Geology Quiz

Sedimentary rocks found high in the Himalayan Mountains have been found with fossils of clams and other marine life. Infer what this indicates about the origin of the Himalayan Mountains?

• There was once a large forest at top of the mountains.

• Animals that now live on the mountains once lived under water.

• The Earth's crust that formed these mountains was once covered with an ocean.

• Continental drift resulted two tectonic plates moving closer to each other over time.

Scientists have studied the fossilized shells of prehistoric, single-celled marine organisms. Some of these shells were thin, which indicates that the organisms lived in very warm ocean water. Based on this evidence, what can you conclude about the climate during this time?

• It was a polar climate.

• The climate was dry.

• The climate was tropical.

• The climate was the same as it is today.

Fish fossils have been found in some places where there is no water. Sometimes, they are found on tops of mountains. What is the BEST explanation for why the fish fossils were found in these places with no water?

• Fish used to live on land.

• These places were once underwater.

• The fossils caused the water to dry up.

• These places had fish that climbed the mountains.

Which of these BEST describes the concept of the rock cycle?

• sedimentary rocks may be remelted several times

• rocks move in circles on the earth as the earth rotates

• rocks can be moved from place to place on the earth without changing

• rocks are continually changing, and any type of rock may be transformed into another type by appropriate processes

Describe how a metamorphic rock might become a sedimentary rock over time.

• Metamorphic rock melts, cools, and undergoes recrystallization.

• Metamorphic rock is intruded by igneous rock and it melts, cools, and becomes solid again.

• Metamorphic rock undergoes weathering, erosion; the particles are deposited and undergo lithification.

• Metamorphic rock is buried deep in the Earth. It undergoes recrystallization and is then uplifted to the surface.

Brice is a stone mason and works with many different types of rocks. He notices that two of the rocks he is working with have very different looks, and he suspects that they are two different rock types. Which statements below correctly describe how energy played a role in producing the different variety of rocks he is working with? (Select TWO)

• Energy from the Sun interacts with rocks on different continents in different manners, producing different rock types across the continents.

• Energy from within the Earth melts rock, which can erupt in a volcanic explosion.

• Energy from the Sun can lead to weathering, which can change the rock on the Earth's surface.

• Energy from within the Earth causes the sedimentary rock to form layers.

• Energy from within the Earth only forms metamorphic rock, and other rock types are formed at the surface.

Energy and matter changes play a role in the formation of different rock types. Match the rock type with the correct process of the rock cycle.

• Metamorphic

• Intense heat and pressure change the rock type.

• Sedimentary

• Weathering and layering of rock occurs.

• Igneous

• Melting of rock occurs below the surface of the Earth.

An igneous rock found in Europe at the base of a volcano and a sedimentary rock found in a national park in the United States both have a gray color. Use the drop-down menu below to create an accurate statement describing these rocks. These rocks are ​​ (a)   because they ​ (b)   .​

• different types of rocks
• were formed in different ways
• same type of rock
• were formed in the same way

Volcanoes and earthquakes tend to occur near ​ (a)   , which can show the ​ (b)   across the Earth.

• the edges of continents
• shape of the tectonic plates
• the deepest part of the ocean
• the equator
• the interior of continents
• depth of the ocean

Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains were once among the tallest in the world, similar in altitude to the Himalayas of today. This would still be the case if not for the process of _________.

• weathering.

• lithification.

• cementation.

• metamorphism.