ASBOG Exam Practice Test Questions
and Answers
A rock described as arkosic - ANSWER-is sandstone containing > 25% feldspar
If the scale of a map is 1:24000 what does 1 in on a map represent - ANSWER-2,000 ft
In a region eroded by glaciers, what are bow shaped depressions at the head of a
glacial valley? - ANSWER-Cirques
Which two-letter symbol is commonly used for a fat clay? - ANSWER-CH
For a dip-slip fault, what is the area above the fault plane known as? - ANSWER-
Hanging wall
Which isotope dating method is commonly used to determine the ages of detrital zircon
grains in sandstone? - ANSWER-U-Pb
In general, which tectonic environment is most likely to include normal faults? -
ANSWER-Mid-Ocean ridge
In general, which tectonic environment is most likely to include thrust faulting? -
ANSWER-Subduction zone
In general, which tectonic environment is most likely to include strike-slip faults? -
ANSWER-Transform plate boundaries
Which of the following up-section stratigraphic sequences is the clearest example of a
marine transgression? - ANSWER-Fluvial sand, beach sand, shore-face deposits, open-
shelf carbonate
Mineral that is not normally associate with hydrothermal alteration? - ANSWER-Olivine
What is a sandstone with >90% detrital quartz called? - ANSWER-Quartz arenite
In which of the following tectonic environments is continental crust created? - ANSWER-
Subduction zone
What type of acid is characteristic of "acid mine drainage"? - ANSWER-Sulphuric
Which type of fault usually has the steepest dip? - ANSWER-Strike slip
, Which of the following is the correct order of crystallization according of Bowen's
reaction series? - ANSWER-Olivine, pyroxene, amphibole, biotite, quartz
A soil with high liquid limit and low plastic limit - ANSWER-has a high plasticity index.
In what type of tectonic environment are metamorphic core complexes normally
located? - ANSWER-Back- arcs
Which of the following lists minerals in order of least to most susceptible to weathering?
- ANSWER-Quartz, muscovite, amphibole, olivine
Which type of sand dune commonly forms in areas with multiple wind direcitons? -
ANSWER-Star
What is an intrusive contact? - ANSWER-An intrusive contact is one between an
intrusive rock and another rock type that is older than the intrusive rock.
The vadose zone is a region of the subsurface that separates... - ANSWER-the ground
surface from the water table.
Which type of geophysical survey is most useful for locating a buried steel pipline? -
ANSWER-Magnetics
What type of drainage pattern is most likely to develop around the flanks of modern
stratovolcano? - ANSWER-Radial
Composition of a sandstone reveals that it has: 50% quartz grains, 30% andesite clasts,
15% feldspar grains, and 5% detrital mica. What is most likely provenance of the
sandstone? - ANSWER-Volcanic arc
Which of the following is NOT a typical response of a coal seam on a geophysical
wireline log? - ANSWER-Low resistivity
Which of the following is the most suitable for describing the stratigraphy of a region? -
ANSWER-A homocline
You find trilobite fossils in a limestone. Which of the following is a possible age of the
limestone? - ANSWER-Ordovican
Which elements are responsible for "hard water"? - ANSWER-Ca and Mg
Most helpful in determining slope stability of an area? - ANSWER-High-resolution digital
terrain model
What is NOT a factor in determining the relative age of soil? - ANSWER-Grain size
and Answers
A rock described as arkosic - ANSWER-is sandstone containing > 25% feldspar
If the scale of a map is 1:24000 what does 1 in on a map represent - ANSWER-2,000 ft
In a region eroded by glaciers, what are bow shaped depressions at the head of a
glacial valley? - ANSWER-Cirques
Which two-letter symbol is commonly used for a fat clay? - ANSWER-CH
For a dip-slip fault, what is the area above the fault plane known as? - ANSWER-
Hanging wall
Which isotope dating method is commonly used to determine the ages of detrital zircon
grains in sandstone? - ANSWER-U-Pb
In general, which tectonic environment is most likely to include normal faults? -
ANSWER-Mid-Ocean ridge
In general, which tectonic environment is most likely to include thrust faulting? -
ANSWER-Subduction zone
In general, which tectonic environment is most likely to include strike-slip faults? -
ANSWER-Transform plate boundaries
Which of the following up-section stratigraphic sequences is the clearest example of a
marine transgression? - ANSWER-Fluvial sand, beach sand, shore-face deposits, open-
shelf carbonate
Mineral that is not normally associate with hydrothermal alteration? - ANSWER-Olivine
What is a sandstone with >90% detrital quartz called? - ANSWER-Quartz arenite
In which of the following tectonic environments is continental crust created? - ANSWER-
Subduction zone
What type of acid is characteristic of "acid mine drainage"? - ANSWER-Sulphuric
Which type of fault usually has the steepest dip? - ANSWER-Strike slip
, Which of the following is the correct order of crystallization according of Bowen's
reaction series? - ANSWER-Olivine, pyroxene, amphibole, biotite, quartz
A soil with high liquid limit and low plastic limit - ANSWER-has a high plasticity index.
In what type of tectonic environment are metamorphic core complexes normally
located? - ANSWER-Back- arcs
Which of the following lists minerals in order of least to most susceptible to weathering?
- ANSWER-Quartz, muscovite, amphibole, olivine
Which type of sand dune commonly forms in areas with multiple wind direcitons? -
ANSWER-Star
What is an intrusive contact? - ANSWER-An intrusive contact is one between an
intrusive rock and another rock type that is older than the intrusive rock.
The vadose zone is a region of the subsurface that separates... - ANSWER-the ground
surface from the water table.
Which type of geophysical survey is most useful for locating a buried steel pipline? -
ANSWER-Magnetics
What type of drainage pattern is most likely to develop around the flanks of modern
stratovolcano? - ANSWER-Radial
Composition of a sandstone reveals that it has: 50% quartz grains, 30% andesite clasts,
15% feldspar grains, and 5% detrital mica. What is most likely provenance of the
sandstone? - ANSWER-Volcanic arc
Which of the following is NOT a typical response of a coal seam on a geophysical
wireline log? - ANSWER-Low resistivity
Which of the following is the most suitable for describing the stratigraphy of a region? -
ANSWER-A homocline
You find trilobite fossils in a limestone. Which of the following is a possible age of the
limestone? - ANSWER-Ordovican
Which elements are responsible for "hard water"? - ANSWER-Ca and Mg
Most helpful in determining slope stability of an area? - ANSWER-High-resolution digital
terrain model
What is NOT a factor in determining the relative age of soil? - ANSWER-Grain size
