EAPS 112 - Chapter 14 Exam Questions
& Answers 2023/2024
Cretaceous sea level rose in response to ________ .
a. transgressions of the Cretaceous Interior Seaway
b. rapid formation of coral reefs
c. increasing complexity of ocean circulation patterns
d. an increased rate of seafloor spreading
e. cooler worldwide temperatures - ANSWER-d. an increased rate of seafloor spreading
A global rise in sea level during the Cretaceous resulted in a worldwide ________ , such that ________
deposition was continuous over much of the North American Cordilleran.
a. regression; terrestrial
b. regression; marine
c. transgression; marine
d. transgression; terrestrial
e. transgression; plutonic - ANSWER-c. transgression, marine
What geologic event is responsible for creating the gold that made prospectors rush to California in the
late 1840s?
a. uplift of the Sonoma Range
b. thrust faulting of the Farallon Plate
c. emplacement of plutons during the Nevadan Orogeny
d. rifting of the Farallon Plate
e. development of a Cordilleran hot spot - ANSWER-c. emplacement of plutons during the Nevadan
Orogeny
Which event listed happened last (i.e., most recently) in the breakup of Pangaea?
a. North America separated from Africa.
, b. Europe and Africa began to converge.
c. North America separated from South America.
d. India rifted from Gondwana.
e. Antarctica and Africa broke apart from Gondwana. - ANSWER-b. Europe and Africa began to converge
The Franciscan Complex consists of ________ rocks that were formed by ________ of the Farallon Plate
under the North American Plate.
a. marine; subduction
b. evaporite; uplift
c. terrestrial; subduction
d. terrestrial; rifting
e. marine; rifting - ANSWER-a. marine, subduction
Which statement best describes ocean circulation at the end of the Mesozoic?
a. colder oceans, which inhibited the formation of currents.
b. uniformly warm oceans, which resulted in weak currents and stagnation
c. highly similar to the present regime, with downwelling in the North Atlantic region
d. highly complex as a result of the breakup of Pangaea
e. only a single ocean with a simple pattern - ANSWER-d. highly complex as a result of the breakup of
Pangaea
The huge Late Jurassic plutons now recognized as the Sierra Nevada, Southern California, Idaho, and
Coast Range batholiths were formed by the ________ Orogeny.
a. Acadian
b. Taconic
c. Nevadan
d. Sonoma
e. Sevier - ANSWER-c. Nevadan
& Answers 2023/2024
Cretaceous sea level rose in response to ________ .
a. transgressions of the Cretaceous Interior Seaway
b. rapid formation of coral reefs
c. increasing complexity of ocean circulation patterns
d. an increased rate of seafloor spreading
e. cooler worldwide temperatures - ANSWER-d. an increased rate of seafloor spreading
A global rise in sea level during the Cretaceous resulted in a worldwide ________ , such that ________
deposition was continuous over much of the North American Cordilleran.
a. regression; terrestrial
b. regression; marine
c. transgression; marine
d. transgression; terrestrial
e. transgression; plutonic - ANSWER-c. transgression, marine
What geologic event is responsible for creating the gold that made prospectors rush to California in the
late 1840s?
a. uplift of the Sonoma Range
b. thrust faulting of the Farallon Plate
c. emplacement of plutons during the Nevadan Orogeny
d. rifting of the Farallon Plate
e. development of a Cordilleran hot spot - ANSWER-c. emplacement of plutons during the Nevadan
Orogeny
Which event listed happened last (i.e., most recently) in the breakup of Pangaea?
a. North America separated from Africa.
, b. Europe and Africa began to converge.
c. North America separated from South America.
d. India rifted from Gondwana.
e. Antarctica and Africa broke apart from Gondwana. - ANSWER-b. Europe and Africa began to converge
The Franciscan Complex consists of ________ rocks that were formed by ________ of the Farallon Plate
under the North American Plate.
a. marine; subduction
b. evaporite; uplift
c. terrestrial; subduction
d. terrestrial; rifting
e. marine; rifting - ANSWER-a. marine, subduction
Which statement best describes ocean circulation at the end of the Mesozoic?
a. colder oceans, which inhibited the formation of currents.
b. uniformly warm oceans, which resulted in weak currents and stagnation
c. highly similar to the present regime, with downwelling in the North Atlantic region
d. highly complex as a result of the breakup of Pangaea
e. only a single ocean with a simple pattern - ANSWER-d. highly complex as a result of the breakup of
Pangaea
The huge Late Jurassic plutons now recognized as the Sierra Nevada, Southern California, Idaho, and
Coast Range batholiths were formed by the ________ Orogeny.
a. Acadian
b. Taconic
c. Nevadan
d. Sonoma
e. Sevier - ANSWER-c. Nevadan
