GEO100-1P 1st Term SY 2020-2021

Module 1 Final Exam

1. Complete the table for sedimentary rocks (16 pts)

Rock type Constituents Grain size Environment of formation (1

example for each rock type)
Fossiliferous Aragonite Fine grained Fossils from marine organisms from
Limestone marine water
Quartz arenite 90% Dentrital Fine grained Beaches or Shores
Quartz with
small amount of
feldspar, lithic
fragments and
matrix
Shale Quartz and Fine grained Compression of silt and clay found in
Feldspar lakes or lagoons
Conglomerate Silica, Calcite or Coarse grained > Lakes or oceans
Iron oxide 2mm

2. Complete the table for igneous rocks (9 pts)

Rock type Minerals Grain size (fine or Environment of

course grained) formation (intrusive
or extrusive)
Granite Plagioclase, Coarse grained Intrusive
orthoclase, mica or
quartz
Basalt Calcic Plagioclase Fine grained Extrusive
Feldspar and
Pyroxene
Andesite Plagioclase Feldspar, Fine grained Extrusive
Amphibole and
Pyroxene
3. Complete the table for metamorphic rocks (9 pts)

Rock type Texture (foliated or Possible protolith Main metamorphic

non-foliated) agent
Skarn Non-foliated Granite, Shale, Basalt Temperature
and Conglomerate
Phyllite Foliated Shale or Pelite Heat and pressure
Marble Non-foliated Limestone or Heat and pressure
Dolomite

4. Name and describe 2 rock types found in the mantle. (2 pts)

Peridotite can be found in the upper mantle typically a green colored coarse-grained
rock that consist olivine of and pyroxene.
Kimberlite is formed deep within the mantle typically a black colored coarse-grained
rock that consists of Garnet, chromite, ilmenite, chromium diopside, and olivine.

5. List layers and discontinuities within the earth. Give as much layers as you can for higher
points (10 pts)
 Crust
 Mohorovicic Discontinuity
 Rigid upper mantle
 Low Velocity Zone
 410 km Discontinuity
 660 km Discontinuity
 Repetti Discontinuity
 Lower Mantle
 D’’ Layer
 Outer Core
 Guttenberg Discontinuity
 Lehmann Discontinuity
 Inner Core

6. Give the 2 premises of the Plate Tectonics Theory (3 pts)

The lithosphere is divided into plates that move slowly and change its size then it also behaves
as a strong and rigid substance. Plate tectonics theory is associated with two pre-existing theories which
are the continental drift and seafloor spreading.
7. Draw and describe the sense of movement for the 3 types of plate boundary (6 pts)

Divergent boundary is the movement of two plates moving apart from each other. The space
created will fill new crust from molten magma. Convergent Boundary is where two plates collide
towards each other then subduction zones happen when one or both plates are composed of oceanic
crust. Oceanic crust will always subduct since it the the denser plate. Transform fault boundary is
where plates slide past each other wherein the motion of the plates is horizontal.

8. Draw and describe the sense of movement for normal fault, reverse fault, left-lateral strike
slip fault, and right-lateral strike slip fault. (6 pts)
 Normal Fault is usually fractures in which the rock mass above the inclined fault moves
downward. Reverse Fault is basically the reverse of the normal fault, where in usually are fractures in
which the rock mass above the inclined fault moves upward. A left-lateral strike-slip fault is one on
which the displacement of the far block is to the left when viewed from either side while right-lateral
strike-slip fault is one on which the displacement of the far block is to the right when viewed from either
side.

9. Describe the 3 ways in which the mantle can melt in the context of plate tectonics theory. (3
pts)
The first one is raising the temperature, in which this method is the least common way.
Secondly is Lowering the pressure, this is the most common way to melt mantle material. If the region of
solid mantle is moving closer to the surface in an isothermal fashion, then the pressure becomes lower
therefore promoting melting by reducing the confining inter-molecular pressure. Lastly is the change of
chemical composition which is the addition of different chemicals outside the magnetic system.

10. Describe the occurrence of volcanoes and earthquakes in the context of plate tectonics
theory (6 pts)
The Surface of the Earth consists of tectonic plates. These plates are not connected and can
move and many times collide or slide against other plates. This is a main component of earth quakes.
Others reasons of earth quakes are faults in the tectonic plates. Volcanoes typically occur in hotspots
where the connection of the highly viscous liquid mantle produces convection cells or where one plate is
meeting another plate and gets pushed under the plate where it liquifies. Volcanic eruptions take place
due to the upward movements of the magma confining under the crust. It mainly occurs when a much
denser oceanic plate subducts under a less dense continental plate in the plate boundary. The
subducted plate melts and the melted materials make an upward movement toward the surface
through the cracks in continental plate that formed due to collision.