Fundamentals of Geology Exam Prep –
Practice Questions & Study Guide | Latest
Update 2026 | Graded A+
When water contacts pyrite at the earth's surface, the runoff is commonly: - correct
answerAcidic
In an eolian sand aquifer, hydraulic conductivity would be expected to generally: -
correct answerBe uniform
Which of the following pairs likely would be composed of sediments with DIFFERENT
grain size and sorting characteristics? - correct answerOutwash plain - end moraine
It has been determined that a prospective strippable reserve contains 1000 acres (1
acre = 43,560 sq. ft.) of lignite in beds averaging 20 feet in thickness. Assume specific
gravity of 1.28 (80 lbs/ft3). What is the reserve in tons? - correct answer34,848,000
The scale for describing the effects or damage caused by an earthquake at a given
geographic location is called the: - correct answerModified Mercalli scale
Which statement best describes the effect of diagenesis on the overall quality of an
oil/gas reservoir? - correct answerDiagenesis may enhance or diminish reservoir quality
The rate of production from a subsurface reservoir is most directly related to: - correct
answerPermeability
What is the best radiometric dating technique to determine the age difference between
two Miocene-age volcanic ash deposits separated by 500 feet vertically? - correct
answerPotassium-Argon
What geophysical method would generally be most effective to map deeply buried
(1500' deep) bedrock pediments? - correct answerSeismic reflection
A groundwater model is considered calibrated when: - correct answerHydraulic heads
and fluxes reproduce the system modeled within an acceptable
tolerance
A rock described as argillaceous: - correct answerIs clay-rich
The creation of new oceanic crust is balanced by: - correct answerAn equal amount of
old ocean crust being subducted
, When collecting duplicate samples to validate the quality of the laboratory results, the
geologist should always: - correct answerBe sure that the duplicates cannot be
identified by the lab
A stream crosses a strike-slip fault with no deviation in its course. Which of the following
statements must be true? - correct answerThe stream crossed the fault since the last
fault movement
The horizontal scale of a cross-section is 1:24,000; the vertical scale is 1 inch equals
1000 feet. The vertical exaggeration is: - correct answer2x
A topographic map shows several circular depressions in a limestone region. What are
these features called? - correct answerDolines
A cross-stratified sand lens that contains thin streaks of mud in the ripple troughs is
called: - correct answerFlaser bedding
In which of the following areas are the largest volumes of andesite lava commonly
extruded? - correct answerWhere oceanic lithosphere is subducting beneath continental
crust
Which of the following safety factor (SF) values for slope stability shows that a slope is
considered stable: - correct answerGreater than one (1)
The effects of solution during diagenesis can be seen in: - correct answerStylolites
Limestones containing appreciable amounts of clay are represented graphically on a
lithologic log by: - correct answerModifying the limestone symbol by adding a short dash
within each box
You find that in developing a GIS product with several layers of information, there is an
apparent conflict between the USGS topographic map completed in 1975 data layer and
recently acquired geologic data layer information with GPS locational control, the
problem is likely to be: - correct answerFailure to make adjustments relative to the 1983
North American Datum (NAD)
An esker is a: - correct answerSinuous ridge subparallel to glacial flow composed
predominantly of sand and gravel
Biostratigraphic zones are employed to establish: - correct answerAge equivalence
within sedimentary sequences
What Liquid Limit (LL) and Plasticity Index (PI) values would be associated with a soil
classified CH? - correct answerLL = 63 and PI = 38
Lithostratigraphic sequences can be used to interpret: - correct answerGeologic history
Practice Questions & Study Guide | Latest
Update 2026 | Graded A+
When water contacts pyrite at the earth's surface, the runoff is commonly: - correct
answerAcidic
In an eolian sand aquifer, hydraulic conductivity would be expected to generally: -
correct answerBe uniform
Which of the following pairs likely would be composed of sediments with DIFFERENT
grain size and sorting characteristics? - correct answerOutwash plain - end moraine
It has been determined that a prospective strippable reserve contains 1000 acres (1
acre = 43,560 sq. ft.) of lignite in beds averaging 20 feet in thickness. Assume specific
gravity of 1.28 (80 lbs/ft3). What is the reserve in tons? - correct answer34,848,000
The scale for describing the effects or damage caused by an earthquake at a given
geographic location is called the: - correct answerModified Mercalli scale
Which statement best describes the effect of diagenesis on the overall quality of an
oil/gas reservoir? - correct answerDiagenesis may enhance or diminish reservoir quality
The rate of production from a subsurface reservoir is most directly related to: - correct
answerPermeability
What is the best radiometric dating technique to determine the age difference between
two Miocene-age volcanic ash deposits separated by 500 feet vertically? - correct
answerPotassium-Argon
What geophysical method would generally be most effective to map deeply buried
(1500' deep) bedrock pediments? - correct answerSeismic reflection
A groundwater model is considered calibrated when: - correct answerHydraulic heads
and fluxes reproduce the system modeled within an acceptable
tolerance
A rock described as argillaceous: - correct answerIs clay-rich
The creation of new oceanic crust is balanced by: - correct answerAn equal amount of
old ocean crust being subducted
, When collecting duplicate samples to validate the quality of the laboratory results, the
geologist should always: - correct answerBe sure that the duplicates cannot be
identified by the lab
A stream crosses a strike-slip fault with no deviation in its course. Which of the following
statements must be true? - correct answerThe stream crossed the fault since the last
fault movement
The horizontal scale of a cross-section is 1:24,000; the vertical scale is 1 inch equals
1000 feet. The vertical exaggeration is: - correct answer2x
A topographic map shows several circular depressions in a limestone region. What are
these features called? - correct answerDolines
A cross-stratified sand lens that contains thin streaks of mud in the ripple troughs is
called: - correct answerFlaser bedding
In which of the following areas are the largest volumes of andesite lava commonly
extruded? - correct answerWhere oceanic lithosphere is subducting beneath continental
crust
Which of the following safety factor (SF) values for slope stability shows that a slope is
considered stable: - correct answerGreater than one (1)
The effects of solution during diagenesis can be seen in: - correct answerStylolites
Limestones containing appreciable amounts of clay are represented graphically on a
lithologic log by: - correct answerModifying the limestone symbol by adding a short dash
within each box
You find that in developing a GIS product with several layers of information, there is an
apparent conflict between the USGS topographic map completed in 1975 data layer and
recently acquired geologic data layer information with GPS locational control, the
problem is likely to be: - correct answerFailure to make adjustments relative to the 1983
North American Datum (NAD)
An esker is a: - correct answerSinuous ridge subparallel to glacial flow composed
predominantly of sand and gravel
Biostratigraphic zones are employed to establish: - correct answerAge equivalence
within sedimentary sequences
What Liquid Limit (LL) and Plasticity Index (PI) values would be associated with a soil
classified CH? - correct answerLL = 63 and PI = 38
Lithostratigraphic sequences can be used to interpret: - correct answerGeologic history
