Engineering Geology Multiple Choice Questions on ” Important Sedimentary Rocks – 02″.
1. The type of sandstone where cementing material is clay is ______________
a) Siliceous sandstone
b) Calcareous sandstone
c) Argillaceous sandstone
d) Ferruginous sandstone
Answer: c
Clarification: Argillaceous sandstones are among the soft varieties of sandstone because the cementing material is clay that has not much inherent strength.
2. The term quartzite is associated with which type of sandstone?
a) Siliceous sandstone
b) Calcareous sandstone
c) Argillaceous sandstone
d) Ferruginous sandstone
Answer: a
Clarification: When silica is the cementing material in the sandstones it is called siliceous sandstone. Sometimes the quality of the siliceous cement is so dense and uniform that a massive compact and homogeneous rock is formed. This is called quartzite.
3. Red Fort in India is built using which sedimentary rock?
a) Shale
b) White Sandstone
c) Red sandstone
d) Breccia
Answer: c
Clarification: The sandstones are most commonly used as materials of construction: building stones, pavement stones, road stones and also as a source material for concrete. The Red Fort of India is made up of red sandstones.
4. Shales are generally characterized with distinct ____________
a) Cleavage
b) Fracture
c) Specific gravity
d) Parting
Answer: d
Clarification: Shale is a finely-grained sedimentary rock of argillaceous composition. Shales are generally characterized with a distinct fissility (parting) parallel to the bedding planes.
5. The mineralogical composition of shale is clearly understood.
a) True
b) False
Answer: b
Clarification: The exact mineralogical composition of shales is often difficult to ascertain because of the very fine size of the constituents.
6. The tendency of a rock to split into flat, shell-like fragments parallel to bedding is called ____________
a) Cleavage
b) Fracture
c) Specific gravity
d) Fissility
Answer: d
Clarification: Shales are characterized with a distinct property of fissility, which may be defined as “the tendency of a rock to split into flat, shell-like fragments parallel to bedding”. The fissility of shales is partly primary and partly secondary in nature.
7. Which type of shale involves both clastic and non-clastic sources?
a) Residual shales
b) Transported shales
c) Hybrid shales
d) Quartz shales
Answer: c
Clarification: In hybrid shales, materials derived both from clastic sources and non-clastic sources especially those from organic sources make up the rock.
8. Name the type of shale involving decay and decomposition.
a) Residual shales
b) Transported shales
c) Hybrid shales
d) Quartz shales
Answer: a
Clarification: Residual shales are formed from decay and decomposition of pre-existing rocks followed by compaction and consolidation of the particles in adjoining basins without much mixing.
9. Which sedimentary rock is present in majority on earth?
a) Shale
b) Sandstone
c) Breccia
d) Conglomerate
Answer: a
Clarification: Of all the sedimentary rocks occurring on the surface of the earth, shales are the most predominant forming 70-80 percent of this group. These rocks occur in massive formations and beds extending over several hundred kilometres in many cases.
10. Which among the following is not a use of shale?
a) Used in manufacture of bricks and tiles
b) Used as source of alumina
c) Used as paraffin
d) Used as precious gemstone
Answer: d
Clarification: Shales are variously used for manufacture of bricks and tiles. These are at place source of alumina, paraffin and oil.