Ch14 Geology And Nonrenewable Test Questions & Answers

CHAPTER 14—GEOLOGY AND NONRENEWABLE MINERAL RESOURCES

MULTIPLE CHOICE

1. A naturally occurring, chemical element or inorganic compound that exists as a solid with a regular repeating internal arrangement of its atoms or ions is called a(n) ____.

2. The second largest volcanic eruption of the 20th century occurred in 1991 when ____ erupted.

3. What is the zone of hot, partly melted rock that flows and that can be deformed?

4. What type of rock is granite?

5. What type of rock is formed from the weathered remains of other rocks?

6. The interaction of physical and chemical processes that change rocks from one type to another type is known as ____.

7. Limestone, when exposed to heat and pressure, becomes ____.

8. The slowest of the earth’s cyclic processes is the ____.

9. Which of the following is a type of metallic mineral?

10. What moves large volumes of rock and heat within the mantle, much like gigantic conveyor belts?

11. What element below makes up 71% of the earth’s crust?

12. Large sections of the earth's crust, called ____, slowly separate, collide, or grind along against each other at the earth’s surface.

13. When an oceanic plate collides with a continental plate, the continental plate usually slides up and over the denser oceanic plate, pushing it down into the mantle, a process called ____.

14. Tectonic plates can move in opposite but parallel directions along a fracture or fault at a boundary called a ____.

15. Suppose that consumers pay the full market cost of mineral extraction and processing. What will be the least likely outcome?

16. Which of the following is known to be true concerning the possible mining of the ocean floor?

17. Some analysts suggest we can increase supplies of some minerals by extracting lower grades of ore. Which factor would not limit the mining of lower- grade ores?

18. Of the 20 key nonrenewable mineral resources it needs, what percentage does the U.S. import?

19. Experts are particularly concerned about four strategic metal resources that are important for the U.S. economy and military strength, and that must be imported. What percentage does the U.S. import?

20. Identified deposits from which we can extract the minerals profitably at current prices are referred to as ____.

21. The majority of the earth’s rare earth minerals are found in ____.

22. Because of the rising prices of many metals, there is now particular interest in pursuing mining in what location?

23. China has lower costs for the mining of rare earth minerals because of ____.

24. The time it takes to use up a certain proportion of the reserves of a mineral at a given rate is referred to as the ____.

25. According to the USGS, each person in the United States uses an average of how many metric tons of mineral resources each year?

26. When a resource has been economically depleted, we can do something about it. Which of the following is not suggested as an appropriate action to take to mitigate this issue?

27. The U.N. International Seabed Authority began issuing seabed mining permits in what year?

28. Depletion time is the time it takes to use up approximately ____% of the mineral reserves at a given rate of use.

29. The United States subsidizes mining companies through depletion allowances that amount to ____% of their gross income from mining and processing.

30. Why does subsurface mining have less of an environmental impact than surface mining?

31. Waste soil and rock removed during surface mining is called ____.

32. Acid mine drainage occurs when ____.

33. The life cycle of a metal product ends with ____.

34. Which toxic substance is often used to extract gold and results in harmful environmental effects?

35. Which procedure would most likely be used to mine coal on hilly terrain?

36. Surface mining, when compared to subsurface mining, ____.

37. Mining causes long-term harm to the environment in a number of ways. What is not one detrimental effect of mining?

38. Surface mining is used to extract what percentage of nonfuel resources in the U.S.?

39. The materials revolution ____.

40. One way of increasing our supplies of rare earth minerals is to ____.

41. There are many advantages to using microorganisms for mining. Which of the following is not one of these?

42. The rate that the tectonic plates move is comparable to ____.

43. The largest recorded loss of life from a tsunami was ____.

44. The severity of an earthquake is a measure of its seismic waves, and is called ____.

45. What are a series of large waves generated in the ocean by an earthquake, landslide, or volcanic activity?

46. A major earthquake is one that measures in what range on the Richter scale?

47. Vibrations caused when energy accumulated over time is released are called ____.

48. The place where an earthquake begins is called its ____.

49. Each year, scientists measure the magnitude of how many earthquakes?

50. What is one breakthrough material in the materials revolution that is being used for bridges and buildings?

1. The oceanic crust makes up less than 30% of the earth’s crust.

2. The slowest of the earth's cyclic processes is the carbon cycle.

3. Rocks can be converted from one type to another.

4. Minerals are considered nonrenewable resources because they take so long to form.

5. The higher the grade of ore, the higher the environmental impact.

6. Two commonly used nonmetallic minerals are sand and gravel.

7. Reserves of minerals increase when new, profitable sources are identified, and when technologies make it profitable to extract deposits formerly considered too expensive to remove.

8. Adding chemicals to remove metals from their ores is called smelting.

9. At least 500 mountaintops in West Virginia and other Appalachian states have been removed by mining activities in the region.

10. Recycling aluminum produces 97% less water pollution than mining and processing aluminum ore.

11. Nanotechnology is proving to be a likely answer to the possible shortage of mineral resources, particularly in light of the fact that it has no known disadvantages.

12. Most earthquakes occur near the center of a tectonic plate.

13. Tsunamis in the open ocean can travel as fast as jet airplanes.

14. An active volcano forms where magma reaches the earth's surface through a vent or a fissure.

15. Soil that forms from the weathering of volcanic lava is not very fertile.

1. Magma that manages to reach the surface of the earth is called ____________________.

2. When energy that has accumulated over time along a fault is released, the result is vibrations called ____________________.

3. The ____________________, which measures the magnitude of an earthquake, has units that are each 10 times stronger than the one below it.

4. A(n) ____________________ is an element or inorganic compound that occurs naturally in the earth's crust as a solid with a regular internal crystalline structure.

5. Sandstone and shale are types of ____________________ rock.

6. Using natural or genetically engineered bacteria to remove desired metals through wells bored into the deposits is known as _____________________.

7. Mine, use, throw away; no new discoveries; rising prices.

8. Recycle; increase reserves by improved mining technology; higher prices and new discoveries.

9. Recycle, reuse, reduce consumption; increase reserves by improved mining technology, raising prices, and new discoveries.

10. In the United States, the mining industry releases almost ____________________ of all toxic emissions.

11. Identified resources from which the mineral can be extracted profitably at current prices are called ____________________.

12. The environmental impact of mining depends on the percentage of metal content, or ____________________.

13. The United States has little or no reserves of four _______________ – cobalt, chromium, manganese, and platinum – which are vital to the country’s economic and military strength.

14. A mineral becomes ____________________ when it costs more than it is worth to find, extract, transport, and process it.

15. ____________________ are permission from the government to deduct from mining company taxes their costs of developing and extracting mineral resources.

1. What is the process in which existing rocks can be broken into small pieces? Choose A, B, C, or D.

2. What is the process in which rocks are subjected to sun, wind, and precipitation? Choose A, B, C, or D.

3. What process could involve movement by wind? Choose A, B, C, or D.

4. What is the process in which sediment is placed in a river or lake? Choose A, B, C, or D.

5. What are some of the environmental benefits of nanotechnology?

1. Summarize the active, moving nature of the earth's crust, especially with regard to tectonic plates.

2. Briefly describe the three major classes of rocks, including how they are formed and examples of each type.

3. Explain five options that exist if a mineral does become economically depleted. Provide an example of how you would implement each in your life.

4. Compare and contrast surface and subsurface mining in terms of environmental impact.

5. What steps can an individual take in his or her community to encourage the sustainable use of mineral resources?