ESS 101 B CERTIFICATION PAPER 2026
FULL SOLUTION GRADED A+
● The silicate mineral amphibole has 50% of its silicate tetrahedra
possessing 3-shared oxygen atoms and
1-unshared and 50% of its silicate tetrahedra possessing 2-shared oxygen
atoms and 2-unshared oxygen
atoms. What is the ratio of Si:O in the tetrahedral structure of this
mineral?
a. 1:4
b. 1:3
c. 1:2.75
d. 1:2.5
e. 1:2. Answer: c
● Match the magma/lava type with the appropriate geographic/tectonic
setting where it likely formed: Columbia Plateau
a. basalt
b. granite
c. andesite
d. peridotite
e. rhyolite. Answer: a
,● Match the magma/lava type with the appropriate geographic/tectonic
setting where it likely formed: Asthenosphere
a. basalt
b. granite
c. andesite
d. peridotite
e. rhyolite. Answer: d
● Match the magma/lava type with the appropriate geographic/tectonic
setting where it likely formed: Mount Fuji
a. basalt
b. granite
c. andesite
d. peridotite
e. rhyolite. Answer: c
● What kind of tectonic setting is represented by the Ural Mountains,
which separate Asia from Europe?
a. ancient divergent margin
b. ancient convergent margin (ocean-continental subduction)
c. ancient convergent margin (ocean-ocean subduction)
d. ancient hotspot
e. ancient collision margin (continent-continent). Answer: e
,● Following differentiation the Earth became compositionally zoned
according to ________.
a. valency state of constituent atoms
b. total volume of constituent matter
c. density of constituent matter
d. magnetic properties of constituent matter
e. none of the above answers are correct as the earth is not
compositionally differentiated. Answer: c
● The cause of volcanism observed in the Andes Mountains (South
America) is most similar to that of _____.
a. Yellowstone Park
b. Japan
c. the Columbia Plateau
d. Himalaya Mountains
e. the Hawaiian Islands. Answer: b
● What scientific observations of the solar system indicate that the sun
and planets formed from a rotating,
disk-shaped, nebular dust cloud?
a. The planets all revolve in a counter-clockwise direction around the
sun
, b. Most of the planets and their moons rotate on their axis in a counter-
clockwise direction
c. The planetary orbits are aligned along the sun's equatorial plane.
d. all of the above answers are correct
e. only answers a an b are correct. Answer: d
● What mineral group is a major economic source of lead?
a. sulfide
b. halide
c. oxide
d. carbonate
e. silicate. Answer: a
● The __________ mineral group is a major economic source lime for
cement.
a. sulfide
b. halide
c. oxide
d. carbonate
e. silicate. Answer: d
● Meteorites that strike the earth are predominantly composed of
____________?
FULL SOLUTION GRADED A+
● The silicate mineral amphibole has 50% of its silicate tetrahedra
possessing 3-shared oxygen atoms and
1-unshared and 50% of its silicate tetrahedra possessing 2-shared oxygen
atoms and 2-unshared oxygen
atoms. What is the ratio of Si:O in the tetrahedral structure of this
mineral?
a. 1:4
b. 1:3
c. 1:2.75
d. 1:2.5
e. 1:2. Answer: c
● Match the magma/lava type with the appropriate geographic/tectonic
setting where it likely formed: Columbia Plateau
a. basalt
b. granite
c. andesite
d. peridotite
e. rhyolite. Answer: a
,● Match the magma/lava type with the appropriate geographic/tectonic
setting where it likely formed: Asthenosphere
a. basalt
b. granite
c. andesite
d. peridotite
e. rhyolite. Answer: d
● Match the magma/lava type with the appropriate geographic/tectonic
setting where it likely formed: Mount Fuji
a. basalt
b. granite
c. andesite
d. peridotite
e. rhyolite. Answer: c
● What kind of tectonic setting is represented by the Ural Mountains,
which separate Asia from Europe?
a. ancient divergent margin
b. ancient convergent margin (ocean-continental subduction)
c. ancient convergent margin (ocean-ocean subduction)
d. ancient hotspot
e. ancient collision margin (continent-continent). Answer: e
,● Following differentiation the Earth became compositionally zoned
according to ________.
a. valency state of constituent atoms
b. total volume of constituent matter
c. density of constituent matter
d. magnetic properties of constituent matter
e. none of the above answers are correct as the earth is not
compositionally differentiated. Answer: c
● The cause of volcanism observed in the Andes Mountains (South
America) is most similar to that of _____.
a. Yellowstone Park
b. Japan
c. the Columbia Plateau
d. Himalaya Mountains
e. the Hawaiian Islands. Answer: b
● What scientific observations of the solar system indicate that the sun
and planets formed from a rotating,
disk-shaped, nebular dust cloud?
a. The planets all revolve in a counter-clockwise direction around the
sun
, b. Most of the planets and their moons rotate on their axis in a counter-
clockwise direction
c. The planetary orbits are aligned along the sun's equatorial plane.
d. all of the above answers are correct
e. only answers a an b are correct. Answer: d
● What mineral group is a major economic source of lead?
a. sulfide
b. halide
c. oxide
d. carbonate
e. silicate. Answer: a
● The __________ mineral group is a major economic source lime for
cement.
a. sulfide
b. halide
c. oxide
d. carbonate
e. silicate. Answer: d
● Meteorites that strike the earth are predominantly composed of
____________?
