Geology test 4
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84 Terms
Weathering processes are primarily responsible for the concentration of what types of ore?
Show answer choices
copper
cadmium
aluminum
gold
aluminum
True/false
Environmental regulation has largely failed to reduce pollution from mining.
False
Hydrothermal mineral deposits would be most expected to form in what type of plate tectonic setting?
Show answer choices
continental rifts
intraplate earthquake zone
transform boundary
oceanic divergent boundary
transform boundary
What is the principal societal impact of mining operations?
Show answer choices
crime rates among poorly paid miners
effects of soil and water degradation on public health
death of workers in mining accidents
boom and bust cycles that impact local economies and social structure
boom and bust cycles that impact local economies and social structure
Placer deposits are expected in what type of rock?
Show answer choices
igneous
hydrothermal
metamorphic
sedimentary
sedimentary
True/false
Affluent nations tend to be totally reliant on domestic mineral sources.
False
Most water pollution associated with mining operations has to do with
Show answer choices
failure of waste ponds
hazardous chemical spills
water passing through mine wastes
improper disposal of incinerator ash
water passing through mine wastes
Because of the low levels of energy involved, weathering processes rarely produce valuable mineral concentrations.
False
What does the Fossil Trace Golf Course in Golden, Colorado, have to do with mineral resources?
Show answer choices
The fossils there contain concentrations of precious metals.
Mineral deposits in the rocks beneath the golf course were found to contain recoverable concentrations of zinc and iron, leading to conflict between mining and recreation.
Hazardous wastes from years of mining in the area were dumped there.
It was constructed in a reclaimed limestone-clay quarry.
It was constructed in a reclaimed limestone-clay quarry
If surface mines tend to cause greater environmental impacts, why are they used?
Show answer choices
Subsurface mines are more hazardous to miners.
Cyanide is not required to process ore from a surface mine.
Surface mines are more economical.
Surface mines require the excavation of less rock.
Surface mines are more economical
True/false
Because it is isolated from the land surface, groundwater is rarely contaminated by mining.
False
Air and water pollution are only of concern while a mine is operating.
True or false
False
If surface mines tend to cause greater environmental impacts, why are they used?
Show answer choices
Subsurface mines are more hazardous to miners.
Surface mines are more economical.
Surface mines require the excavation of less rock.
Cyanide is not required to process ore from a surface mine.
Surface mines are more economical
Because of the low levels of energy involved, weathering processes rarely produce valuable mineral concentrations
False
What is the principal societal impact of mining operations?
Show answer choices
crime rates among poorly paid miners
death of workers in mining accidents
effects of soil and water degradation on public health
boom and bust cycles that impact local economies and social structure
boom and bust cycles that impact local economies and social structure
Smelter emissions often cause what type of adverse environmental degradation?
Show answer choices
global warming
acid rain
asbestos deposition
acid mine drainage
acid rain
Kimberlite pipes are sources of what mineral?
Show answer choices
silver
gold
copper
diamond
diamond
Hydrothermal mineral deposits would be most expected to form in what type of plate tectonic setting?
Show answer choices
oceanic divergent boundary
intraplate earthquake zone
transform boundary
continental rifts
oceanic divergent boundary
What is the principal reason that iron and steel are recycled at such a high rate?
Show answer choices
Iron and steel are highly valuable on the precious metals market.
The market for steel is large and widespread.
Environmental regulations mandated iron and steel recycling starting in the 1950s.
All sources of iron ore have been more or less exhausted.
The market for steel is large and widespread
Because it is isolated from the land surface, groundwater is rarely contaminated by mining.
T
True
F
False
False
What phase of mining generally causes the least environmental degradation?
Show answer choices
extraction
exploration and testing
reclamation
processing
exploration and testing
A concentration of minerals that could now be legally mined at a profit is called a
Show answer choices
metal
resource
reserve
mineral deposit
reserve
Weathering processes are primarily responsible for the concentration of what types of ore?
Show answer choices
aluminum
gold
cadmium
copper
aluminum
If surface mines tend to cause greater environmental impacts, why are they used?
Show answer choices
Cyanide is not required to process ore from a surface mine.
Surface mines are more economical.
Surface mines require the excavation of less rock.
Subsurface mines are more hazardous to miners.
Surface mines are more economical.
Smelter emissions often cause what type of adverse environmental degradation?
Show answer choices
asbestos deposition
acid mine drainage
acid rain
global warming
acid rain
Nuclear fission is the process of
Show answer choices
bringing light atoms together to make heavier atoms
using solar energy to excite atomic nuclei
splitting of heavy atoms to make light atoms
producing nuclear fuel
splitting of heavy atoms to make light atoms
Wind power generation has grown rapidly in the past decade.
True/false
True
Given current trends, oil supplies are likely to be largely consumed by the end of the 21st century.
True or false
True
True or false
Nuclear power from splitting of U-235 is a renewable energy resource.
True
The ultimate source of geothermal energy is
Show answer choices
hydroelectric
the sun
deeply buried biomass
heat generated in the Earth's interior
heat generated in the Earth’s interior
Between the mid-1970s and the mid-1990s, energy consumption in the United States
Show answer choices
increased at a higher rate than previously
increased, but at a slower rate
decreased
remained the same
increased, but at a slower rate
Which of the following geologic situations is most likely to contain significant oil concentrations?
Show answer choices
150-million-year-old rocks that are flat lying and unfaulted
1.1-billion-year-old rocks that accumulated in the vicinity of a divergent plate boundary
200-million-year-old rocks that have been exposed by uplift in a subduction zone
300-million-year-old rocks that accumulated in a subsiding sedimentary basin
300-million-year-old rocks that accumulated in a subsiding sedimentary basin
The future use of photovoltaics and solar panels is likely to
Show answer choices
increase, because they can be adapted to meet a variety of needs
increase, because the energy is less expensive than that generated by fossil fuels
decrease, because they require large, centralized generating facilities
decrease, because they have proven to be inefficient
Question 2
increase, because they can be adapted to meet a variety of needs
Yucca Mountain, Nevada, is a potentially viable site for nuclear waste disposal because
Show answer choices
the area is been geologically stable for more than 100 million years
the salt deposits there will flow slowly into mine openings, sealing off the waste
it features a strong rock in a dry climate
it is an uncontroversial site
it features a strong rock in a dry climate
Most of the largest oil and gas fields are located in continental interiors, far from plate boundaries.
True or false
False
Wind power generation has grown rapidly in the past decade.
True or false
True
The ultimate source of the energy in fossil fuels is
Show answer choices
biomass
the Earth's internal heat
the sun
the energy of the plants and animals from which the fuel is formed
the sun
At the time of "peak oil," gas prices are likely to peak.
True or false
False
Water power development is "clean" and has no environmental impacts.
True or false
False
Which of the following geologic features is generally required for an oil or gas deposit to form?
Show answer choices
reservoir rock
source rock
volcanic rock
cap rock
reservoir rock
source rock
cap rock
Most coal has the same sulfur content, but varies widely in heat content.
False
Most of the largest oil and gas fields are located in continental interiors, far from plate boundaries.
True or false
False
Why is coal usage likely to increase in the future?
Show answer choices
Mining and processing of coal create minimal environmental impact.
Coal is an abundant resource in relation to oil and gas.
Coal is a relatively clean energy resource in terms of air pollution.
Coal is generally considered a renewable resource.
Coal is an abundant resource in relation to oil and gas
Why does acid rain result from fossil fuel consumption?
Show answer choices
Fossil fuel burning releases nitrogen and sulfur oxides.
Particulates emitted from fossil fuel burning settle in lakes and acidifies them.
Fossil fuel burning releases stored organic carbon.
Fossil fuels heat the atmosphere, making rain more acidic.
Fossil fuel burning releases nitrogen and sulfur oxides
Why does acid rain result from fossil fuel consumption?
Show answer choices
Fossil fuels heat the atmosphere, making rain more acidic.
Fossil fuel burning releases stored organic carbon.
Particulates emitted from fossil fuel burning settle in lakes and acidifies them.
Fossil fuel burning releases nitrogen and sulfur oxides.
Fossil fuel burning releases nitrogen and sulfur oxides
The main difference between hard path and soft path energy policy is
Show answer choices
their contrasting economic viability
the reliance on fossil fuels and centralized power generation
their contrasting reliance on known energy sources
their contrasting reliance on government subsidies
the reliance on fossil fuels and centralized power generation
Methane hydrates may be a viable future energy source because
Show answer choices
they are abundant and clean burning
they have the same chemical composition as natural gas
they are easily obtained from their deposits
they are not fossil fuels and therefore will not contribute to the greenhouse effect
they are abundant and clean burning
they have the same chemical composition as natural gas
The temperature of the Earth depends on which of the following factors?
Show answer choices
the amount of heat retention by the atmosphere
the amount of solar energy reflected and absorbed
the climate
the amount of sunlight received
the amount of heat rentention by the atmosphere
the amount of solar energy reflected and absorbed
the amount of sunlight received
Non-anthropogenic climate change forcing variables include:
Show answer choices
ocean circulation
sea level rise
volcanic activity
changes in energy from the sun
plate tectonics
ocean circulation
volcanic activity
changes in energy from the sun
plate tectonics
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) have the capacity to influence both the greenhouse effect and ozone depletion.
True or false
True
Climate is the long-term average of weather conditions over some area.
True or false
True
Milankovitch cycles are the changes in the amount of solar energy the earth receives due to changes in Earth's orbit, the tilt of Earth's axis, and the wobble in Earth's rotation.
true or false
True
What is an interglacial?
Show answer choices
a cold period when glacial ice volume is relatively high
a warm period when glacial ice volume is relatively low
the zone of a glacier in which flow occurs
an area between glaciers
a warm period when glacial ice volume is relatively low
A continental ice sheet once covered most of Canada.
True or false
True
The ocean conveyor belt is responsible for
Show answer choices
keeping the North Atlantic region cool enough to form sea ice
changing world climate on 100,000-year time scales
the major adverse aspects of the Greenhouse Effect
keeping northern Europe relatively warm
keeping northern Europe relatively warm
In what way can human practices contribute to desertification?
Show answer choices
growth of too much crop cover
overgrazing by livestock
irrigation with rainwater
growth of trees
overgrazing by livestock
Why was Erik the Red able to explore Greenland in the 10th century AD?
He managed to sail the North Atlantic during a two-year period of minimal storms.
His explorations took place during a particularly warm climatic period.
Sea temperatures were cooler, so there was less propensity for storms.
There was no glacial ice in Greenland at the time.
His explorations took place during a particularly warm climatic period
The greenhouse effect has affected Earth's global climate for most of Earth's history.
True
he following are considered to be greenhouse gases
Show answer choices
water vapor
methane
carbon dioxide
oxygen
nitrous oxide
nitrogen
water vapor
methane
carbon dioxide
nitrous oxide
Deserts typically are completely devoid of vegetation and are covered with sand dunes.
False
Loess is deposited by
sand dunes
glacial outwash
wind erosion
dust storms
dust storms
What effect does a large composite volcano eruption typically have on the atmosphere?
cooling for one or two years
increases in CFCs
cooling for several decades
warming for several years
cooling for one or two years
What is the main engineering problem associated with permafrost?
difficulty in growing vegetation to control soil erosion
melting of permafrost produces subsidence
difficulty in setting building foundations in frozen ground
cold temperatures make construction materials more brittle
difficulty in setting building foundations in frozen ground
Proxy data is used to determine paleoclimates, including
tree rings
glacial ice cores
sea-surface air temperature
corals
fossil pollen
tree rings
corals
glacial ice cores
fossil pollen
Ice core data from Antarctica show that greenhouse gas concentrations have been higher during glaciations and lower during interglaciations. True or false
False
Carbon dioxide is the dominant gas, by volume, in the atmosphere.
False
Radon typically is elevated in certain regions because of certain types of
waste disposal
rainfall
bedrock
industrial air pollution
bedrock
What was the main cause of environmental problems at Love Canal?
poor housing construction techniques
detrimental attitudes amongst residents regarding hazardous wastes
careless disposal of hazardous wastes
improper cleanup techniques
careless disposal of hazardous wastes
Which of the following is the most abundant gas emitted from landfills?
oxygen
carbon monoxide
carbon dioxide
methane
methane
What adverse effect is common to nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide?
direct damage to plant tissues
damage to substances such as rubber, paint, and textiles
production of acid rain
lung irritation
production of acid rain
The Roman Empire is thought to have fallen in part because of poisoning by
selenium
carbon monoxide
lead
cadmium
lead
The biggest fundamental challenge to attaining sustainability in the future will be
overpopulation
increases in the incidence of natural hazards
fossil fuel emissions
new ideas for environmental protection
overpopulation
The source of radon gas in the home is typically
waste from uranium mining operations in the region
decay of airborne uranium
uranium-bearing rocks and soil underlying the house
radioactive components of electronics equipment
uranium-bearing rocks and soil underlying the house
Paper products are the most abundant solid waste. True or false
True
Why are particulates in the air considered such a significant health hazard?
They are emitted largely by natural sources.
Small amounts can be acutely toxic to humans and livestock.
They can cause respiratory problems.
They are concentrated in rural areas.
they can cause respiratory problems
The National Environmental Policy Act mandates what type of process before the development of an area?
multiple land use
land-use planning
environmental impact statements
environmental litigation
environmental impact statements
What is leachate?
a mineralized liquid generated by rainwater flowing through landfills
methane gas that leaks from sanitary landfills
hazardous waste left over from biochemical degradation of chemical wastes
an ash by-product of waste incineration
a mineralized liquid generated by rainwater flowing through landfills
Secondary pollutants are created by
secondary industrial processes
reaction of primary pollutants in the atmosphere
reaction of ozone with ultraviolet light
mobile sources, such as automobiles
reaction of primary pollutants in the atmosphere
Why is the atmosphere such a convenient medium for disposal of wastes?
The atmosphere is largely unused by humans, so is a good medium in which to dispose of wastes.
The atmosphere is very dynamic, so it readily dilutes and transports wastes from their sources.
Reactions in the atmosphere readily break down most pollutants.
The atmosphere adapts to increased pollution emissions, so has been able to keep pace with industrialization and urbanization.
the atmosphere is very dynamic, so it readily dilutes and transports wastes from their sources
Indoor air pollution at home or the workplace can be caused by
radon gas emitted by relatively shallow uranium-bearing soils or bedrock and/or granite countertops
cleaning chemicals
upholstery and carpets treated with fire retardant chemicals
carbon monoxide
all of the above contribute to indoor air pollution
all of the above contribute to indoor air pollution
Deep-well disposal of hazardous wastes can result in
Show answer choices
earthquakes
landslides
contamination of surface waters
collapse of groundwater aquifer structures
landslides
"Superfund" sites are those that
have been abandoned by previous owners
contain contamination with organic wastes
have been cleaned up efficiently
have clear ownership and responsibility for contamination
have been abandoned by previous owners
What is the most important consideration in site selection for a sanitary landfill?
proximity to urban areas
geological and climatic conditions that will promote dilution of wastes by abundant water flow
geological and climatic conditions that will limit water flow through the landfill
the socioeconomic makeup of the surrounding population
geologicaland climatic conditions that will limit water flow through the landfill