ESS 101 MIDTERM UW QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS
What-mineral-group-is-a-major-economic-source-of-lead?---ans-✔✔sulfide
The-_____-mineral-group-is-a-major-economic-source-lime-for-cement.---ans-
✔✔carbonate
Meteorites-that-strike-the-earth-are-predominantly-composed-of-_____?---ans-✔✔iron-
nickel-and-silicate-minerals
Why-are-P-waves-completely-absorbed-as-they-enter-the-outer-core?---ans-✔✔none-of-
the-above-answers-are-correct-as-P-waves-are-not-completely-absorbed-in-the-outer-core
During-differentiation-of-the-earth,-heat-was-generated-from-_____.---ans-✔✔1)-kinetic-
energy-of-impacting-planetesimals
2)-compressional-heating-during-condensation-of-planetesimals
3)-radioactive-heating
Why-does-the-Yellowstone-hotspot-volcanism-produce-more-explosive-volcanic-eruptions-
than-the-Hawaiian-hotspot-volcanism?---ans-✔✔upwelling-basaltic-magma-partially-melts-
the-overlying-continental-crust-producing-viscous-rhyolitic-lava
Which-of-the-following-bond-strength-rankings-are-in-the-correct-order-from-weakest-to-
strongest?---ans-✔✔Van-der-Waal,-ionic,-covalent
How-can-we-best-explain-the-fact-that-the-inner-and-outer-cores-are-both-composed-of-
metallic-iron-(Fe)-and-nickel-(Ni)-yet-the-outer-core-is-liquid-and-the-inner-core-solid?---ans-
✔✔the-melting-temperature-for-Fe-Ni-is-lower-than-the-geothermal-gradient-temperature-
in-the-outer-core
What-type-of-seismic-wave-shadow-zone-is-shown-on-the-image-above?---ans-✔✔S-wave
How-can-one-best-explain-the-seismic-wave-properties-shown-in-the-above-diagram?---
ans-✔✔1)-refraction-of-seismic-wave-due-to-density-changes
2)-absorption-of-seismic-waves-due-to-phase-change-from-solid-to-liquid
Which-of-the-following-answers-is-not-a-characteristic-of-a-metal?---ans-✔✔all-metals-are-
anions-(negatively-charged-ions)
, Which-volcanic-gas-was-not-added-to-the-earth's-atmosphere-during-early-differentiation-
of-the-planet?---ans-✔✔O2
The-lava-composition-of-Mt.-St.-Helens-is-_____-and-it-tends-to-be-more-_____-than-lavas-
erupted-from-Mt.-Rainier.---ans-✔✔dacite,-silica-rich
The-Olympic-and-Coast-Mountains-are-composed-of-_____---ans-✔✔marine-
sedimentary-rock-scraped-off-from-the-ocean-floor-during-subduction
Which-of-the-following-plate-motions-would-not-likely-occur-in-the-future?---ans-✔✔The-
Isthmus-of-Panama-will-close-and-the-Gulf-Stream-current-will-be-diverted-northward-to-
Europe
The-rock-shown-in-the-image-below-has-a-_____-texture.---ans-✔✔porphyritic-(two-
stages-of-cooling)
Which-mineral-crystallized-first?---ans-✔✔small-black-mineral-included-within-the-white-
material
As-igneous-rock-partially-melts-the-magma-is-typically---ans-✔✔1)-more-felsic-(silica-rich)-
than-the-rock
2)lower-density-than-the-rock
Match-the-magma/lava-type-with-the-appropriate-geographic/tectonic-setting-where-it-
likely-formed.
1.-Columbia-Plateau
2.-Asthenosphere
3.-Mount-Fuji,-Japan---ans-✔✔1.-basalt
2.-peridotite
3.-andesite
What-is-the-ratio-of-Si:O-in-the-tetrahedral-structure-of-this-mineral?---ans-✔✔1:2:75
What-kind-of-tectonic-setting-is-represented-by-the-Ural-Mountains,-which-separate-Asia-
from-Europe?---ans-✔✔ancient-collision-margin-(continent-continent)
Following-differentiation-the-Earth-became-compositionally-zoned-according-to-______.---
ans-✔✔density-of-constituent-matter
The-cause-of-volcanism-observed-in-the-Andes-Mountains-(South-America)-is-most-
similar-to-that-of-_____.---ans-✔✔Japan
What-scientific-observations-of-the-solar-system-indicate-that-the-sun-and-planet-formed-
from-a-rotating,-disk-shaped,-nebular-dust-cloud?---ans-✔✔1)-the-planets-all-revolve-in-a-
counter-clockwise-direction-around-the-sun
AND ANSWERS
What-mineral-group-is-a-major-economic-source-of-lead?---ans-✔✔sulfide
The-_____-mineral-group-is-a-major-economic-source-lime-for-cement.---ans-
✔✔carbonate
Meteorites-that-strike-the-earth-are-predominantly-composed-of-_____?---ans-✔✔iron-
nickel-and-silicate-minerals
Why-are-P-waves-completely-absorbed-as-they-enter-the-outer-core?---ans-✔✔none-of-
the-above-answers-are-correct-as-P-waves-are-not-completely-absorbed-in-the-outer-core
During-differentiation-of-the-earth,-heat-was-generated-from-_____.---ans-✔✔1)-kinetic-
energy-of-impacting-planetesimals
2)-compressional-heating-during-condensation-of-planetesimals
3)-radioactive-heating
Why-does-the-Yellowstone-hotspot-volcanism-produce-more-explosive-volcanic-eruptions-
than-the-Hawaiian-hotspot-volcanism?---ans-✔✔upwelling-basaltic-magma-partially-melts-
the-overlying-continental-crust-producing-viscous-rhyolitic-lava
Which-of-the-following-bond-strength-rankings-are-in-the-correct-order-from-weakest-to-
strongest?---ans-✔✔Van-der-Waal,-ionic,-covalent
How-can-we-best-explain-the-fact-that-the-inner-and-outer-cores-are-both-composed-of-
metallic-iron-(Fe)-and-nickel-(Ni)-yet-the-outer-core-is-liquid-and-the-inner-core-solid?---ans-
✔✔the-melting-temperature-for-Fe-Ni-is-lower-than-the-geothermal-gradient-temperature-
in-the-outer-core
What-type-of-seismic-wave-shadow-zone-is-shown-on-the-image-above?---ans-✔✔S-wave
How-can-one-best-explain-the-seismic-wave-properties-shown-in-the-above-diagram?---
ans-✔✔1)-refraction-of-seismic-wave-due-to-density-changes
2)-absorption-of-seismic-waves-due-to-phase-change-from-solid-to-liquid
Which-of-the-following-answers-is-not-a-characteristic-of-a-metal?---ans-✔✔all-metals-are-
anions-(negatively-charged-ions)
, Which-volcanic-gas-was-not-added-to-the-earth's-atmosphere-during-early-differentiation-
of-the-planet?---ans-✔✔O2
The-lava-composition-of-Mt.-St.-Helens-is-_____-and-it-tends-to-be-more-_____-than-lavas-
erupted-from-Mt.-Rainier.---ans-✔✔dacite,-silica-rich
The-Olympic-and-Coast-Mountains-are-composed-of-_____---ans-✔✔marine-
sedimentary-rock-scraped-off-from-the-ocean-floor-during-subduction
Which-of-the-following-plate-motions-would-not-likely-occur-in-the-future?---ans-✔✔The-
Isthmus-of-Panama-will-close-and-the-Gulf-Stream-current-will-be-diverted-northward-to-
Europe
The-rock-shown-in-the-image-below-has-a-_____-texture.---ans-✔✔porphyritic-(two-
stages-of-cooling)
Which-mineral-crystallized-first?---ans-✔✔small-black-mineral-included-within-the-white-
material
As-igneous-rock-partially-melts-the-magma-is-typically---ans-✔✔1)-more-felsic-(silica-rich)-
than-the-rock
2)lower-density-than-the-rock
Match-the-magma/lava-type-with-the-appropriate-geographic/tectonic-setting-where-it-
likely-formed.
1.-Columbia-Plateau
2.-Asthenosphere
3.-Mount-Fuji,-Japan---ans-✔✔1.-basalt
2.-peridotite
3.-andesite
What-is-the-ratio-of-Si:O-in-the-tetrahedral-structure-of-this-mineral?---ans-✔✔1:2:75
What-kind-of-tectonic-setting-is-represented-by-the-Ural-Mountains,-which-separate-Asia-
from-Europe?---ans-✔✔ancient-collision-margin-(continent-continent)
Following-differentiation-the-Earth-became-compositionally-zoned-according-to-______.---
ans-✔✔density-of-constituent-matter
The-cause-of-volcanism-observed-in-the-Andes-Mountains-(South-America)-is-most-
similar-to-that-of-_____.---ans-✔✔Japan
What-scientific-observations-of-the-solar-system-indicate-that-the-sun-and-planet-formed-
from-a-rotating,-disk-shaped,-nebular-dust-cloud?---ans-✔✔1)-the-planets-all-revolve-in-a-
counter-clockwise-direction-around-the-sun
