ONTARIO GEOSCIENTIST LICENSING EXAM
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
1. The primary mineral in granite that is most resistant to weathering is:
a) Biotite
b) Feldspar
c) Quartz
d) Mica
Answer: c) Quartz
Quartz is highly resistant to chemical weathering due to its strong
Si–O bonds.
2. The principle of superposition in stratigraphy states that:
a) Older layers lie above younger layers
b) Younger layers lie above older layers
c) All layers are the same age
d) Fossils cannot be used for correlation
Answer: b) Younger layers lie above older layers
In undisturbed sedimentary sequences, the oldest layers are at the
bottom and the youngest are at the top.
3. Which type of fault occurs when the hanging wall moves
downward relative to the footwall?
a) Reverse fault
b) Normal fault
c) Strike-slip fault
d) Thrust fault
Answer: b) Normal fault
Normal faults are caused by extensional stress, resulting in the hanging
wall moving down.
,4. The Mohs hardness of calcite is:
a) 2
b) 3
c) 5
d) 7
Answer: b) 3
Calcite is relatively soft and can be scratched with a copper coin.
5. Groundwater flow in an unconfined aquifer is primarily controlled
by:
a) Hydraulic conductivity and hydraulic gradient
b) Porosity only
c) Aquifer thickness only
d) Water table depth only
Answer: a) Hydraulic conductivity and hydraulic gradient
Darcy’s Law explains groundwater flow depending on hydraulic
conductivity and gradient.
6. A geologist identifies a rock with interlocking crystals of feldspar,
quartz, and mica. This rock is most likely:
a) Basalt
b) Granite
c) Sandstone
d) Shale
Answer: b) Granite
Granite is an intrusive igneous rock with coarse-grained
interlocking crystals of these minerals.
7. Which radiometric dating method is most suitable for dating very
old igneous rocks (>1 billion years)?
a) Carbon-14
b) Uranium-Lead
c) Potassium-Argon
d) Rubidium-Strontium
, Answer: b) Uranium-Lead
U–Pb dating has a very long half-life and is ideal for Precambrian
rocks.
8. The principle of cross-cutting relationships states that:
a) Rock layers are deposited horizontally
b) Faults and intrusions are younger than the rocks they cut
c) Fossils indicate relative age
d) Sedimentary layers thin laterally
Answer: b) Faults and intrusions are younger than the rocks they
cut
Any feature that cuts another is younger than the feature it cuts
through.
9. Which type of unconformity separates tilted sedimentary rocks
from overlying horizontal layers?
a) Nonconformity
b) Angular unconformity
c) Disconformity
d) Paraconformity
Answer: b) Angular unconformity
Angular unconformities occur when older tilted strata are overlain
by younger horizontal layers.
10. The most common element in the Earth’s crust is:
a) Silicon
b) Aluminum
c) Oxygen
d) Iron
Answer: c) Oxygen
Oxygen makes up roughly 46% of the Earth’s crust by weight,
primarily in silicate minerals.
11. Which metamorphic rock forms from limestone under high
temperature and pressure?
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
1. The primary mineral in granite that is most resistant to weathering is:
a) Biotite
b) Feldspar
c) Quartz
d) Mica
Answer: c) Quartz
Quartz is highly resistant to chemical weathering due to its strong
Si–O bonds.
2. The principle of superposition in stratigraphy states that:
a) Older layers lie above younger layers
b) Younger layers lie above older layers
c) All layers are the same age
d) Fossils cannot be used for correlation
Answer: b) Younger layers lie above older layers
In undisturbed sedimentary sequences, the oldest layers are at the
bottom and the youngest are at the top.
3. Which type of fault occurs when the hanging wall moves
downward relative to the footwall?
a) Reverse fault
b) Normal fault
c) Strike-slip fault
d) Thrust fault
Answer: b) Normal fault
Normal faults are caused by extensional stress, resulting in the hanging
wall moving down.
,4. The Mohs hardness of calcite is:
a) 2
b) 3
c) 5
d) 7
Answer: b) 3
Calcite is relatively soft and can be scratched with a copper coin.
5. Groundwater flow in an unconfined aquifer is primarily controlled
by:
a) Hydraulic conductivity and hydraulic gradient
b) Porosity only
c) Aquifer thickness only
d) Water table depth only
Answer: a) Hydraulic conductivity and hydraulic gradient
Darcy’s Law explains groundwater flow depending on hydraulic
conductivity and gradient.
6. A geologist identifies a rock with interlocking crystals of feldspar,
quartz, and mica. This rock is most likely:
a) Basalt
b) Granite
c) Sandstone
d) Shale
Answer: b) Granite
Granite is an intrusive igneous rock with coarse-grained
interlocking crystals of these minerals.
7. Which radiometric dating method is most suitable for dating very
old igneous rocks (>1 billion years)?
a) Carbon-14
b) Uranium-Lead
c) Potassium-Argon
d) Rubidium-Strontium
, Answer: b) Uranium-Lead
U–Pb dating has a very long half-life and is ideal for Precambrian
rocks.
8. The principle of cross-cutting relationships states that:
a) Rock layers are deposited horizontally
b) Faults and intrusions are younger than the rocks they cut
c) Fossils indicate relative age
d) Sedimentary layers thin laterally
Answer: b) Faults and intrusions are younger than the rocks they
cut
Any feature that cuts another is younger than the feature it cuts
through.
9. Which type of unconformity separates tilted sedimentary rocks
from overlying horizontal layers?
a) Nonconformity
b) Angular unconformity
c) Disconformity
d) Paraconformity
Answer: b) Angular unconformity
Angular unconformities occur when older tilted strata are overlain
by younger horizontal layers.
10. The most common element in the Earth’s crust is:
a) Silicon
b) Aluminum
c) Oxygen
d) Iron
Answer: c) Oxygen
Oxygen makes up roughly 46% of the Earth’s crust by weight,
primarily in silicate minerals.
11. Which metamorphic rock forms from limestone under high
temperature and pressure?
