Question 1

The stereotypical gold rush prospector panning for gold in a streambed is an example of exploiting ____________ deposits.
A)magmatic
B)placer
C)residual mineral
D)sedimentary

Accepted Answer

Panning for gold in a streambed is a classic example of placer mining, where minerals are separated from the sediment in a river or stream. Placer deposits are formed by the accumulation of minerals in riverbeds, beaches, and other sedimentary environments.

Question 2

What type of power uses flowing water to produce energy?
A) wind
B) geothermal
C)hydroelectric
D)nuclear

Accepted Answer

Hydroelectric power uses flowing water to produce energy. Wind power uses the wind, geothermal power uses heat from the earth, and nuclear power uses nuclear reactions to produce energy.

Question 3

Fission occurs when a neutron strikes a radioactive parent atom, causing it to split into smaller daughter atoms and in the process releasing
A) protons.
B) anions.
C)energy.
D)electrons.

Accepted Answer

Fission releases a large amount of energy in the form of heat and radiation. Therefore, the correct answer is energy.

Question 4

Solar energy uses sunlight to induce a flow of ____________ between two wafers in a photovoltaic cell.
A)water
B)oxygen
C)light
D)electrons

Accepted Answer

The flow of electrons between two wafers in a photovoltaic cell is what generates the electrical current. This occurs when sunlight strikes the silicon material in the cell, causing some of the electrons to break free from their atoms and travel across the cell to create an electric current. Therefore, the correct choice is option D, which mentions electrons.

Question 5

Which of the following is a nonmetal mineral formed by evaporation and used to make drywall?
A)sulfur
B)gypsum
C)zinc
D)marble

Accepted Answer

Gypsum is a nonmetal mineral that is commonly formed by the evaporation of saltwater. It is used extensively in the construction industry to make drywall, plaster, and other building materials. Sulfur, zinc, and marble are also minerals, but they are not commonly used in the production of drywall.

Question 6

The image below is of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station in Southern California, which was shut down in 2012 because of safety concerns. Which of the following alternative energy resources could be used in this environment to replace the energy generated by the nuclear power plant? 
A)geothermal
B)tidal
C)biomass
D)fuel cells

Accepted Answer

The answer of The image below is of the San...

Question 7

Nuclear fission produces a large yield of energy; however, this energy is not in the form of electricity. What form of energy is produced by fission?
A) mechanical
B) thermal
C)chemical
D)gravitational

Accepted Answer

Nuclear fission produces thermal energy in the form of heat. This heat can then be used to generate electricity through steam turbines.

Question 8

In what types of rocks are ore minerals found?
A)only in igneous rocks
B)only in igneous and sedimentary rocks
C)only in igneous and metamorphic rocks
D)in igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks

Accepted Answer

Ore minerals can be found in all three types of rocks: igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic. Igneous rocks form when magma cools and solidifies, and may contain ore minerals like gold, copper, and nickel. Sedimentary rocks form from the deposition and cementation of particles like sand, mud, and calcium carbonate, and may contain ore minerals like phosphate, coal, and iron. Metamorphic rocks form from the alteration of pre-existing rocks through heat, pressure, and chemical processes, and may contain ore minerals like tin, tungsten, and zinc.

Question 9

Which of the following occurs when a neutron strikes a radioactive parent atom?
A)fusion
B)fission
C)enrichment
D)atomic splicing

Accepted Answer

When a neutron strikes a radioactive parent atom, it may cause the nucleus to become unstable and split into two smaller nuclei, releasing energy and additional neutrons. This process is called fission.

Question 10

Blocks of rock used in construction are termed
A)dimension stone.
B)gemstone.
C)ore.
D)lodestone

Accepted Answer

Dimension stone refers to blocks of rock that are cut and shaped for use in construction. Gemstones are valuable minerals used for decoration, and not typically used in construction. Ore refers to minerals that contain valuable substances like metals, and are extracted for use in industry. Lodestone is a naturally magnetized rock that is not typically used in construction.

Question 11

Consult the figure below. In what kind of terrain would you expect to find a placer deposit? 
A)a dry lake bed
B)a mountain peak
C)the ocean floor
D)a streambed

Accepted Answer

Placer deposits are often found in streambeds where water has carried and deposited minerals and/or metals.

Question 12

In a nuclear reactor, failure of control rods may cause the system to become too hot and melt down because the control rods absorb ____________ and thus decrease the number of atoms undergoing ____________.
A)radiation; decay
B)radiation; fusion
C)neutrons; fission
D)neutrons; fusion

Accepted Answer

Control rods work by absorbing neutrons, which slows down or stops the chain reaction of nuclear fission in the reactor. If the control rods fail and are unable to absorb enough neutrons, the number of atoms undergoing fission will increase, causing the system to become too hot and potentially melt down. The other answer choices are not correct because they do not accurately describe the function of control rods in a nuclear reactor.

Question 13

Geothermal energy is used extensively in Iceland and New Zealand because both countries host multiple
A)rivers.
B)mountains.
C)volcanoes.
D)coastlines.

Accepted Answer

Geothermal energy is generated by heat stored beneath Earth's surface, which can be accessed through hot springs, geysers, and volcanoes. Iceland and New Zealand both have active geothermal fields due to their location on tectonic plate boundaries with multiple volcanoes, making them ideal locations for geothermal energy production. Rivers, mountains, and coastlines do not necessarily provide the necessary conditions for geothermal energy production.

Question 14

An array of panels situated in sunlight that can produce electricity are called
A)household solar collectors.
B)solar turbines.
C)photovoltaic cells.
D)sunlight collectors.

Accepted Answer

Photovoltaic cells, commonly known as solar cells, are the panels that can convert sunlight directly into electricity through the photovoltaic effect. Household solar collectors, sunlight collectors, or solar turbines are not widely accepted or commonly used terms to describe solar panels or photovoltaic cells.

Question 15

What type of energy would NOT be as useful in the Pacific Northwest as it would be in Texas?
A)wind
B)solar
C)nuclear
D)geothermal

Accepted Answer

The Pacific Northwest is known for its cloudy and rainy weather, making solar energy less effective compared to Texas, which has a sunnier climate.

Question 16

Which of the following is NOT a likely environmental issue associated with mining operations (both underground and on the surface)?
A) acid mine runoff
B) acid rain
C)earthquakes
D)large manmade topographic depressions (holes) on Earth's surface

Accepted Answer

Earthquakes are not typically associated with mining operations, unless the mining activity is happening in an area that is already prone to seismic activity. The other options are all common environmental issues associated with mining operations. Acid mine runoff occurs when water flows through the mine and picks up contaminants, creating acidic water that can impact water quality downstream. Acid rain can result from air pollution emissions from mining and other industrial activities. Large manmade topographic depressions (holes) can result from open-pit mining operations, which can permanently alter the landscape.

Question 17

The principal concern with storing nuclear waste is
A)allowing sufficient time for short-lived radioactive atoms to decay.
B)ensuring access to groundwater to keep the waste cool.
C)keeping spent fuel rods separated from other waste.
D)making biodegradable waste containers.

Accepted Answer

The principal concern with storing nuclear waste is allowing sufficient time for short-lived radioactive atoms to decay. This is because nuclear waste can remain hazardous to human health and the environment for hundreds of thousands of years. By allowing time for short-lived radioactive atoms to decay, the overall radioactivity of the waste decreases, making it safer to handle and transport.

Question 18

The industrial process that separates metals from ore material is known as
A)quarrying.
B)mountaintop removal mining.
C)smelting.
D)ore processing

Accepted Answer

The process of separating metals from ore material is known as smelting. Quarrying and mountaintop removal mining are processes of extracting minerals from the earth's surface or subsurface, while ore processing involves the treatment of extracted material to remove impurities and enhance the value of the mineral.

Question 19

U-235, the isotope of uranium commonly used in nuclear power plants, is
A)the most common of the naturally occurring isotopes of uranium.
B)heavier than the other well-known isotope of uranium.
C)rare even in uranium-rich deposits and must be enriched to use as fuel.
D)only found in quartz veins in granite plutons.

Accepted Answer

U-235 is a rare isotope and makes up only about 0.7% of naturally occurring uranium. In order to use U-235 as fuel in nuclear power plants, it must be enriched to increase its concentration.

Question 20

A mineral that consists of only metal atoms is known as a(n) ____________ metal.
A)native
B)ore
C)industrial
D)rare earth

Accepted Answer

A native metal is a mineral that consists of only one type of metal atom. Examples include gold, silver, and copper. Ores, on the other hand, are minerals that contain a mixture of metals along with other elements and must be mined and processed to extract the metal. Industrial metals refer to a group of metals that are commonly used in industry, such as iron, aluminum, and zinc. Rare earth metals are a group of metals that are used in various electronics and technology products, but they are not necessarily composed of only one type of metal atom.

Quiz 11: Riches in Rock: Energy and Mineral Resources

The stereotypical gold rush prospector panning for gold in a streambed is an example of exploiting ____________ deposits.

What type of power uses flowing water to produce energy?

Fission occurs when a neutron strikes a radioactive parent atom, causing it to split into smaller daughter atoms and in the process releasing

Solar energy uses sunlight to induce a flow of ____________ between two wafers in a photovoltaic cell.

Which of the following is a nonmetal mineral formed by evaporation and used to make drywall?

The image below is of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station in Southern California, which was shut down in 2012 because of safety concerns. Which of the following alternative energy resources could be used in this environment to replace the energy generated by the nuclear power plant?

Nuclear fission produces a large yield of energy; however, this energy is not in the form of electricity. What form of energy is produced by fission?

In what types of rocks are ore minerals found?

Which of the following occurs when a neutron strikes a radioactive parent atom?

Blocks of rock used in construction are termed

Consult the figure below. In what kind of terrain would you expect to find a placer deposit?

In a nuclear reactor, failure of control rods may cause the system to become too hot and melt down because the control rods absorb and thus decrease the number of atoms undergoing .

Geothermal energy is used extensively in Iceland and New Zealand because both countries host multiple

An array of panels situated in sunlight that can produce electricity are called

What type of energy would NOT be as useful in the Pacific Northwest as it would be in Texas?

Which of the following is NOT a likely environmental issue associated with mining operations (both underground and on the surface) ?

The principal concern with storing nuclear waste is

The industrial process that separates metals from ore material is known as

U-235, the isotope of uranium commonly used in nuclear power plants, is

A mineral that consists of only metal atoms is known as a(n) ____________ metal.