ASBOG Fundamentals of Geology Exam
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
Degree of saturation (SR) - CORRECT ANSWER SR = Vw / Vv * 100 = wGs / e
Fully saturated soil - CORRECT ANSWER SR = 100%
Storivity in unconfined aquifer - CORRECT ANSWER specific yield
Hydrothermal iron - CORRECT ANSWER felsic/intermediate magmatic segregation
and calc-alkaline plutonism in Pacific Basin
Amphibolite facies - CORRECT ANSWER develops deeper in orogenic belts with
high T and moderate to high P, forming higher grade rocks
Bentonite pellets - CORRECT ANSWER should be placed with minimum of 2 ft above
filter pack in saturated zone
Speed of EQ waves - CORRECT ANSWER travelling through rock is faster compared
to loose soil
Atterberg limits - CORRECT ANSWER water content at boundaries between states of
consistency of soil
Unified soil classification system - CORRECT ANSWER is based on Atterberg limits
P waves vs S waves - CORRECT ANSWER Vp = sqrt(3) * Vs
Hydraulic conductivity - CORRECT ANSWER relates to grain size in aquifers
,Kame - CORRECT ANSWER a mound or hill of sand and gravel deposited by melting
ice
Tephra - CORRECT ANSWER volcanic ash and other fragments ejected during an
eruption
Richter scale vs moment magnitude scale - CORRECT ANSWER both measure
earthquake magnitude but differ in calculation methods
Modified Mercalli scale - CORRECT ANSWER measures the intensity of an
earthquake based on its effects
1 ton - CORRECT ANSWER equals 2000 lbs
Dimensional analysis - CORRECT ANSWER a method for checking the consistency
of equations
Diagenesis - CORRECT ANSWER affects the quality of an oil/gas reservoir by
enhancing or diminishing it
Riedel fractures - CORRECT ANSWER right stepping Riedel fracture is left-laterally
moving
Permeability - CORRECT ANSWER affects the rate of production in a sub-surface
reservoir
Geologic time scales - CORRECT ANSWER dating techniques and their age ranges
Argillaceous - CORRECT ANSWER shale rich
,Vertical exaggeration - CORRECT ANSWER equals vertical scale / horizontal scale
Fenster - CORRECT ANSWER rocks that underlie a thrust fault
Kettle - CORRECT ANSWER a lake formed by glacial activity
Dolomine - CORRECT ANSWER a sinkhole in a karst environment
Pothole - CORRECT ANSWER a hole in riverbed from circular abrasion
Illuviation - CORRECT ANSWER accumulation of clay and iron in soil horizon B
Fusilinid - CORRECT ANSWER index fossil for Pennsylvanian to Permian periods
Foot - CORRECT ANSWER downslope extension of a slide mass beyond rupture
plane in subsurface
Specific capacity equation - CORRECT ANSWER 100 gpm with drawdown of 20 ft
has specific capacity of 5 gpm/ft
Transmissivity equation - CORRECT ANSWER T = K*b = hydraulic conductivity *
aquifer thickness
Shear strength of mixed soil - CORRECT ANSWER S = c + sigma tan ф
Piezometer - CORRECT ANSWER device that measures in-situ pore water pressure
and natural groundwater levels
Soil sensitivity - CORRECT ANSWER ratio of peak to remolded shear strength
, Head scarp - CORRECT ANSWER break in slope where slide mass has broken away
from hillside
Grus - CORRECT ANSWER in-place granular disintegration product of granite
Epigenetic deposits - CORRECT ANSWER forms under low T and P, with heated
fluids after host rock deposition
Syngenetic deposits - CORRECT ANSWER deposits formed simultaneously with the
host rock
Spontaneous potential log - CORRECT ANSWER a log that indicates geological
formations based on electrical potentials
Extinction event - CORRECT ANSWER caused by glaciation in the Paleozoic that
killed 60% of marine genera
sand filter pack placement - CORRECT ANSWER 2 feet or less above the screen in
well construction
gossan - CORRECT ANSWER Iron-bearing weathered product that forms overlying a
sulfide deposit
layered mafic intrusions - CORRECT ANSWER Deposits formed by crystal settling
from melt, example being Bushveld Complex of South Africa
inclinometer - CORRECT ANSWER Device that measures inclination from horizontal
by downhole wireline, providing slope vs depth data for monitoring landslides or slope
movements
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
Degree of saturation (SR) - CORRECT ANSWER SR = Vw / Vv * 100 = wGs / e
Fully saturated soil - CORRECT ANSWER SR = 100%
Storivity in unconfined aquifer - CORRECT ANSWER specific yield
Hydrothermal iron - CORRECT ANSWER felsic/intermediate magmatic segregation
and calc-alkaline plutonism in Pacific Basin
Amphibolite facies - CORRECT ANSWER develops deeper in orogenic belts with
high T and moderate to high P, forming higher grade rocks
Bentonite pellets - CORRECT ANSWER should be placed with minimum of 2 ft above
filter pack in saturated zone
Speed of EQ waves - CORRECT ANSWER travelling through rock is faster compared
to loose soil
Atterberg limits - CORRECT ANSWER water content at boundaries between states of
consistency of soil
Unified soil classification system - CORRECT ANSWER is based on Atterberg limits
P waves vs S waves - CORRECT ANSWER Vp = sqrt(3) * Vs
Hydraulic conductivity - CORRECT ANSWER relates to grain size in aquifers
,Kame - CORRECT ANSWER a mound or hill of sand and gravel deposited by melting
ice
Tephra - CORRECT ANSWER volcanic ash and other fragments ejected during an
eruption
Richter scale vs moment magnitude scale - CORRECT ANSWER both measure
earthquake magnitude but differ in calculation methods
Modified Mercalli scale - CORRECT ANSWER measures the intensity of an
earthquake based on its effects
1 ton - CORRECT ANSWER equals 2000 lbs
Dimensional analysis - CORRECT ANSWER a method for checking the consistency
of equations
Diagenesis - CORRECT ANSWER affects the quality of an oil/gas reservoir by
enhancing or diminishing it
Riedel fractures - CORRECT ANSWER right stepping Riedel fracture is left-laterally
moving
Permeability - CORRECT ANSWER affects the rate of production in a sub-surface
reservoir
Geologic time scales - CORRECT ANSWER dating techniques and their age ranges
Argillaceous - CORRECT ANSWER shale rich
,Vertical exaggeration - CORRECT ANSWER equals vertical scale / horizontal scale
Fenster - CORRECT ANSWER rocks that underlie a thrust fault
Kettle - CORRECT ANSWER a lake formed by glacial activity
Dolomine - CORRECT ANSWER a sinkhole in a karst environment
Pothole - CORRECT ANSWER a hole in riverbed from circular abrasion
Illuviation - CORRECT ANSWER accumulation of clay and iron in soil horizon B
Fusilinid - CORRECT ANSWER index fossil for Pennsylvanian to Permian periods
Foot - CORRECT ANSWER downslope extension of a slide mass beyond rupture
plane in subsurface
Specific capacity equation - CORRECT ANSWER 100 gpm with drawdown of 20 ft
has specific capacity of 5 gpm/ft
Transmissivity equation - CORRECT ANSWER T = K*b = hydraulic conductivity *
aquifer thickness
Shear strength of mixed soil - CORRECT ANSWER S = c + sigma tan ф
Piezometer - CORRECT ANSWER device that measures in-situ pore water pressure
and natural groundwater levels
Soil sensitivity - CORRECT ANSWER ratio of peak to remolded shear strength
, Head scarp - CORRECT ANSWER break in slope where slide mass has broken away
from hillside
Grus - CORRECT ANSWER in-place granular disintegration product of granite
Epigenetic deposits - CORRECT ANSWER forms under low T and P, with heated
fluids after host rock deposition
Syngenetic deposits - CORRECT ANSWER deposits formed simultaneously with the
host rock
Spontaneous potential log - CORRECT ANSWER a log that indicates geological
formations based on electrical potentials
Extinction event - CORRECT ANSWER caused by glaciation in the Paleozoic that
killed 60% of marine genera
sand filter pack placement - CORRECT ANSWER 2 feet or less above the screen in
well construction
gossan - CORRECT ANSWER Iron-bearing weathered product that forms overlying a
sulfide deposit
layered mafic intrusions - CORRECT ANSWER Deposits formed by crystal settling
from melt, example being Bushveld Complex of South Africa
inclinometer - CORRECT ANSWER Device that measures inclination from horizontal
by downhole wireline, providing slope vs depth data for monitoring landslides or slope
movements
