ESSENTIALS OF GEOLOGY MARSHAK
SEVENTH EDITION PRACTICE SOLUTIONS
ALL CHAPTERS 2026 QUESTIONS ANSWERS
GRADED A+
⩥Fault scarp.
Answer: A cliff created by movement along a fault. It represents the
exposed surface of the fault prior to modification by weathering and
erosion
⩥Fault-block mountain.
Answer: A mountain that is formed by the displacement of rock along a
fault.
⩥Fetch.
Answer: The distance that the wind has traveled across the open water
⩥Fiord.
Answer: A steep-sided inlet of the sea formed when a glacial trough was
partially submerged.
⩥Firn.
,Answer: Granular, recrystallized snow. A transitional stage between
snow and glacial ice
⩥Fossil fuel.
Answer: General term for any hydrocarbon that may be used as a fuel,
including coal, oil, natural gas, bitumen from tar sands, and shale oil.
⩥Fracture zone.
Answer: A linear zone of irregular topography on the deep-ocean floor
that follows transform faults and their inactive extensions.
⩥Frost wedging.
Answer: The mechanical breakup of rock caused by the expansion of
freezing water in cracks and crevices.
⩥Fumarole.
Answer: A vent in a volcanic area from which fumes or gases escape.
⩥Gaining stream.
Answer: Streams that gain water from the inflow of groundwater
through the streambed.
⩥Geothermal energy.
, Answer: Natural steam used for power generation
⩥Glacial budget.
Answer: The balance, or lack of balance, between ice formation at the
upper end of a glacier and ice loss in the zone of wastage.
⩥Glacial erratic.
Answer: An ice-transported boulder that was not derived from the
bedrock near its present site.
⩥Gondwana.
Answer: The southern portion of Pangaea consisting of South America,
Africa, Australia, India, and Antarctica
⩥Gradient.
Answer: The slope of a stream, generally expressed as the vertical drop
over a fixed distance
⩥Gravitational collapse.
Answer: The gradual subsidence of mountains caused by lateral
spreading of weak material located deep within these structures.
⩥Great Oxygenation Event.
SEVENTH EDITION PRACTICE SOLUTIONS
ALL CHAPTERS 2026 QUESTIONS ANSWERS
GRADED A+
⩥Fault scarp.
Answer: A cliff created by movement along a fault. It represents the
exposed surface of the fault prior to modification by weathering and
erosion
⩥Fault-block mountain.
Answer: A mountain that is formed by the displacement of rock along a
fault.
⩥Fetch.
Answer: The distance that the wind has traveled across the open water
⩥Fiord.
Answer: A steep-sided inlet of the sea formed when a glacial trough was
partially submerged.
⩥Firn.
,Answer: Granular, recrystallized snow. A transitional stage between
snow and glacial ice
⩥Fossil fuel.
Answer: General term for any hydrocarbon that may be used as a fuel,
including coal, oil, natural gas, bitumen from tar sands, and shale oil.
⩥Fracture zone.
Answer: A linear zone of irregular topography on the deep-ocean floor
that follows transform faults and their inactive extensions.
⩥Frost wedging.
Answer: The mechanical breakup of rock caused by the expansion of
freezing water in cracks and crevices.
⩥Fumarole.
Answer: A vent in a volcanic area from which fumes or gases escape.
⩥Gaining stream.
Answer: Streams that gain water from the inflow of groundwater
through the streambed.
⩥Geothermal energy.
, Answer: Natural steam used for power generation
⩥Glacial budget.
Answer: The balance, or lack of balance, between ice formation at the
upper end of a glacier and ice loss in the zone of wastage.
⩥Glacial erratic.
Answer: An ice-transported boulder that was not derived from the
bedrock near its present site.
⩥Gondwana.
Answer: The southern portion of Pangaea consisting of South America,
Africa, Australia, India, and Antarctica
⩥Gradient.
Answer: The slope of a stream, generally expressed as the vertical drop
over a fixed distance
⩥Gravitational collapse.
Answer: The gradual subsidence of mountains caused by lateral
spreading of weak material located deep within these structures.
⩥Great Oxygenation Event.
