Earth Science Quiz
Question 1
Which rock type represents the highest grade of metamorphism?
Gneiss
| Slate |
| Phyllite |
| Schist |
Question 2
- Which the following are the positively charged particles in an atom’s nucleus?
| Protons |
| Neutrons |
| Ions |
| Electrons |
Question 3
Imagine you are handed a mineral sample. It breaks with a conchoidal fracture, but displays no cleavage. It does not react with hydrochloric acid, is a light pink color, and has a nonmetallic luster. It is harder than a streak plate, and has a specific gravity of 2.65. What mineral is it?
Quartz
| Olivine |
| Potassium feldspar |
| Calcite |
Question 4
To transform an igneous rock into a sedimentary rock, which of the following processes must take place?
Impact by a meteorite
| Melting and re-cooling, followed by crystallization |
| Chemical reactions under conditions of elevated temperature or pressure |
| Weathering, transport, deposition, and lithification |
Question 5
Which common mineral is composed entirely of silicon and oxygen?
Quartz
| Calcite |
| Diamond |
| Olivine |
Earth Science Quiz-Question 6
Match the texture of the igneous rock with the process that formed it.
Fine-grained
Vesicular
Coarse-grained
Porphytic texture
Glassy texture
Magma that cooled rapidly at the surface or upper crust
Magma cooled in two separate environments, first slowly, then more quickly
Magma cooled slowly at the surface or upper crust
Magma cooled slowly, beneath the surface
Magma cooled rapidly, contained tiny gas bubbles
Magma of high silica content was ejected into the atmosphere, cooling immediately
Question 7
Match the items in the first column with the correct descriptions in the second column
Ice
Dinner plate
Quartz
Glass
Halite
Coal
A mineral made of oxidized hydrogen
An item that is solid like a mineral, has definite chemical composition, and shows distinctive physical properties, but is not naturally occurring
Silicate mineral consisting solely of silicon and oxygen, with silicon-oxygen tetrahedra bonded in a complex three-dimensional network
An item that is solid like a mineral, has definite chemical composition, and shows distinctive physical properties, but does not have an orderly crystalline structure
A mineral consisting of a poisonous gas ionically bonded to an extremely reactive metal
A rock composed of nonmineral matter
Earth Science Quiz-Question 8
Place the following igneous rocks in order of cooling (high temperature to low temperature).
Potassium feldspar
Olivine
Pyroxene
Amphibole
Biotite mica
Question 9
Place the following elements in order according to the number of valence electrons (low to high).
Neon
Aluminum
Chlorine
Oxygen
Calcium
Sodium
Phosphorus
Carbon
Question 10
List the eight most abundant elements in the continental crust.
Question 11
List and describe the different characteristics of sedimentary rocks and discuss the processes that change sediment into sedimentary rock.
Question 12
How is a scientific hypothesis different from a scientific theory? How does a scientific theory differ from a regular theory (i.e., a non-scientific theory in the way the term is used by lay people)?
Question 13
Explain, with examples, how a change in each sphere will affect each of the other three spheres.
Your response should be at least 200 words in length.
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