as they enter the outer core? - ANSWER- none
of the above answers are correct as P-waves are not completely absorbed in the outer
core
During differentiation of the earth, heat was generated from _____. - ANSWER- 1)
kinetic energy of impacting planetesimals
2) compressional heating during condensation of planetesimals
3) radioactive heating
Why does the Yellowstone hotspot volcanism produce more explosive volcanic
eruptions than the Hawaiian hotspot volcanism? - ANSWER- upwelling basaltic magma
partially melts the overlying continental crust producing viscous rhyolitic lava
Which of the following bond strength rankings are in the correct order from weakest to
strongest? - ANSWER- Van der Waal, ionic, covalent
How can we best explain the fact that the inner and outer cores are both composed of
metallic iron (Fe) and nickel (Ni) yet the outer core is liquid and the inner core solid? -
ANSWER- the melting temperature for Fe-Ni is lower than the geothermal gradient
temperature in the outer core
What type of seismic wave shadow zone is shown on the image above? - ANSWER- S-
wave
How can one best explain the seismic wave properties shown in the above diagram? -
ANSWER- 1) refraction of seismic wave due to density changes
2) absorption of seismic waves due to phase change from solid to liquid
Which of the following answers is not a characteristic of a metal? - ANSWER- all metals
are anions (negatively charged ions)
, Which volcanic gas was not added to the earth's atmosphere during early differentiation
of the planet? - ANSWER- O2
The lava composition of Mt. St. Helens is _____ and it tends to be more _____ than
lavas erupted from Mt. Rainier. - ANSWER- dacite, silica-rich
The Olympic and Coast Mountains are composed of _____ - ANSWER- marine
sedimentary rock scraped off from the ocean floor during subduction
Which of the following plate motions would not likely occur in the future? - ANSWER-
The Isthmus of Panama will close and the Gulf Stream current will be diverted
northward to Europe
The rock shown in the image below has a _____ texture. - ANSWER- porphyritic (two
stages of cooling)
Which mineral crystallized first? - ANSWER- small black mineral included within the
white material
As igneous rock partially melts the magma is typically - ANSWER- 1) more felsic (silica-
rich) than the rock
2)lower density than the rock
Match the magma/lava type with the appropriate geographic/tectonic setting where it
likely formed.
1. Columbia Plateau
2. Asthenosphere
3. Mount Fuji, Japan - ANSWER- 1. basalt
2. peridotite
3. andesite
What is the ratio of Si:O in the tetrahedral structure of this mineral? - ANSWER- 1:2:75
What kind of tectonic setting is represented by the Ural Mountains, which separate Asia
from Europe? - ANSWER- ancient collision margin (continent-continent)
Following differentiation the Earth became compositionally zoned according to ______.
- ANSWER- density of constituent matter
The cause of volcanism observed in the Andes Mountains (South America) is most
similar to that of _____. - ANSWER- Japan
What scientific observations of the solar system indicate that the sun and planet formed
from a rotating, disk-shaped, nebular dust cloud? - ANSWER- 1) the planets all revolve
in a counter-clockwise direction around the sun
Correct Answers.
What mineral group is a major economic source of lead? - ANSWER- sulfide
The _____ mineral group is a major economic source lime for cement. - ANSWER-
carbonate
Meteorites that strike the earth are predominantly composed of _____? - ANSWER-
iron-nickel and silicate minerals
Why are P-waves completely absorbed as they enter the outer core? - ANSWER- none
of the above answers are correct as P-waves are not completely absorbed in the outer
core
During differentiation of the earth, heat was generated from _____. - ANSWER- 1)
kinetic energy of impacting planetesimals
2) compressional heating during condensation of planetesimals
3) radioactive heating
Why does the Yellowstone hotspot volcanism produce more explosive volcanic
eruptions than the Hawaiian hotspot volcanism? - ANSWER- upwelling basaltic magma
partially melts the overlying continental crust producing viscous rhyolitic lava
Which of the following bond strength rankings are in the correct order from weakest to
strongest? - ANSWER- Van der Waal, ionic, covalent
How can we best explain the fact that the inner and outer cores are both composed of
metallic iron (Fe) and nickel (Ni) yet the outer core is liquid and the inner core solid? -
ANSWER- the melting temperature for Fe-Ni is lower than the geothermal gradient
temperature in the outer core
What type of seismic wave shadow zone is shown on the image above? - ANSWER- S-
wave
How can one best explain the seismic wave properties shown in the above diagram? -
ANSWER- 1) refraction of seismic wave due to density changes
2) absorption of seismic waves due to phase change from solid to liquid
Which of the following answers is not a characteristic of a metal? - ANSWER- all metals
are anions (negatively charged ions)
, Which volcanic gas was not added to the earth's atmosphere during early differentiation
of the planet? - ANSWER- O2
The lava composition of Mt. St. Helens is _____ and it tends to be more _____ than
lavas erupted from Mt. Rainier. - ANSWER- dacite, silica-rich
The Olympic and Coast Mountains are composed of _____ - ANSWER- marine
sedimentary rock scraped off from the ocean floor during subduction
Which of the following plate motions would not likely occur in the future? - ANSWER-
The Isthmus of Panama will close and the Gulf Stream current will be diverted
northward to Europe
The rock shown in the image below has a _____ texture. - ANSWER- porphyritic (two
stages of cooling)
Which mineral crystallized first? - ANSWER- small black mineral included within the
white material
As igneous rock partially melts the magma is typically - ANSWER- 1) more felsic (silica-
rich) than the rock
2)lower density than the rock
Match the magma/lava type with the appropriate geographic/tectonic setting where it
likely formed.
1. Columbia Plateau
2. Asthenosphere
3. Mount Fuji, Japan - ANSWER- 1. basalt
2. peridotite
3. andesite
What is the ratio of Si:O in the tetrahedral structure of this mineral? - ANSWER- 1:2:75
What kind of tectonic setting is represented by the Ural Mountains, which separate Asia
from Europe? - ANSWER- ancient collision margin (continent-continent)
Following differentiation the Earth became compositionally zoned according to ______.
- ANSWER- density of constituent matter
The cause of volcanism observed in the Andes Mountains (South America) is most
similar to that of _____. - ANSWER- Japan
What scientific observations of the solar system indicate that the sun and planet formed
from a rotating, disk-shaped, nebular dust cloud? - ANSWER- 1) the planets all revolve
in a counter-clockwise direction around the sun
