Deck 14: Weathering and Mass Movements

Question 1

The large indentation formed on rock outcrops by salt-crystal growth is called a(n)

A) joint.
B) talus.
C) niche.
D) felsenmeer.
E) hoodoo.

Answer 1

C

Question 2

A chemical weathering process that results in the decomposition of silicate molecules within rock through the reaction of hydrogen and hydroxyl ions in water is

A) frost wedging.
B) hydrolysis.
C) carbonation.
D) oxidation.
E) plant wedging.

Answer 2

B

Question 3

A weathering process that involves the buildup of salts on rock surfaces through evaporation where these salts weaken the cements that bond the rocks so that they break is

A) salt-crystal growth.
B) oxidation.
C) colluviums.
D) carbonation.
E) exfoliation.

Answer 3

A

Question 4

The rate at which different rock units weather is called

A) exfoliation.
B) volcanism.
C) diastrophism.
D) differential weathering.
E) jointing.

Question 5

Another name for mechanical weathering is

A) erosion.
B) physical weathering.
C) carbonation.
D) decomposition.
E) exfoliation.

Question 6

The types of mechanical weathering include which of the following?

A) plant wedging
B) salt-crystal growth
C) frost wedging
D) oxidation
E) exfoliation

Question 7

A crack or fissure along horizontal or vertical planes in a rock mass that divides the rock into large blocks is a

A) fault.
B) joint.
C) pipe.
D) dike.
E) niche.

Question 8

A unit of relatively resistant rock that caps the top of a landform and thus protects underlying rocks from erosion is a

A) vent.
B) caldera.
C) cap rock.
D) drift.
E) fissure.

Question 9

.The upthrust of sediment or soil due to the freezing of wet soil beneath is

A) leaching.
B) frost heaving.
C) carbonation.
D) hydrolysis.
E) exfoliation.

Question 10

Which are types of weathering?

A) physical
B) mechanical
C) erosion
D) chemical
E) deposition

Question 11

The rock seas created by frost action at high latitudes or altitudes are called

A) piedmonts.
B) bahadas.
C) inselbergs.
D) felsenmeers.
E) pediments.

Question 12

Which of the following weathering processes can contribute to spheroidal weathering?

A) oxidation
B) hydrolysis
C) carbonation
D) frost wedging
E) exfoliation

Question 13

The rounding of the sharp edges and corners of rocks is

A) glaciations.
B) felsenmeer.
C) carbonation.
D) oxidation.
E) spheroidal weathering.

Question 14

Arguably,the most important weathering agent is

A) water.
B) bacteria.
C) calcite.
D) salt.
E) sodium.

Question 15

Unusual rock forms resulting from differential weathering are called

A) hoodoos.
B) erratic.
C) stalactites.
D) stalagmites.
E) hogbacks

Question 16

The breakup of a body of rock into smaller rocks of the same type is

A) physical weathering.
B) fracture weathering.
C) chemical weathering.
D) mass wasting.
E) organic weathering.

Question 17

The decomposition and alteration of rocks due to chemical actions of natural physical and biological processes is

A) faulting.
B) folding.
C) chemical weathering.
D) physical weathering.
E) erosion.

Question 18

Expansion and contraction of water in rock cracks due to freezing and thawing is

A) plant wedging.
B) frost wedging.
C) frost heaving.
D) salt-crystal growth.
E) exfoliation.

Question 19

Weathering (Select all that are true.)

A) is a process.
B) reduces overall relief and smoothes the landscape over a long period of time.
C) only occurs deep in the Earth.
D) can modify and destroy sediment over time.
E) can modify and destroy rock over time.

Question 20

A form of physical weathering in which sheets of rock flake away due to seasonal temperature changes or by the expansion of the rock due to unloading is

A) hydration.
B) oxidation.
C) carbonation.
D) frost wedging.
E) exfoliation.

Question 21

The type of mass wasting depicted is

A) slump.
B) rockfall.
C) soil creep.
D) debris slide.
E) earthflow.

Question 22

Oxidation tends to turn rocks

A) green.
B) blue.
C) orange.
D) purple.
E) black.

Question 23

The point at which sediment becomes unstable is called the

A) fracture.
B) rebound.
C) cleavage.
D) threshold point.
E) isostacy.

Question 24

The type of mass wasting depicted is

A) debris flow.
B) earthflow.
C) soil creep.
D) solifluction.
E) mudflow.

Question 25

The type of mass wasting depicted is

A) slump.
B) rockfall.
C) mudflow.
D) debris flow.
E) solifluction.

Question 26

The natural maximum angle at which a loose material of a given size can rest without sliding under the pull of gravity is the

A) angle of repose.
B) talus.
C) creep.
D) drift.
E) gradient.

Question 27

Rocks that would be especially susceptible to carbonation include

A) sandstone and granite.
B) granite and basalt.
C) limestone and dolomite.
D) gneiss and slate.
E) shale and conglomerate.

Question 28

The agent of erosion associated with mass wasting is

A) wind.
B) ice.
C) waves.
D) running water.
E) gravity.

Question 29

The type of mass wasting depicted is

A) slump.
B) rockfall.
C) debris flow.
D) solifluction.
E) debris slide.

Question 30

The type of mass wasting depicted is

A) debris flow.
B) earthflow.
C) soil creep.
D) solifluction.
E) mudflow.

Question 31

Unconsolidated sediment that accumulates at the base of a slope without being transported by water is

A) alluvium.
B) regolith.
C) colluvium.
D) drift.
E) moraine.

Question 32

The type of mass wasting depicted is

A) slump.
B) solifluction.
C) earthflow.
D) debris slide.
E) rockfall.

Question 33

The type of mass wasting depicted is

A) slump.
B) rockfall.
C) soil creep.
D) solifluction.
E) mudflow.

Question 34

The type of mass wasting depicted is

A) slump.
B) rockfall.
C) soil creep.
D) debris slide.
E) earthflow.

Question 35

A type of chemical weathering caused by rainwater that has absorbed atmospheric carbon dioxide and formed a weak carbonic acid that slowly dissolves rock is

A) oxidation.
B) hydrolysis.
C) carbonation.
D) saltation.
E) siltation.

Question 36

A form of chemical weathering in which oxygen chemically combines with metallic iron to form iron oxides resulting in the loss of electrons is

A) oxidation.
B) hydrolysis.
C) carbonation.
D) frost heaving.
E) frost wedging.

Question 37

Changing temperatures of rocks by the exposure to sunlight results in

A) hydrolysis.
B) frost wedging.
C) carbonation.
D) oxidation.
E) thermal expansion.

Question 38

The precipitation by rain,fog,or snow of strong mineral acids primarily sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxides is

A) acid rain.
B) leaching.
C) carbonation.
D) oxidation.
E) hydrolysis.

Question 39

The movement of rock,sediment,and soil downslope due to the force of gravity is

A) alluvium.
B) faulting.
C) colluvium.
D) weathering.
E) mass wasting.

Question 40

Chemical weathering includes which of the following?

A) hydrolysis
B) oxidation
C) carbonation
D) thermal expansion
E) frost wedging

Question 41

A slow-to-rapid type of mass movement that involves soil and other loose sediments,some of which may be coarse,is

A) avalanche.
B) mudflow.
C) soil creep.
D) rockfall.
E) earthflow.

Question 42

Which of the following statements is true regarding mass movement?

A) Areas with permafrost are closely associated with mudflows.
B) Solifluction is best associated with tundra climate.
C) Lobes of soil gradually moving downslope due to freeze-thaw processes is an example of solifluction.
D) The instantaneous movement of soil and bedrock down a steep slope along a plane in response to gravity triggered by an event such as an earthquake is best called a landslide.
E) Debris slides typically occur very slowly and can cause trees to gradually curve.

Question 43

The Madison Slide near Yellowstone is an example of a(an)____(1.____,where slope failure occurs along a plane that is roughly ____(2.____ to the surface.
Answer 1 Choices:
avalanche
debris slide
earthquake
solifluction
Answer 2 Choices:
parallel
perpendicular

Question 44

Different rates of movement create a series of step-like features called

A) slump terraces.
B) mudpots.
C) hotspots.
D) delta kames.
E) eskers.

Question 45

The lowest end of a slump is its

A) head.
B) mouth.
C) foot.
D) limb.
E) toe.

Question 46

Which of the following statements are true regarding soil creep?

A) Soil creep is the gradual downhill movement of soil, trees, and rocks due to the force of gravity.
B) Soil creep is the most widespread and prevalent form of mass wasting.
C) Earthquakes are the only cause of soil creep.
D) Soil creep can result in the slow toppling of retaining walls.
E) Solifluction is one form of soil creep that commonly occurs in tropical climates.

Question 47

Rotational movement is associated with

A) slumps.
B) avalanches.
C) soil creep.
D) debris slide.
E) landslide.

Question 48

A mass-wasting process in which rocks break free from cliff faces and rapidly tumble into the valley below is a

A) mudflow.
B) slump.
C) rockfall.
D) solifluction.
E) debris slide.

Question 49

The impacts of the Madison Slide included which of the following?

A) forcing materials up the opposite slope
B) damming the Madison River
C) killing 28 campers
D) creating Earthquake Lake
E) destroyed the town of Madison, Washington

Question 50

A linear pile of rock fragments and boulders that accumulates below a cliff due to rockfall is called

A) alluvium.
B) moraine.
C) soil creep.
D) drift.
E) talus.

Question 51

Coalescing talus cones form talus

A) aprons.
B) bahadas.
C) moraines.
D) inselbergs.
E) facets.

Question 52

The slowest form of mass wasting is

A) solifluction.
B) slump.
C) soil creep.
D) rockfall.
E) mudflow.

Question 53

Very wet mass-wasting events are called

A) slumps.
B) slides.
C) flows.
D) drifts.
E) falls.

Question 54

A mass-wasting process in which rock and sediment rotate and move down the slope along a concave plane relative to the surface is a(n)

A) avalanche.
B) slump.
C) soil creep.
D) mudflow.
E) rockfall.

Question 55

A semi-circular pile of rock fragments accumulated at the base of a cliff by gravity is called a(n)

A) alluvial fan.
B) kame.
C) delta.
D) drumlin.
E) talus cone.

Question 56

Which of the following are types of flows?

A) slump
B) mudflow
C) fall
D) earthflow
E) debris flow

Question 57

Which of the following are true about the movement of a slump? (Select all that apply)

A) The top of the slump drops.
B) The middle of the slump slides.
C) The toe of the slump moves over an undisturbed surface.
D) The toe of the slump may flow, rotate, and tumble.
E) The top of the slump falls outward away from the original surface.

Question 58

Rockfalls are MOST facilitated by

A) burrowing animals.
B) frost wedging and thermal expansion.
C) oxidation.
D) soil creep.
E) carbonation.

Question 59

The mass wasting process that is fastest and associated with dry conditions is

A) solifluction.
B) earth flow.
C) soil creep.
D) debris flow.
E) rockfall.

Question 60

The wettest form of mass wasting is

A) slump.
B) debris slide.
C) soil creep.
D) debris flow.
E) mudflow.

Question 61

Mudflows are common in

A) areas of Mediterranean climate.
B) mountainous areas with steep canyons.
C) arid environments.
D) well-drained sandy areas with low slope.
E) areas that have been deforested.

Question 62

When the uppermost layer of snow destabilizes and a distinct section breaks free,the mass is called a

A) drift avalanche.
B) moraine avalanche.
C) slab avalanche.
D) rockfall.
E) talus apron.

Question 63

Two major components of landscape denudation are weathering and mass movement.

Question 64

In which of the following is water least likely to play a role? (Select two.)

A) debris slide
B) mudflow
C) earthflow
D) slump
E) rockfall

Question 65

The weathering process that is caused by contact with oxygen that often turns the rocks a reddish-orange is called

A) hydrolysis.
B) oxidation
C) carbonation.
D) chemical bonding.
E) hydraulics.

Question 66

A rapidly flowing and extremely powerful mass of water,rocks,sediment,boulders,and trees is a

A) mudflow.
B) slump.
C) soil creep.
D) debris flow.
E) rockfall.

Question 67

Differential weathering caused by a more resistant rock overlaying a less resistant layer is called

A) stratigraphy.
B) strata.
C) caprock.
D) stacking.

Question 68

A large mass of snow and rock that suddenly slides down a mountainside is a(n)

A) avalanche.
B) talus.
C) soil creep.
D) slump.
E) rockfall.

Question 69

The area of origin of an avalanche is called the

A) apron.
B) foot.
C) root.
D) starting zone.
E) toe.

Question 70

A well-saturated and highly fluid mass of fine-textured sediment is a(n)

A) avalanche.
B) slump.
C) soil creep.
D) rockfall.
E) mudflow.

Question 71

An alternative term for mass wasting is

A) aeolian.
B) mass movement.
C) differential weathering.
D) weathering.
E) erosion.

Question 72

The snow and debris of an avalanche accumulate in the

A) apron.
B) starting zone.
C) scar.
D) runout.
E) track.

Question 73

Treeless zones extending down the slope of a mountain formed by an avalanche are

A) aprons.
B) scars.
C) joints.
D) runouts.
E) moraines.

Question 74

Fissures in rocks that allow for water to infiltrate are known to scientists as

A) breaks.
B) exfoliation.
C) hydrolysis.
D) joints.

Question 75

The weathering process that is caused by contact with carbonic acid that dissolves minerals in the rock is called

A) hydrolysis.
B) oxidation.
C) carbonation.
D) chemical bonding.
E) hydraulics.

Question 76

The greatest destruction by an avalanche is usually

A) in the starting zone.
B) along the track.
C) in the runout.
D) above the starting zone.
E) below the runout.

Question 77

The weathering process that contributes to spheroidal weathering by decomposing silicate materials within rocks is called

A) hydrolysis.
B) oxidation.
C) carbonation.
D) chemical bonding.
E) hydraulics.

Question 78

The path an avalanche takes is its

A) road.
B) track.
C) mote.
D) arête.
E) toe.

Question 79

Freezing of planes of water in the soil causes it to expand; this expansion is called

A) frost heaving.
B) water growth.
C) expanding earth theory.
D) glaciation.

Question 80

What is it called when rock breaks along a sheeting structure and slides off in large chunks (just like Half Dome in Yosemite)?

A) exfoliation
B) freeze-thaw
C) salt crystallization
D) frost heaving