Deck 13: Earth Materials and Plate Tectonics

Question 1

Tectonic plates move from subduction zones towards divergent boundaries. ​

Answer 1

False

Question 2

The crust is about as thick as the mantle. ​

Answer 2

False

Question 3

Earth's outer core is solid rock. ​

Answer 3

False

Question 4

The lithosphere responds to applied stress as an elastic solid. ​

Question 5

It is believed that at one time all of Earth's land masses were crowded together in one supercontinent, which is called Pangaea. ​

Question 6

Plastic solids respond to stress by deforming and flowing slowly rather than by fracturing. ​

Question 7

The Mohorovičic´ discontinuity ____.

A)marks the boundary between the crust and the mantle
B)marks the boundary between the inner core and outer core
C)separates North and South America
D)divides oceanic crust from continental crust
E)lies at the absolute center of the solid Earth

Question 8

Compared to oceanic crust, continental crust is thicker and less dense. ​

Question 9

One requirement for a substance to be classified as a mineral is for it to be inorganic, but it is possible for rocks to contain some organic matter.

Question 10

Only one of the major structural zones inside Earth is liquid, and that zone is the mantle.

Question 11

Subduction occurs at transform plate boundaries. ​

Question 12

Catastrophism is the theory that Earth processes operated in the geologic past as slowly as they do today. ​

Question 13

An example of a divergent plate boundary is a ____. ​

A)volcanic island arc
B)midoceanic ridge ​
C)transform fault ​
D)hot spot ​
E)subduction zone ​

Question 14

Which of these features is a North American example of a transform plate boundary? ​

A)Appalachian Mountains
B)Rocky Mountains
C)San Andreas Fault
D)Grand Canyon
E)Lake Michigan

Question 15

At times in the past, the north and south magnetic poles have switched locations. ​

Question 16

Continental collision may form rift valleys. ​

Question 17

In general, extrusive igneous rocks are composed of mineral grains visible to the unaided eye, whereas mineral grains in intrusive igneous rocks are too small to be seen without magnification.

Question 18

Every mineral has distinctive and recognizable physical characteristics that aid in its identification. ​

Question 19

Much of what we know about the internal structure and composition of Earth has come from the study of ____. ​

A)satellite imagery
B)seismic waves
C)volcanic eruptions
D)Mars
E)deep-ocean sediments

Question 20

Earth's inner core is primarily composed of ____. ​

A)molten lava
B)molten copper and nickel ​
C)solid basalt ​
D)solid iron and carbon ​
E)solid iron and nickel

Question 21

Mafic igneous rocks are ____. ​

A)high in silica and low in heavy minerals
B)low in silica and high in heavy minerals ​
C)high in silica and high in heavy minerals ​
D)low in silica and low in heavy minerals ​
E)only low in silica ​

Question 22

The boundaries between sedimentary rocks that represent separate depositional events are called ____. ​

A)foliations
B)regoliths ​
C)outcrops ​
D)rock cycles ​
E)bedding planes ​

Question 23

Continental shields are ____. ​

A)coastal mountain ranges
B)large, inland basins ​
C)lines of volcanic islands that parallel a continent's coast ​
D)areas of crust added to a continent by accretion ​
E)areas of exposed, ancient crystalline rocks ​

Question 24

An island arc forms where ____. ​

A)oceanic crust collides with continental crust
B)oceanic crust diverges from continental crust ​
C)continental crust collides with continental crust ​
D)continental crust diverges from continental crust ​
E)oceanic crust collides with oceanic crust ​

Question 25

Paleomagnetism helps scientists understand ____. ​

A)the origin of Earth's magnetic field
B)the crust's chemical composition ​
C)the past location of continents ​
D)the depth of the Mohorovičic´ discontinuity ​
E)Earth's age ​

Question 26

Intrusive igneous rocks are, in general, ____. ​

A)coarse-grained
B)clasts ​
C)regolith ​
D)chemical precipitates
E)rapidly cooled

Question 27

Which of the following is the smallest grain size category for clastic particles? ​

A)sand
B)gravel ​
C)silt ​
D)regolith ​
E)clay ​

Question 28

Metamorphosed limestone becomes ____. ​

A)marble
B)quartzite ​
C)granite ​
D)shale ​
E)conglomerate ​

Question 29

The two most common elements found in Earth's crust are ____. ​

A)silicon and magnesium
B)sodium and carbon ​
C)iron and aluminum ​
D)silicon and oxygen ​
E)carbon and potassium

Question 30

Alfred Wegener is well known for hypothesizing that ____. ​

A)mountain ranges only exist where erosion is very weak
B)new oceanic crust is formed at subduction zones ​
C)the magnetic poles have reversed on occasion during geologic time ​
D)over time, the continents change their geographic position ​
E)the inner core is molten ​

Question 31

To be classified as a mineral, a substance must be ____. ​

A)foliated
B)organic ​
C)regolith ​
D)accreted ​
E)crystalline ​

Question 32

Sandstone is an example of a(n)____. ​

A)pyroclastic rock
B)clastic sedimentary rock ​
C)intrusive igneous rock ​
D)metamorphic rock ​
E)chemical precipitate sedimentary rock ​

Question 33

The asthenosphere is defined based on ____. ​

A)chemical composition
B)rock layering ​
C)the way rock deforms in response to stress ​
D)plate motion rates ​
E)volcanic activity ​

Question 34

Lateral sliding of tectonic plates along boundaries is called ____.

A)discontinuity
B)transform movement ​
C)convergence ​
D)divergence ​
E)subduction ​

Question 35

Isostasy is similar to ____. ​

A)buoyancy
B)inertia ​
C)convection ​
D)volume ​
E)conductivity ​

Question 36

Which of these rocks is a common type of intrusive igneous rock?

A)sandstone
B)basalt ​
C)shale ​
D)marble
E)granite

Question 37

Which section of the Earth has the highest material density? ​

A)crust
B)mantle ​
C)asthenosphere ​
D)outer core ​
E)inner core ​

Question 38

Metamorphic rocks ____. ​

A)form when molten rock comes in contact with the atmosphere
B)often form depositional layers called bedding planes ​
C)are usually softer and less resistant to weathering than sedimentary rocks ​
D)are metamorphosed ​
E)include the rocks obsidian and conglomerate ​

Question 39

The asthenosphere lies in the ____. ​

A)inner and outer core
B)mantle and crust ​
C)crust only ​
D)mantle only ​
E)outer core only ​

Question 40

Which of these materials is a mineral? ​

A)granite
B)coal ​
C)quartz ​
D)slate ​
E)schist ​

Question 41

Quartzite is formed by metamorphosing the rock _______________. ​

Question 42

The process by which dense oceanic plates plunge downward into the mantle at convergent plate boundaries is called _______________. ​

Question 43

One type of stratification, called _______________, is characterized by multiple thin sediment layers that accumulated in inclined, rather than horizontal, beds. Sand dunes, for example, deposit sediment in this way. (two words)​

Question 44

A(n)_______________ is a mass of exposed bedrock. ​

Question 45

An instrument that measures P and S waves produced by earthquakes is a(n)_______________. ​

Question 46

Fractures called _______________ are common in rocks and can be caused by regional stress. ​

Question 47

How do we know Earth's internal structure? ​

Question 48

The Hawaiian Islands formed as the Pacific Plate moved over a(n)_______________. ​

Question 49

Coal is an example of a(n)_______________ sedimentary rock. ​

Question 50

Explain the rock cycle. Include information on how the three major categories of rocks differ from each other.

Question 51

Rocks derived from unconsolidated fragments that have accumulated together in a loose collection are termed _______________ rocks. ​

Question 52

A(n)_______________ is a consolidated aggregate of various types of minerals or a consolidated aggregate of multiple individual pieces (grains)of the same kind of mineral. ​

Question 53

When the amount of dissolved minerals in ocean or lake water reach saturation they begin to _______________ and build up as a deposit on the sea or lake bottom. ​

Question 54

Molten rock material at Earth's surface is known as _______________. ​

Question 55

A zone where new crust is formed due to the separation of two plates is labeled a(n)_______________. (two or three words)​

Question 56

Explain how oceanic crust is created and destroyed. ​

Question 57

Discuss the major sources of evidence for the theory of plate tectonics. ​

Question 58

Where markedly mismatching strata meet along an irregular, eroded surface, that contact between the rocks is a(n)_______________. ​

Question 59

Explain how paleomagnetism is relevant to the study of paleogeography. ​

Question 60

Lava that erupts from a volcano and cools at Earth's surface is termed _______________ igneous rock. ​