GEOLOGY 10 FINAL EXAM 2026 STUDY GUIDE
COMPLETE EARTH SCIENCE CONCEPTS AND
PRACTICE QUESTIONS
◉ Physical weathering includes all of the following except: Answer:
dissolution of limestone by acidic rainwater.
◉ Chemical Weathering Answer: decomposition of rocks and
minerals into new forms by dissolution: breakdown of water soluble
minerals into ions, oxidation: loss of electrons to oxygen (iron to
rust), or hydration: reaction w/water (New compounds)
◉ 3 types of sediments Answer: 1.) Clastic: solid, weathers minerals,
loose fragments of rock debris produced by physical
weathering(sand, gravel, clay (Classified by grain size)
2.) Chemical sediment: water soluble ion products of chemical
weathering (Salt, calcium carbonate) (Classified by Composition)
3.) Biogenic sediment: consists of dead remains of plants and
animals (coal,coral, shells, peat) (Classified by composition)
◉ In a clastic sedimentary rock, looking at ______ tells you about
conditions of transportation and deposition, while looking at _______
tells you about their source. Answer: particle size and shape, particle
composition
,◉ How does sediment turn to rock? Answer: 1.) Deposition: occurs
when the transporting agent is no longer capable of moving the
sediment (ice, water, wind=clastic, or by
preciptation=evaporation,change in temp, change in salinity,
biological processes(organisms)
2.) Lithification: transformation of loose sediment to sedimentary
rock by compaction: pressure, cementation: dissolved material
deposited between grains as water moves around, diagenesis:
changes taking place after deposited: texture=recrystalization to be
more stable and composition=chemical alterations=orgnaic material
to CO2 and H2O
◉ Sedimentary Structures Answer: 1.)Stratification: arranges of
sedimentary particles in layers called strata as it
accumulates(bedding)
2.)Cross-bedding:layering w/in bed at angle to bedding
surface=ripplies, dunes that indicate current or wind direction
3.)Graded bedding: particels sorted more or less according to size,
Coarser at bottom, finer at top
4.)Fossils: plant or animal remains preserved in sediment.
◉ Describe the identification and naming of the different types of
sedimentary rocks. Answer: Classification of sedimentary rocks is
based on three types of sediment. Clastic sedimentary rocks that are
produced by sediments that have been physical weathered such as
, sand, gravel, and clay are classified by their particle size these
include shale, siltstone, sandstone, and conglomerate. The other
types are chemical or biogenic sedimentary rocks that are produced
by sediment that have been chemically weathered/consists of the
dead remains of plants and animals. They are classified by their
composition. These include limestone (calcite), chert (silica),
evaporite (halite) and coal
◉ Sedimentary Rocks Answer: 1.) Conglomerate: very coarse, gravel
& larger(breccia)= alluvial fans, subsiding basins, braided rivers,
submarine canyons, fans.
2.) Sandstone:Coarse, sand-sized particles easy to see with naked
eye(Quartz)=large cross bedding made by dunes, deserts, beaches,
river channels, alluvial fans, moraine dam lakes and deltas, tidal
flats, submarine canyons, & fans
3.) Siltstone: fine, silt-size particles barely visible by naked
eye(quartz and clay)=lakes, floodplains, tidal mudflats in bays and
estuaries
4.) Shale: very fine, clay size particles too small to see with naked
eye=deepwater off shore low energy environments=deltas,
submarine canyons
5.)Evaporite:salts, halite (NaCl) or gypsum (CaSO4)= playas=lakes
that evaporite seasonally
6.) Limestone:calcite (CaCO3)=biochemical sediment = reefs,
lagoons in shallow tropical seas(fossil rich)
COMPLETE EARTH SCIENCE CONCEPTS AND
PRACTICE QUESTIONS
◉ Physical weathering includes all of the following except: Answer:
dissolution of limestone by acidic rainwater.
◉ Chemical Weathering Answer: decomposition of rocks and
minerals into new forms by dissolution: breakdown of water soluble
minerals into ions, oxidation: loss of electrons to oxygen (iron to
rust), or hydration: reaction w/water (New compounds)
◉ 3 types of sediments Answer: 1.) Clastic: solid, weathers minerals,
loose fragments of rock debris produced by physical
weathering(sand, gravel, clay (Classified by grain size)
2.) Chemical sediment: water soluble ion products of chemical
weathering (Salt, calcium carbonate) (Classified by Composition)
3.) Biogenic sediment: consists of dead remains of plants and
animals (coal,coral, shells, peat) (Classified by composition)
◉ In a clastic sedimentary rock, looking at ______ tells you about
conditions of transportation and deposition, while looking at _______
tells you about their source. Answer: particle size and shape, particle
composition
,◉ How does sediment turn to rock? Answer: 1.) Deposition: occurs
when the transporting agent is no longer capable of moving the
sediment (ice, water, wind=clastic, or by
preciptation=evaporation,change in temp, change in salinity,
biological processes(organisms)
2.) Lithification: transformation of loose sediment to sedimentary
rock by compaction: pressure, cementation: dissolved material
deposited between grains as water moves around, diagenesis:
changes taking place after deposited: texture=recrystalization to be
more stable and composition=chemical alterations=orgnaic material
to CO2 and H2O
◉ Sedimentary Structures Answer: 1.)Stratification: arranges of
sedimentary particles in layers called strata as it
accumulates(bedding)
2.)Cross-bedding:layering w/in bed at angle to bedding
surface=ripplies, dunes that indicate current or wind direction
3.)Graded bedding: particels sorted more or less according to size,
Coarser at bottom, finer at top
4.)Fossils: plant or animal remains preserved in sediment.
◉ Describe the identification and naming of the different types of
sedimentary rocks. Answer: Classification of sedimentary rocks is
based on three types of sediment. Clastic sedimentary rocks that are
produced by sediments that have been physical weathered such as
, sand, gravel, and clay are classified by their particle size these
include shale, siltstone, sandstone, and conglomerate. The other
types are chemical or biogenic sedimentary rocks that are produced
by sediment that have been chemically weathered/consists of the
dead remains of plants and animals. They are classified by their
composition. These include limestone (calcite), chert (silica),
evaporite (halite) and coal
◉ Sedimentary Rocks Answer: 1.) Conglomerate: very coarse, gravel
& larger(breccia)= alluvial fans, subsiding basins, braided rivers,
submarine canyons, fans.
2.) Sandstone:Coarse, sand-sized particles easy to see with naked
eye(Quartz)=large cross bedding made by dunes, deserts, beaches,
river channels, alluvial fans, moraine dam lakes and deltas, tidal
flats, submarine canyons, & fans
3.) Siltstone: fine, silt-size particles barely visible by naked
eye(quartz and clay)=lakes, floodplains, tidal mudflats in bays and
estuaries
4.) Shale: very fine, clay size particles too small to see with naked
eye=deepwater off shore low energy environments=deltas,
submarine canyons
5.)Evaporite:salts, halite (NaCl) or gypsum (CaSO4)= playas=lakes
that evaporite seasonally
6.) Limestone:calcite (CaCO3)=biochemical sediment = reefs,
lagoons in shallow tropical seas(fossil rich)
