Category: Engineering Geology Objective Questions

Engineering Geology Multiple Choice Questions on “Classification of Folds – 01”.

1. The type of fold in which the limbs dip away from each other at the crest is ______________
a) Anticline
b) Syncline
c) Countercline
d) Doesn’t exist
Answer: a
Clarification: Anticlines are defined as those folds in which the limbs dip away from each other at the crest in the simplest forms.

2. The fold which is convex downwards is ___________
a) Anticline
b) Syncline
c) U-cline
d) Crestcline
Answer: b
Clarification: Synclines are the reverse of anticlines in all details and the strata are downarched, that is, these become convex downwards.

3. Which of the following is not true about Anticline?
a) The strata are uparched
b) Geologically older rocks occupy a position in the interior of the fold
c) The limbs dip away from each other at the crest
d) They are convex downwards
Answer: d
Clarification: Anticlines are said to convex upwards and not downwards. Synclines are convex downwards.

4. What is the other name for upright fold?
a) Symmetrical fold
b) Asymmetrical fold
c) Overturned fold
d) Isoclinal fold
Answer: a
Clarification: Symmetrical folds are also called normal folds or upright folds. In such a fold, the axial plane is essentially vertical.

5. Fold in which the limbs lie exactly one over another?
a) Isoclinal
b) Symmetrical
c) Recumbent
d) Asymmetrical
Answer: c
Clarification: In recumbent folds, one limb comes to lie exactly under the other limb so that a drill hole dug at the surface in the upper limb passes through the lower limb also.

6. Which of the following is also an overturned fold?
a) Isoclinal fold
b) Symmetrical fold
c) Asymmetrical fold
d) Recumbent fold
Answer: d
Clarification: Recumbent folds are described as extreme types of overturned folds in which the axial plane acquires an almost horizontal attitude.

7. Fold with flattened top is ___________
a) Square fold
b) Plateau fold
c) Box fold
d) Conjugate fold
Answer: c
Clarification: Box fold may be described as a special type of fold with exceptionally flattened top and steep inclined limbs almost forming three sides of a rectangle.

8. The type of fold in which fold angle is between 10° to 90°?
a) Tight fold
b) Loose fold
c) Gentle fold
d) Acute fold
Answer: a
Clarification: When it comes to fold angle as the basis of classification, the fold with a fold angle between 10° and 90° is called tight fold.

9. Which of the following is not a type of fold based on behaviour with depth?
a) Concentric fold
b) Similar fold
c) Supratenuous fold
d) Asymmetrical fold
Answer: d
Clarification: The first three options are the types based on behaviour with depth where asymmetric fold is based on position of axial plane.

10. Isogans converge inwards in class 1 folds.
a) True
b) False
Answer: a
Clarification: In class 1 folds, isogans converge inwards whereas in class 3, these converge upwards.

11. Where can folds be observed in the southern part of India?
a) Vindhyan region only
b) Satpura region only
c) Vindhyan and Satpura ranges
d) Cannot be observed in southern India
Answer: c
Clarification: Among the peninsular mountains, only the Vindhyan and the Satpuran ranges show folding in a prominent manner.

12. Where is the Liddar Valley Anticline situated?
a) Kashmir Himalayas
b) Uttarakhand Himalayas
c) Sikkim Himalayas
d) Himachal Pradesh Himalayas
Answer: a
Clarification: The Liddar Valley Anticline in Kashmir Himalayas is often represented as a classic example in that almost complete sequence of Palaeozoic Era is fully developed in this anticline.

Engineering Geology Multiple Choice Questions on ” Joints Terminology”.

1. What is responsible for jointing of rocks?
a) Genesis
b) Forces acting on the rock
c) Genesis and various forces acting on the rock
d) Precipitation
Answer: c
Clarification: We may find quite a large proportion of outcrop of any of these rocks practically free from joints at some places, but at other places the same type of rock may be heavily jointed, showing cracks of greater variety. Hence it is not only genesis of the rocks which responsible for these structures but also the forces acting on them.

2. Fractures along which there has been no relative displacement is called?
a) Faults
b) Joints
c) Folds
d) Intrusions
Answer: b
Clarification: Joints are defined as divisional planes or fractures along which there has been no relative displacement.

3. Joint is always accompanied by opening.
a) True
b) False
Answer: b
Clarification: Joints may be open or closed. Open joints are those in which the blocks have been separated or opened up for small distances. In closed joints, there is no such separation.

4. The open joints are gradually enlarged due to ___________
a) Rains
b) Winds
c) Weathering
d) Sunlight
Answer: c
Clarification: Open joints are those in which the blocks have been separated or opened up for small distances in a direction at right angles to the fracture surface. These may be gradually enlarged by weathering processes and develop fissures in the rocks.

5. The type of joint usually found is ___________
a) Open joints
b) Close joints
c) Open and close joints
d) Faulted joints
Answer: c
Clarification: There may be or may not be an opening up of blocks perpendicular to the joint planes. Hence the joints may be of open or close nature.

6. When the joints are prominent and extending for considerable depth they are called ___________
a) Continuous joints
b) Discontinuous joints
c) Deep joints
d) Prominent joints
Answers: a
Clarification: The joints which are quite prominent and extending for considerable depth and thickness are called as continuous joints.

7. What are the continuous joints also called?
a) Uniform joints
b) Normal joints
c) Prime joints
d) Master joints
Answer: d
Clarification: The continuous joints are also called often as master joints. Almost all joints are discontinuous in the strict sense because these disappear with depth in the crust of the earth.

8. The streaks or bands filling material in the rocks are called ___________
a) Colour pigments
b) Resins
c) Veins
d) Pores
Answer: c
Clarification: In many cases, open joints get filled up by solutions of secondary materials that crystallize or precipitate there forming thin or thick streaks or bands of the filling material. These are simply called veins.

9. When the thickness is greater than 20 cm, the veins area called ___________
a) Thick veins
b) Fissure veins
c) Joint veins
d) Broad veins
Answer: b
Clarification: The thin or thick filling material in the joints of the rocks are called as veins when thin and when their thickness exceeds 20 cm they are called fissure veins.

10. Joints do not have dip and strike.
a) False
b) True
Answer: a
Clarification: Joints have dip and strike, the dip being their inclination with the horizontal and the strike being the direction of intersection of a joint plane with a horizontal plane.

11. Pick the wrong statement.
a) A joint set is a group of joint surfaces
b) The surfaces trend in same direction
c) The surfaces have almost same dip
d) The joint surfaces do no trend in same direction
Answer: d
Clarification: A joint set is a group of two or more joint surfaces trending in the same direction with almost the same dip.

12. Group of joint sets are called ___________
a) Joint system
b) Joint group
c) Joint class
d) Joint collection
Answer: a
Clarification: A joint system is a group of two or more joint sets. A joint set is a group of two or more joint surfaces trending in same direction with almost the same dip.

Engineering Geology Multiple Choice Questions on “Composition and Texture of Igneous Rocks – 01”.

1. Pick the option which does not determine the texture of igneous rocks.
a) Colour
b) Size
c) Shape
d) Arrangement of the constituents within the body of the rock
Answer: a
Clarification: The term texture is defined as the mutual relationship of different mineralogical constituents in a rock. It is determined by the size, shape and arrangement of these constituents within the body of the rock.

2. Which of the following is not a factor explaining texture?
a) Wind conditions
b) Degree of crystallization
c) Granularity
d) Fabric
Answer: a
Clarification: The following three factors will primarily define the type of texture in a given igneous rock: Degree of crystallization, Granularity and Fabric.

3. The degree of crystallization where the constituents are very fine or glassy are ______________
a) Holocrystalline
b) Holohyalline
c) Homohyalline
d) Homocrystalline
Answer: b
Clarification: Holohyaline is the term used, when, all the constituents are very fine in size and glassy or non-crystalline in nature.

4. What is the term used when constituents are crystallized completely?
a) Holocrystalline
b) Holohyalline
c) Homohyalline
d) Homocrystalline
Answer: a
Clarification: Holocrystalline is the term used when all the constituent minerals are distinctly crystallized.

5. What is the range of grain size for coarse grained igneous rock?
a) Above 2 mm
b) Below 2 mm
c) Above 5 mm
d) Below 5 mm
Answer: c
Clarification: When the average grain size is above 5 mm; the constituent minerals are then easily identified with naked eye. These rocks are termed as coarse-grained rock.

6. Grain size 5mm to 1mm is termed as ______________
a) Coarse grained
b) Intermediate grained
c) Fine grained
d) Medium grained
Answer: d
Clarification: When the average grain size lies between 5 mm to 1 mm it is termed as medium grained. The use of magnifying lens often becomes necessary for identifying all the constituent mineral components.

7. The grain size involving use of microscope is ______________
a) Coarse grain
b) Medium grain
c) Fine grain
d) Very coarse grain
Answer: c
Clarification: When the average grain size is less than 1 mm it is termed as fine grain. In such rocks, identification of the constituent mineral grains is possible only with the help of microscope for which very thin rock sections have to be prepared.

8. What is the term given when some granules are exceptionally large and few are small?
a) Mixed granular
b) Equigranular
c) Inequigranular
d) Unequigranular
Answer: c
Clarification: The texture is termed as equigranular when all the component minerals are of approximately equal dimensions and as inequigranular when some minerals in the rock are exceptionally larger or smaller than the other.

9. Pick the wrong statement about granitic texture.
a) The constituents are coarse grained
b) The constituents are medium grained
c) The crystals show euhedral to subhedral outlines
d) The rock is microgranular
Answer: d
Clarification: In the granitic texture, the constituents are either all coarse grained or all medium grained and the crystals show euhedral to subhedral outlines.

10. The number of equigranular textures are ________________
a) 1
b) 3
c) 2
d) 4
Answer: b
Clarification: All those textures in which majority of constituent crystals of rock are broadly equal in size are described as equigranular textures. There are 3 types- Granitic, Felsitic and Orthophyric.

Advanced Engineering Geology Questions and Answers on “Causes of Mass Movements – 02”.

1. Which of the following is not a failure due to the role of water?
a) Increase in pore pressure
b) Accumulation of water at the back of the rock
c) Accumulation of water at the front of the rock
d) Lubrication effect of the rock mass
Answer: c
Clarification: The various causes of rock mass due to the role of water are: Increase in pore pressure, accumulation of water behind the rock mass, lubrication of water etc. Water cannot get accumulated in front of the rock and if it does happen in some conditions, it does not contribute greatly to the failure.

2. The rock which can be stable even with vertical slopes is __________
a) Sandstone
b) Granite
c) Shale
d) Chalk
Answer: b
Clarification: Crystalline igneous rocks like granites and gabbros and massive metamorphic rocks like marbles, quartzites and gneisses may be stable even with vertical slopes, whereas the same cannot be said about chalk.

3. Which type of sandstone is more stable?
a) Cemented with siliceous material
b) Cemented with argillaceous material
c) Cemented with ferruginous material
d) Cemented with calcareous material
Answer: a
Clarification: Sandstones for instance, occur in a great variety of types. Fine textured, dense and massive sandstones with siliceous cements may be very stable even at vertical slopes whereas the same rock with ferruginous, calcareous and clayey cements may become unstable at angle of 60° or even less.

4. What can be said about stability of slope when the layers are horizontal?
a) Stable up to 45°
b) Stable at all angles up to 90°
c) Unstable up to 45°
d) Unstable at all angles up to 90°
Answer: b
Clarification: The layers horizontal layers: Such rocks forming the slopes of the natural valleys and artificial cuts are stable at all angles up to 90°. When they fail, it may be due to the presence of secondary jointing or related fractures.

5. What has to be considered while giving cuts in stratified rocks?
a) Risk factor
b) Complication factor
c) Safety factor
d) Dip factor
Answer: d
Clarification: The dip factor has to be kept in mind while giving cuts in stratified rocks. it may be possible to explain that cuts parallel to the dip of the rocks are more safe and stable compared to those parallel to the strike of layers.

6. In metamorphic rocks derived from stratified sedimentary rocks, the direction of cleavage with respect to the original bedding may cause a complex system of weak planes.
a) True
b) False
Answer: a
Clarification: In metamorphic rocks derived from stratified sedimentary rocks, the direction of cleavage with respect to the original bedding may cause a complex system of weak planes. As such slips may be of common occurrence in the slopes made of the above metamorphic rocks.

7. Which zones are most potential surfaces for rock slips?
a) Smooth surfaces
b) Rough surfaces
c) Shear zones
d) Tensile zones
Answer: c
Clarification: Shear zones are most potential surfaces for rock slips, especially when lubricated with water due to soft character of the shear zone material.

8. Which of the following is an external factor for failure?
a) Composition of the mass
b) Role of water
c) Geological structures
d) Removal of vegetation
Answer: d
Clarification: Removal of vegetation cover especially trees is an external factor that has been a contributive factor in causing slope failures in a large number of cases, including the notorious Nashri Slide near Ramban on National Highway-1 in Jammu Kashmir.

9. Majority of rocks are free from joints and cracks.
a) True
b) False
Answer: b
Clarification: A very few rocks are free from the structures like cracks and joints which may occur due to tension, compression or shear to which these rocks have been subjected since their formation.

To practice Advanced questions and answers on all areas of Engineering Geology,

Engineering Geology Multiple Choice Questions on “Works of Sea”.

1. The gently sloping land part that remains partly submerged under seawater is __________
a) Continental shelf
b) Continental bench
c) Beach
d) Continental slope
Answer: a
Clarification: Continental shelf is the gently sloping land part that remains partly submerged under seawater. It may be only a narrow strip or quite an extensive area stretching for hundreds of kilometres.

2. The slope starting from the farthest end of the continental shelf and continuing up to sea floor is __________
a) Continental belt
b) Continental bench
c) Beach
d) Continental slope
Answer: d
Clarification: Continental slope is the slope starting from the farthest end of the continental shelf and continuing up to sea floor. It may be gentle or very steep in gradient varying between 1 in 4 to 1 in 6.

3. The type of waves that are characteristic of deeper portions of the sea?
a) Oscillatory waves
b) Translatory waves
c) Littoral waves
d) Lateral waves
Answer: a
Clarification: Oscillatory waves are characteristic of deeper portions of the sea. In such waves, each particle moves in a circular orbit.

4. The type of waves that are characteristic of shallower portions of the sea?
a) Oscillatory waves
b) Translatory waves
c) Littoral waves
d) Lateral waves
Answer: b
Clarification: Translatory waves are typically of shallower depths in the sea and abound along the seashore. They are commonly produced after the oscillatory waves break and rush forward.

5. Bodies of seawater of considerable volume moving along and parallel to the shore are called __________
a) Oscillatory waves
b) Translatory waves
c) Littoral currents
d) Lateral currents
Answer: c
Clarification: Littoral currents are the bodies of seawater of considerable volume moving along and parallel to the shore.

6. The bodies of seawater moving backwards to sea after having reached and struck the seashore are called __________
a) Oscillatory waves
b) Translatory waves
c) Littoral currents
d) Rip currents
Answer: d
Clarification: Rip currents are bodies of seawater moving backwards to sea after having reached and struck the seashore. They often move below the surface of the sea and reach varying distance up to the middle to the sea.

7. Charles Darwin classified coral reefs into how many classes?
a) 2
b) 3
c) 4
d) 5
Answer: b
Clarification: Charles Darwin, who was the first to study and classify the reef deposits recognized the following three types: fringing reefs, barrier reefs and atolls.

8. Peculiar type of ridge-like marine deposits that have been formed due to accumulation of dead parts of certain of sea-organisms are called __________
a) Limestone
b) Coral reefs
c) Pearl
d) Gorges
Answer: b
Clarification: Coral reefs are peculiar types of ridge-like marine deposits that have been formed due to accumulation of dead parts of certain of sea-organisms.

9. The type of reefs that occur from a distance of shore and have flat-topped ridges are __________
a) Fringing reefs
b) Barrier reefs
c) Atolls
d) Deposited reefs
Answer: b
Clarification: The barrier reefs are the most common type of reefs and occur at a distance from the shore or the island running in the form of parallel, flat-topped ridges.

10. Type of reef with an annular, circular or semi-circular coral reef surrounding a lagoon is called __________
a) Fringing reefs
b) Barrier reefs
c) Atolls
d) Deposited reefs
Answer: c
Clarification: An atoll is essentially an annular, circular or semi-circular coral reef surrounding a central body of water that is as usual called a lagoon. In a typical atoll, the ring made of coral deposits may be continuous or discontinuous, more often broken at places.