ESS 101 Midterm UW Test Questions
and Already Solved Solutions 2025-
2026 Updated.
What mineral group is a major economic source of lead? - Answer sulfide
The _____ mineral group is a major economic source lime for cement. - Answer carbonate
Meteorites that strike the earth are predominantly composed of _____? - Answer iron-nickel
and silicate minerals
Why are P-waves completely absorbed as they enter the outer core? - Answer 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 _____. - Answer 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? - Answer 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? - Answer 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? - Answer 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? - Answer S-wave
How can one best explain the seismic wave properties shown in the above diagram? - Answer
, Which of the following answers is not a characteristic of a metal? - Answer all metals are
anions (negatively charged ions)
Which volcanic gas was not added to the earth's atmosphere during early differentiation of the
planet? - Answer O2
The lava composition of Mt. St. Helens is _____ and it tends to be more _____ than lavas
erupted from Mt. Rainier. - Answer dacite, silica-rich
The Olympic and Coast Mountains are composed of _____ - Answer marine sedimentary rock
scraped off from the ocean floor during subduction
Which of the following plate motions would not likely occur in the future? - Answer 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. - Answer porphyritic (two stages of
cooling)
Which mineral crystallized first? - Answer small black mineral included within the white
material
As igneous rock partially melts the magma is typically - Answer 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 - Answer 1. basalt
2. peridotite
3. andesite
What is the ratio of Si:O in the tetrahedral structure of this mineral? - Answer 1:2:75
and Already Solved Solutions 2025-
2026 Updated.
What mineral group is a major economic source of lead? - Answer sulfide
The _____ mineral group is a major economic source lime for cement. - Answer carbonate
Meteorites that strike the earth are predominantly composed of _____? - Answer iron-nickel
and silicate minerals
Why are P-waves completely absorbed as they enter the outer core? - Answer 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 _____. - Answer 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? - Answer 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? - Answer 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? - Answer 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? - Answer S-wave
How can one best explain the seismic wave properties shown in the above diagram? - Answer
, Which of the following answers is not a characteristic of a metal? - Answer all metals are
anions (negatively charged ions)
Which volcanic gas was not added to the earth's atmosphere during early differentiation of the
planet? - Answer O2
The lava composition of Mt. St. Helens is _____ and it tends to be more _____ than lavas
erupted from Mt. Rainier. - Answer dacite, silica-rich
The Olympic and Coast Mountains are composed of _____ - Answer marine sedimentary rock
scraped off from the ocean floor during subduction
Which of the following plate motions would not likely occur in the future? - Answer 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. - Answer porphyritic (two stages of
cooling)
Which mineral crystallized first? - Answer small black mineral included within the white
material
As igneous rock partially melts the magma is typically - Answer 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 - Answer 1. basalt
2. peridotite
3. andesite
What is the ratio of Si:O in the tetrahedral structure of this mineral? - Answer 1:2:75
