WorksheetsProfessional Geology Exam Part 1
Total questions: 40
Worksheet time: 40mins
When water contacts pyrite at the earth's surface, the runoff is commonly:
acidic
basic
oxygenated
nitrogen-rich
In an eolian sand aquifer, hydraulic conductivity would be expected to generally:
increase upward
increase downward
be uniform
be lowest in the middle of the unit
Which of the following pairs likely would be composed of sediments with DIFFERENT
grain size and sorting characteristics?
outwash plain-end moraine
esker-kame
tuff-tephra
barchan dune-parabolic dune
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?
362,880,000
3,484,800
6,696,600,000
34,848,000
The scale for describing the effects or damage caused by an earthquake at a given
geographic location is called the:
Bernoulli scale
Richter scale
Modified Mercalli scale
Moment Magnitude scale
Which statement best describes the effect of diagenesis on the overall quality of an
oil/gas reservoir?
Diagenesis enhances reservoir quality.
Diagenesis diminishes reservoir quality.
Diagenesis may enhance or diminish reservoir quality.
Diagenesis has little or no effect on reservoir quality.
The rate of production from a subsurface reservoir is most directly related to:
porosity
permeability
compactness
grain size
What is the best radiometric dating technique to determine the age difference between
two Miocene-age volcanic ash deposits separated by 500 feet vertically?
Potassium-Argon
Carbon-Carbon
Uranium-Lead
Uranium Series
What geophysical method would generally be most effective to map deeply buried (1500'
deep) bedrock pediments?
ground penetrating radar
electrical resistivity
seismic refraction
seismic reflection
A groundwater model is considered calibrated when:
the model grid and layers match the constructed conceptual model
the groundwater flux into the model equals the groundwater flux out of the model
hydraulic heads and fluxes reproduce the system modeled within an acceptable
tolerance
the chosen model boundaries express the nature of the physical boundaries
A rock described as argillaceous:
contains flattened pebbles
is clay-rich
displays a satin luster
is composed of coarse mica
The creation of new oceanic crust is balanced by:
the Earth's expansion
the Earth's crust buckling up so the earth remains a constant size
an equal amount of old ocean crust being subducted
an equal amount of continental crust being subducted
When collecting duplicate samples to validate the quality of the laboratory results, the
geologist should always:
identify the duplicate samples
use a sequential numbering system
be sure that the duplicates cannot be identified by the lab
be sure that the duplicates were sampled at different times
A stream crosses a strike-slip fault with no deviation in its course. Which of the
following statements must be true?
The fault is active.
The stream crossed the fault since the last fault movement.
Strike-slip faults do not affect stream course.
Rock units are the same on both sides of the fault.
The horizontal scale of a cross-section is 1:24,000; the vertical scale is 1 inch equals 1000
feet. The vertical exaggeration is:
2x
12x
24x
0.5x
A topographic map shows several circular depressions in a limestone region. What are
these features called?
fensters
kettles
dolines
potholes
A cross-stratified sand lens that contains thin streaks of mud in the ripple troughs is
called:
lenticular bedding
wavy bedding
graded bedding
flaser bedding
In which of the following areas are the largest volumes of andesite lava commonly
extruded?
along continental rift valleys
where oceanic lithosphere is subducting beneath continental crust
within oceanic plates overlying mantle plumes
along zones of lithosphere plate separation (oceanic ridges)
Which of the following safety factor (SF) values for slope stability shows that a slope is
considered stable:
between zero (0) and one (1)
between zero (0) and minus one (-1)
greater than one (1)
less than minus one (-1)
The effects of solution during diagenesis can be seen in:
imbricate structures
flute marks
mud interclasts
stylolites
Limestones containing appreciable amounts of clay are represented graphically on a
lithologic log by:
using the standard limestone symbol
modifying the limestone symbol by adding a short dash within each box
modifying the limestone symbol by adding dots within each box
modifying the limestone symbol from a rectangle to a parallelogram
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:
the ARC/INFO software program is unable to handle scanned or digitized
topography
mistakes in the 1975 topographic map
failure to make adjustments relative to the 1983 North American Datum (NAD)
conflict between scanned and digitized information
An esker is a:
more or less linear ridge formed at the end of a glacial advance
streamlined glacial landform
conical hill composed predominantly of sand and gravel
sinuous ridge subparallel to glacial flow composed predominantly of sand and gravel
Biostratigraphic zones are employed to establish:
continuity of formations
age equivalence within sedimentary sequences
absolute ages of successive formations
sedimentary provenance active during deposition
What Liquid Limit (LL) and Plasticity Index (PI) values would be associated with a soil
classified CH?
LL = 12 and PI = 38
LL = 63 and PI = 38
LL = 63 and PI = 11
LL = 40 and PI = 11
Lithostratigraphic sequences can be used to interpret:
geologic history
isolated outcrops
earthquake probability
absolute ages of successive formations
Which of the following anions is the least reactive and most persistent tracer of a
geochemical contaminant plume?
CO3 -2
HCO3 -1
Cl-1
PO4 -3
The grain-size distribution curve illustrated in Figure 85 indicates that the sand is:
poorly sorted
poorly graded
uniformly sorted
well sorted
If the beds are vertical, Figure 29 represents what type of fault?
thrust fault
reverse fault
right-lateral fault
left-lateral fault
What is the approximate total volume of limestone which can be quarried from the
property shown in Figure 83, if the mining extends to a depth of 350 feet?
2,500,000 yd3
4,500,000 yd3
6,500,000 yd3
8,500,000 yd3
If the net volume of precipitation entering a drainage basin exceeds the surface water
volume coming out with no change in surface storage, then:
water is recharging the groundwater system
water is discharging from the groundwater system
evapotranspiration rates have decreased
groundwater storage remains constant because of loss of water to evapotranspiration
Which of the following is NOT commonly a natural constituent of groundwater?
iron
carbonate
chloride
nitrate
An uplifted block bounded by normal faults is known as a(n):
atoll
guyot
graben
horst
Your client calls you to sample a series of monitor wells that they installed on their
property. Your review of the geologic setting determines that the wells are located such
that no contamination could be detected. You should:
notify the Board
refuse the job
inform the client about the problem
sample the wells as requested
Deep exploration holes drilled at the quarry in the X-Ray granite (Unit X) intersected
the Running Ridges Limestone (Unit R). Based on this drill hole data, what is the best
interpretation of the Unit R-Unit X contact?
Normal fault
thrust fault
dextral fault
sinistral fault
The contact between the Holiday Formation (Unit H) and the Beeswax Sandstone (Unit
B) is a(n):
fault contact
intrusive contact
normal stratigraphic
angular unconformity
The quarry located in the X-Ray Granite is a dimension stone quarry. This suggests
that the X-Ray Granite
is massive and unfractured
is highly fractured
is deeply weathered
has closely spaced joint sets
What is the correct order of the ages of the units from the oldest to the youngest on the
geologic map in Figure 13?
Aa, Fo, Mo, Di, Pm
Di, Mo, Fo, Aa, Pm
Pm, Di, Mo, Fo, Aa
Pm, Di, Mo, Fo, Aa
Incipient lateral displacement across a narrow zone is often defined by the appearance
of Riedel fractures on the ground. Two typical patterns of Riedel fractures are shown in
Figure 24. With respect to the patterns shown:
A is right-stepping and indicates right lateral movement
B is left-stepping and indicates vertical movement
A is right-stepping and indicates left lateral movement
A and B are both right-stepping
What is your name?
(a)
