ESS 101 Rocks Final Review Exam
and All Correct Answers Graded A+
2025\2026 Updated.
d. The pluton formed after 55 Ma ago. - Answer If a xenolith included within an igneous pluton
has a numerical age of 55 million years (Ma) old, what can you infer about the age of the
pluton?
a. The pluton formed before 55 Ma ago.
b. The pluton formed before 100 Ma ago.
c. The pluton formed exactly at 55 Ma ago.
d. The pluton formed after 55 Ma ago.
e. none of the above answers are correct as you cannot infer the pIuton's age based on the
numerical ages
d. atmosphere, nitrogen-14 - Answer Radiocarbon is first produced _____ when neutrons
strike ______ atoms.
a. ocean, nitrogen-14
b. ocean, carbon-12
c. atmosphere, carbon-12
d. atmosphere, nitrogen-14
e. atmosphere, carbon-13
a. 3 - Answer A minimum of _______ seismic stations is necessary to determine the focus of
an earthquake.
a. 3
b. 10
c. 1
d. 300
e. 5
e. when a magma body solidifies within the vent of a volcano and the surrounding material is
eroded - Answer A volcanic neck is formed ________ and the surrounding rock erodes away.
a. when a magma body intrudes a fracture that lies parallel to sedimentary layers
,e. when a magma body solidifies within the vent of a volcano and the surrounding material is
eroded
b. 30 - Answer In order to relieve stress buildup that would cause a magnitude 5 earthquake,
approximately how many
magnitude 4 earthquakes would have to occur?
a. l0
b. 30
c. 300
d. 900
e. 27,000
e. none of the above answers are correct as limestone typically precipitates in shallow ocean
water - Answer Limestone generally precipitates in deep ocean water because_______.
a. calcium carbonate precipitates in cold water
b. calcium carbonate is less soluble (dissolvable) in cold water
c. calcium carbonate is more soluble (dissolvable) in cold water
d. dissolved calcium carbonate is only present in deep water
e. none of the above answers are correct as limestone typically precipitates in shallow ocean
water
a. bi-directional stresses - Answer Symmetric anticline folds result from______.
a. bi-directional stresses
b. uni-directional stresses
c. extensional stresses
d. erosion of plugging (tilted) anticlines and synclines
e. erosion of tilted strata
e. all of the above answers are correct - Answer What conditions are necessary to form oolitic
limestone?
a. warm water conditions
,d. lots of marine plant life
e. all of the above answers are correct
c. erupted into water - Answer Pillow basalts form when basalt is ________.
a. erupted rapidly from fissures into the atmosphere
b. erupted slowly within lava tubes
c. erupted into water
d. erupted from a small vent
e. none of the above answers are correct
c. interlayered pyroclastic and lava flows - Answer Strato volcanoes consist of ______?
a. interlayered basalt flows
b. interlayered pyroclastic flows
c. interlayered pyroclastic and lava flows
d. viscous rhyolite flows
e. exclusively of stratified volcanic ash layers
d. joints increase tension in the rock causing weathering reaction rates to increase - Answer
Which of the following statements about joints are not important to promote weathering in
rock.
a. joints provide protected settings from soil and plants to become established
b. joints permit water and other chemical agents to penetrate below the surface
c. joints more surface area for the weathering front to attack
d. joints increase tension in the rock causing weathering reaction rates to increase
e. none of the above answers are correct, as all of the above factors regarding joints enhance
weathering
, b. from re-precipitation of calcium carbonate in caves
c. from deep rilling of exposed limestone rock
d. a resistant cap rock protects the underlying weaker rock from weathering and erosion.
e. none of the above answers are correct to explain how monument and hoodoos form.
b. water expands when it freezes to form ice. - Answer Frost wedging occurs in rock because:
a. water contracts when it freezes to form ice.
b. water expands when it freezes to form ice.
c. water expands when it melts.
d. water will expand when it evaporates.
e. none of the above answers are correct
d. asymmetric, wind or water currents - Answer The ripples shown below are ______ and are
formed from _______.
a. symmetric, wave oscillation
b. asymmetric, wave oscillation
c. symmetric, wind or water currents
d. asymmetric, wind or water currents
e. none of the above answers are correct
e. only answers a and c are correct - Answer Besides oxidation reactions which of the
following are examples of chemical weathering?
a. dissolution of limestone
and All Correct Answers Graded A+
2025\2026 Updated.
d. The pluton formed after 55 Ma ago. - Answer If a xenolith included within an igneous pluton
has a numerical age of 55 million years (Ma) old, what can you infer about the age of the
pluton?
a. The pluton formed before 55 Ma ago.
b. The pluton formed before 100 Ma ago.
c. The pluton formed exactly at 55 Ma ago.
d. The pluton formed after 55 Ma ago.
e. none of the above answers are correct as you cannot infer the pIuton's age based on the
numerical ages
d. atmosphere, nitrogen-14 - Answer Radiocarbon is first produced _____ when neutrons
strike ______ atoms.
a. ocean, nitrogen-14
b. ocean, carbon-12
c. atmosphere, carbon-12
d. atmosphere, nitrogen-14
e. atmosphere, carbon-13
a. 3 - Answer A minimum of _______ seismic stations is necessary to determine the focus of
an earthquake.
a. 3
b. 10
c. 1
d. 300
e. 5
e. when a magma body solidifies within the vent of a volcano and the surrounding material is
eroded - Answer A volcanic neck is formed ________ and the surrounding rock erodes away.
a. when a magma body intrudes a fracture that lies parallel to sedimentary layers
,e. when a magma body solidifies within the vent of a volcano and the surrounding material is
eroded
b. 30 - Answer In order to relieve stress buildup that would cause a magnitude 5 earthquake,
approximately how many
magnitude 4 earthquakes would have to occur?
a. l0
b. 30
c. 300
d. 900
e. 27,000
e. none of the above answers are correct as limestone typically precipitates in shallow ocean
water - Answer Limestone generally precipitates in deep ocean water because_______.
a. calcium carbonate precipitates in cold water
b. calcium carbonate is less soluble (dissolvable) in cold water
c. calcium carbonate is more soluble (dissolvable) in cold water
d. dissolved calcium carbonate is only present in deep water
e. none of the above answers are correct as limestone typically precipitates in shallow ocean
water
a. bi-directional stresses - Answer Symmetric anticline folds result from______.
a. bi-directional stresses
b. uni-directional stresses
c. extensional stresses
d. erosion of plugging (tilted) anticlines and synclines
e. erosion of tilted strata
e. all of the above answers are correct - Answer What conditions are necessary to form oolitic
limestone?
a. warm water conditions
,d. lots of marine plant life
e. all of the above answers are correct
c. erupted into water - Answer Pillow basalts form when basalt is ________.
a. erupted rapidly from fissures into the atmosphere
b. erupted slowly within lava tubes
c. erupted into water
d. erupted from a small vent
e. none of the above answers are correct
c. interlayered pyroclastic and lava flows - Answer Strato volcanoes consist of ______?
a. interlayered basalt flows
b. interlayered pyroclastic flows
c. interlayered pyroclastic and lava flows
d. viscous rhyolite flows
e. exclusively of stratified volcanic ash layers
d. joints increase tension in the rock causing weathering reaction rates to increase - Answer
Which of the following statements about joints are not important to promote weathering in
rock.
a. joints provide protected settings from soil and plants to become established
b. joints permit water and other chemical agents to penetrate below the surface
c. joints more surface area for the weathering front to attack
d. joints increase tension in the rock causing weathering reaction rates to increase
e. none of the above answers are correct, as all of the above factors regarding joints enhance
weathering
, b. from re-precipitation of calcium carbonate in caves
c. from deep rilling of exposed limestone rock
d. a resistant cap rock protects the underlying weaker rock from weathering and erosion.
e. none of the above answers are correct to explain how monument and hoodoos form.
b. water expands when it freezes to form ice. - Answer Frost wedging occurs in rock because:
a. water contracts when it freezes to form ice.
b. water expands when it freezes to form ice.
c. water expands when it melts.
d. water will expand when it evaporates.
e. none of the above answers are correct
d. asymmetric, wind or water currents - Answer The ripples shown below are ______ and are
formed from _______.
a. symmetric, wave oscillation
b. asymmetric, wave oscillation
c. symmetric, wind or water currents
d. asymmetric, wind or water currents
e. none of the above answers are correct
e. only answers a and c are correct - Answer Besides oxidation reactions which of the
following are examples of chemical weathering?
a. dissolution of limestone
