Engineering Geology Final Exam Prep –
Practice Questions & Study Guide | Latest
Update 2026 | Graded A+
Define Engineering Geology - correct answerThe science of geology applied to
environmental and engineering concerns, including the safety and performance of man-
made structures, and to public health, safety, and welfare.
Define Geological Engineering - correct answerThe engineering discipline specializing
in the evaluation and design of engineering projects, in or on the earth and the
evaluation of earth materials.
What are Geological engineers work typically involves - correct answerMining
Petroleum recovery
Civil engineering
And deal with design and performance of the project
Compare a engineering geologist and geological engineer. - correct answerThe
engineering geologist is a geologist with a strong awareness and understanding of
engineering and engineering principals
The geological engineer is an engineer with a string awareness and understanding of
geology and geologic principals.
- correct answerThe application of geologic data collection techniques and principles to
the study of rock and soil material , and ground water, so that geologic factors affecting
the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of engineering structures and the
development of ground-water resources available for us to use in engineering practices.
The scope of work includes the many phases of engineering in which man works with
rock, soil, and water.
Engineering Geology includes - correct answer•describing and evaluating subsurface
geologic structures, stratigraphy, and water conditions affecting the things humans
build;
•exploring and developing rock, soil,and water resources; •evaluating natural hazards
including earthquakes, landslides, floods, subsidence, radon, and asbestos; and,
•participating in multidisciplinary teams.
Who was first hydro engineering geologist...and what were his accomplishments. -
correct answerWilliam Smith
*"The map that changed the world"
•Canal construction
•Transport of coal
*Published 1815 -1817
,What is the height and width of Natural Bridge? - correct answer215 feet tall and 90 feet
wide
What makes natural bridge unique to other bridges> - correct answeronly known natural
arch in the world to have a highway across it -U.S. Rt 11
What is the thickness at of the bridge? - correct answer55 feet
What is the historical background of Natural Bridge? - correct answer*Purchased by
Thomas y Jefferson in 1774 from King George III
*Held by heirs until 1833
*Present owner purchased it in 1984
What date did a rock fall occur at Natural Bridge? - correct answerSaturday Saturday
October 23, 199
What is the engineering definition of bedrock vs. soil - correct answerBedrock- Hard
durable continuous rock mass lying at or near surface which must be excavated by
systematic drilling and blasting. A.K.A "Rock Borrow"
Soil-Loose unconsolidated (non-lithified) material lying above the bedrock, which can be
excavated by conventional means. A.K.A "Common Borrow"
What dose the distinction of soil effect when constructing? - correct answerThe Cost
What is the Agricultural Definitions of Soil? - correct answerA= Top soil, organic, black
zone of mineral leaching.
B= Zone of accumulation, red/brown clays.
C= Saprolite, weathered bedrock
The distinction between engineering "soil" and agricultural soil is NOT important when
classifying them. (True/False) - correct answerFalse
Define Transported soil - correct answer-unlithified materials that overlie bedrock from
which they were not derived?
Give an example of Transported Soils.... - correct answerGlacial, lacustrine, marine,
eolian, alluvial (flood planes, terraces, deltas, fans) shoreline, gravity deposits, man-
made fill, volcanic deposits and cumulose fill
Define Residual Soils - correct answerUnlithified minerals derived from the weathering
of material it overlies
Name 4 soil formations? - correct answer1) Physical Weathering
2) Chemical Weathering
3) Hydrolysis
, 4 )Oxidation
Define Physical Weathering - correct answerMechanically breaking rock apart into
smaller pieces with out chemically altering the mineral composition
Define Chemical Weathering - correct answerDecomposition of rock by chemical
reactions which alter the chemical composition of the rock forming new minerals.
What is Hydrolysis? - correct answerWeathering reaction from contact with water,
probably assisted by naturally occurring carbonic acid, Produces clay minerals
(montomorillinite, kalinite, illite)
What is oxidation - correct answerCations from hydrolysis react with O2 to produce
oxides usually red hematite.
What are weather processes? - correct answerNot all materials weather at the same
rate. Rates of weathering can be compared on the Goldich Series ( same drawing as
bowmen reaction series)
Minerals that form early in the bowman's reaction series such as (Olivine) are most
unstable and weather fastest at the earth's surfaces. (True/False) - correct answerTrue
What are the five factors that affect soil development and thickness? - correct answer1)
Climate
2) Time
3) Vegitation
4) Topography
5) Parent Material
How dose one locate a soil/rock boundary? - correct answerDrilling, Augering, & Coring
Explain 3 problems that occur when boring a hole? - correct answer1. Bedrock occurs
at point where soil auger refuses to advance.
2. Bedrock occurs where split-spoon sampler will not advance with blows from standard
sliding hammer.
3. Bedrock occurs where shelby tube sampler cannot be hydraulically pushed farther
Bore holes are expensive too! (True/False) - correct answerTrue
What occurs during seismic refraction? - correct answer1. Shock waves travel through
different materials at different velocities. Soil is lessdense than rock so velocity will also
be lessin soil. essso.
2. Waves will be bent (refracted) each time they encounter a boundary between layers
with different velocities
Practice Questions & Study Guide | Latest
Update 2026 | Graded A+
Define Engineering Geology - correct answerThe science of geology applied to
environmental and engineering concerns, including the safety and performance of man-
made structures, and to public health, safety, and welfare.
Define Geological Engineering - correct answerThe engineering discipline specializing
in the evaluation and design of engineering projects, in or on the earth and the
evaluation of earth materials.
What are Geological engineers work typically involves - correct answerMining
Petroleum recovery
Civil engineering
And deal with design and performance of the project
Compare a engineering geologist and geological engineer. - correct answerThe
engineering geologist is a geologist with a strong awareness and understanding of
engineering and engineering principals
The geological engineer is an engineer with a string awareness and understanding of
geology and geologic principals.
- correct answerThe application of geologic data collection techniques and principles to
the study of rock and soil material , and ground water, so that geologic factors affecting
the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of engineering structures and the
development of ground-water resources available for us to use in engineering practices.
The scope of work includes the many phases of engineering in which man works with
rock, soil, and water.
Engineering Geology includes - correct answer•describing and evaluating subsurface
geologic structures, stratigraphy, and water conditions affecting the things humans
build;
•exploring and developing rock, soil,and water resources; •evaluating natural hazards
including earthquakes, landslides, floods, subsidence, radon, and asbestos; and,
•participating in multidisciplinary teams.
Who was first hydro engineering geologist...and what were his accomplishments. -
correct answerWilliam Smith
*"The map that changed the world"
•Canal construction
•Transport of coal
*Published 1815 -1817
,What is the height and width of Natural Bridge? - correct answer215 feet tall and 90 feet
wide
What makes natural bridge unique to other bridges> - correct answeronly known natural
arch in the world to have a highway across it -U.S. Rt 11
What is the thickness at of the bridge? - correct answer55 feet
What is the historical background of Natural Bridge? - correct answer*Purchased by
Thomas y Jefferson in 1774 from King George III
*Held by heirs until 1833
*Present owner purchased it in 1984
What date did a rock fall occur at Natural Bridge? - correct answerSaturday Saturday
October 23, 199
What is the engineering definition of bedrock vs. soil - correct answerBedrock- Hard
durable continuous rock mass lying at or near surface which must be excavated by
systematic drilling and blasting. A.K.A "Rock Borrow"
Soil-Loose unconsolidated (non-lithified) material lying above the bedrock, which can be
excavated by conventional means. A.K.A "Common Borrow"
What dose the distinction of soil effect when constructing? - correct answerThe Cost
What is the Agricultural Definitions of Soil? - correct answerA= Top soil, organic, black
zone of mineral leaching.
B= Zone of accumulation, red/brown clays.
C= Saprolite, weathered bedrock
The distinction between engineering "soil" and agricultural soil is NOT important when
classifying them. (True/False) - correct answerFalse
Define Transported soil - correct answer-unlithified materials that overlie bedrock from
which they were not derived?
Give an example of Transported Soils.... - correct answerGlacial, lacustrine, marine,
eolian, alluvial (flood planes, terraces, deltas, fans) shoreline, gravity deposits, man-
made fill, volcanic deposits and cumulose fill
Define Residual Soils - correct answerUnlithified minerals derived from the weathering
of material it overlies
Name 4 soil formations? - correct answer1) Physical Weathering
2) Chemical Weathering
3) Hydrolysis
, 4 )Oxidation
Define Physical Weathering - correct answerMechanically breaking rock apart into
smaller pieces with out chemically altering the mineral composition
Define Chemical Weathering - correct answerDecomposition of rock by chemical
reactions which alter the chemical composition of the rock forming new minerals.
What is Hydrolysis? - correct answerWeathering reaction from contact with water,
probably assisted by naturally occurring carbonic acid, Produces clay minerals
(montomorillinite, kalinite, illite)
What is oxidation - correct answerCations from hydrolysis react with O2 to produce
oxides usually red hematite.
What are weather processes? - correct answerNot all materials weather at the same
rate. Rates of weathering can be compared on the Goldich Series ( same drawing as
bowmen reaction series)
Minerals that form early in the bowman's reaction series such as (Olivine) are most
unstable and weather fastest at the earth's surfaces. (True/False) - correct answerTrue
What are the five factors that affect soil development and thickness? - correct answer1)
Climate
2) Time
3) Vegitation
4) Topography
5) Parent Material
How dose one locate a soil/rock boundary? - correct answerDrilling, Augering, & Coring
Explain 3 problems that occur when boring a hole? - correct answer1. Bedrock occurs
at point where soil auger refuses to advance.
2. Bedrock occurs where split-spoon sampler will not advance with blows from standard
sliding hammer.
3. Bedrock occurs where shelby tube sampler cannot be hydraulically pushed farther
Bore holes are expensive too! (True/False) - correct answerTrue
What occurs during seismic refraction? - correct answer1. Shock waves travel through
different materials at different velocities. Soil is lessdense than rock so velocity will also
be lessin soil. essso.
2. Waves will be bent (refracted) each time they encounter a boundary between layers
with different velocities
