Category: Engineering Geology Objective Questions

Engineering Geology Multiple Choice Questions on “Formation and Descriptive Study of Minerals – 03”.

1. What is the chemical composition of Quartz?
a) SiO₄
b) Si₂O₃
c) SiO₂
d) Al₂O₃
Answer: c
Clarification: The chemical composition of the quartz minerals is SiO2. In other words, silicon dioxide is the basic chemical composition of the quartz minerals.

2. Which quartz mineral shows blue colour?
a) Rose quartz
b) Blue quartz
c) Smoky quartz
d) Rock crystal
Answer: b
Clarification: The blue quartz shows a distinct blue colour compared to the other quartz minerals.

3. Rock crystal belongs to which mineral group?
a) Quartz group
b) Feldspar group
c) Carbonate group
d) Ferro-magnesium group
Answer: a
Clarification: The basic chemical composition of the rock crystal is almost the same as other quartz minerals and also rock crystal is an important mineral of the quartz group.

4. Pick the quartz mineral which is translucent among the following.
a) Rose quartz
b) Agate
c) Amethyst quartz
d) Milky quartz
Answer: c
Clarification: Amethyst quartz is usually translucent, i.e., it allows light partially to pass through it. Rest of the minerals are opaque.

5. The streak given by the quartz group is __________________
a) White
b) Colourless
c) Blue
d) Pale yellow
Answer: b
Clarification: One of the main trait of the quartz group is that the minerals do not give any streak though are present in many colours in appearance.

6. Pick the quartz which is colourless among the following.
a) Rose quartz
b) Smoky quartz
c) Milky quartz
d) Rock crystal
Answer: d
Clarification: Among the minerals given above only rock crystal is colourless. The rest are coloured or either white in colour.

7. What is the hardness of the quartz minerals?
a) 7
b) 6
c) 2
d) 4
Answer: a
Clarification: The hardness is almost the same for all the quartz minerals and is about 7. This is one of the advantages of the quartz as they have high hardness.

8. What is the colour of rose quartz attributed to?
a) Iron
b) Titanium
c) Aluminium
d) Sandstone
Answer: b
Clarification: Rose quartz is a special type of quartz and is known for its distinct rose red colour. The colour is attributed to presence of titanium.

9. The mineral not belonging to the quartz group is ___________
a) Amethyst
b) Agate
c) Jasper
d) Calcite
Answer: d
Clarification: Amethyst quartz, agate and jasper belong to the quartz group, whereas, calcite belongs to the carbonate group whose chemical composition is completely different compared to the quartz group.

10. Agate is not found banded.
a) True
b) False
Answer: b
Clarification: Agate is also found in banded form and is known as banded agate. Agate is known to have massive structure which is also the same for banded agate.

11. What is the cleavage shown by quartz minerals?
a) Basal
b) Prismatic
c) Rhombohedral
d) No cleavage
Answer: d
Clarification: The cleavage is generally absent in the quartz minerals which is one of the defining characteristic of the quartz group.

12. Quartz is found in which type of rock?
a) Igneous rock
b) Sedimentary rock
c) Metamorphic rock
d) Igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks
Answer: d
Clarification: Quartz minerals are found in wide range of rocks. They are not restricted to any one kind of rock. They may be found in igneous or sedimentary or metamorphic rocks.

Engineering Geology Multiple Choice Questions on “Kinds of Metamorphism”.

1. The type of metamorphism in which heat factor has played an important role is ____________
a) Dynamic metamorphism
b) Thermal metamorphism
c) Thermodynamic metamorphism
d) Barometric metamorphism
Answer: b
Clarification: Thermal metamorphism is a general term including a variety of metamorphic processes in which the heat factor has played an important role.

2. Which type of metamorphism is common in rocks close to magmatic intrusions?
a) Contact metamorphism
b) Pyrometamorphism
c) Plutonic metamorphism
d) Dyke metamorphism
Answer: a
Clarification: Contact metamorphism is a common type of thermal observed in rocks existing close to the magmatic intrusions, injections and lava flows.

3. Type of metamorphism where part of country rock may get entrapped within magmatic body is ____________
a) Contact metamorphism
b) Pyrometamorphism
c) Plutonic metamorphism
d) Dyke metamorphism
Answer: b
Clarification: Pyrometamorphism is a type of thermal metamorphism in which case a part of country rock may actually get entrapped within a magmatic body. The effects result due to intense localized heating.

4. Metamorphism involving both temperature and load is ____________
a) Contact metamorphism
b) Pyrometamorphism
c) Plutonic metamorphism
d) Dyke metamorphism
Answer: c
Clarification: Plutonic metamorphism is a process of metamorphism that takes place due to equally important role of imposed loads and very high temperatures that become natural at those great depths.

5. Which kind of metamorphism is also called dislocation metamorphism?
a) Dynamic metamorphism
b) Thermal metamorphism
c) Thermodynamic metamorphism
d) Barometric metamorphism
Answer: a
Clarification: Dynamic metamorphism is also called clastic metamorphism, mechanical metamorphism or dislocation metamorphism and is brought about by conditions in which pressure factor plays a dominant role.

6. In which metamorphism there is almost no or little new mineral is formed?
a) Dynamic metamorphism
b) Thermal metamorphism
c) Thermodynamic metamorphism
d) Barometric metamorphism
Answer: a
Clarification: In the dynamic metamorphism, there is no or very little formation of new minerals. These are the original textures and structures of the rocks that are partially or totally obliterated.

7. Most prevalent kind of metamorphism is ____________
a) Dynamic metamorphism
b) Thermal metamorphism
c) Thermodynamic metamorphism
d) Barometric metamorphism
Answer: c
Clarification: Thermodynamic is also referred as regional metamorphism and may be considered as the most important as well as prevalent type of metamorphic processes.

8. Dynamothermal or thermodynamic metamorphism involves action of ____________
a) Temperature
b) Pressure
c) Fluids
d) Temperature, pressure and fluids
Answer: d
Clarification: Thermodynamic metamorphism involves the development of large-scale changes in the structural and chemical constitution of the pre-existing rocks under the combined action of pressure, temperature and fluids.

9. When the pressure acting on rock is of hydrostatic type then it is called ____________
a) Pressure metamorphism
b) Load metamorphism
c) Secondary metamorphism
d) Clastic metamorphism
Answer: b
Clarification: Sometimes the pressure is of the type of hydrostatic type such as load of the overlying rocks. The process is then called load metamorphism.

10. The kind metamorphism which occurs in the direction of mineralogical reconstitution is ____________
a) Dynamic metamorphism
b) Thermal metamorphism
c) Thermodynamic metamorphism
d) Barometric metamorphism
Answer: b
Clarification: In all types of thermal metamorphism the change is generally in the direction of mineralogical reconstitution. These processes may induce changes varying from simple baking effect to complete or nearly complete recrystallization of almost all original minerals.

11. The metamorphic process involving formation of new minerals by chemical replacement of pre-existing minerals is ____________
a) Metagenesis
b) Holomorphism
c) Metasomatism
d) Homosomatism
Answer: c
Clarification: Metasomatism may be broadly defined as a metamorphic process involving essentially formation of new minerals by the mechanism of chemical replacement of pre-existing minerals under the influence of chemically active fluids.

12. Metasomatism occurs at which level and state?
a) Molecular level and solid state
b) Molecular level and liquid state
c) Atomic level and liquid state
d) Atomic level and solid state
Answer: d
Clarification: The metasomatism replacement of minerals takes place at atomic level and in solid state. The chemically active fluids may be provided by various ways.

13. When fluids in the gaseous form, the metasomatism is called ____________
a) Hydrothermal
b) Pneumatolytic
c) Additive
d) Expulsive
Answer: b
Clarification: Pneumatolytic is the process of metasomatism where the fluids are in the form of gases or vapours.

14. The total volume of the rock is changed after metasomatism.
a) True
b) False
Answer: b
Clarification: A common fact observed in the case of metasomatism is that the total volume of the rock remains by and large unchanged after the process is completed.

Engineering Geology Multiple Choice Questions on “Causes of Earthquakes”.

1. Volcanic earthquakes are rarely felt outside the regions of inactive volcanoes.
a) True
b) False
Answer: a
Clarification: In volcanic eruptions, huge quantities of lava are thrown out suddenly under great pressure and with a big bang, causing tremors all around volcanic earthquakes, as these are called, are rarely felt outside the regions of active volcanoes.

2. Which earthquake is local in nature and rarely occurring?
a) Volcanic earthquake
b) Shallow earthquake
c) Collapse earthquake
d) Intermediate earthquake
Answer: c
Clarification: The collapse earthquakes are invariably of local nature and rare occurrence. These are caused when a portion of ground collapses suddenly because of removal of support from below due to the natural processes of rock wastage.

3. Which theory is acclaimed as a satisfactory explanation about the cause of earthquakes?
a) Elastic Rebound theory
b) Clastic theory
c) Tremors theory
d) Seismology theory
Answer: a
Clarification: The Elastic Rebound Theory propounded originally by H.F.Reid in 1906 is, at present, widely acclaimed as a satisfactory explanation. It was proposed by him, on the basis of elaborate studies of San Francisco Earthquake of 1906 that it was related to displacement along the San Andres fault.

4. The phase during which the stored elastic energy is released is __________
a) Preparatory phase
b) Rupture phase
c) Post failure phase
d) Tertiary phase
Answer: b
Clarification: The rupture phase takes place along the fault and all or part the stored elastic energy is released as seismic waves and also transformed into heat or potential energy. Main shock is the characteristic of this phase.

5. Foreshocks are often recorded in which phase?
a) Preparatory phase
b) Rupture phase
c) Post failure phase
d) Tertiary phase
Answer: a
Clarification: The preparatory phase is the phase in which a non-hydrostatic stress field is created in a certain region around a fault; the direction of the preparatory phase is to ultimately define the size of the actual earthquake. A number of “foreshocks” are often recorded during this phase.

6. The phase which involves restoration to state of equilibrium is __________
a) Preparatory phase
b) Rupture phase
c) Post failure phase
d) Tertiary phase
Answer: c
Clarification: The post failure adjustment is the phase during which the medium is restored to a state of equilibrium involving series of “after shocks” which are simply a manifestation of release of residual strain from the rocks.

7. Earthquakes occur at which portion of plates?
a) Middle portion
b) Along the boundaries of plates
c) Along the equidistant lines of plates
d) At the centre point of the plates
Answer: a
Clarification: Already exhaustive data has been collected to show that earthquakes occur along the boundaries of plates moving apart each other.

8. The inner regions of plates are free from tectonic earthquakes.
a) True
b) False
Answer: a
Clarification: The tectonism involving earthquakes is related to those boundaries, which are stressed and where stress is released by way of thrust faulting, block faulting or transcurrent faulting. The inner regions of plates are by and large free from tectonic earthquakes.

9. The plate movements at boundaries are __________
a) Very rapid
b) Fast
c) Moderate in speed
d) Very slow
Answer: d
Clarification: Since the plate movements at the boundaries are very slow, stresses go on building up in the rocks of the immediate neighbourhood till the limits are reached.

10. Rocks behave as ________ masses towards operating stresses.
a) Inelastic
b) Elastic
c) Isotropic
d) Anisotropic
Answer: b
Clarification: According to the Elastic Rebound Theory, rocks are believed to behave as elastic masses towards operating stresses. When these are stressed, the rocks respond by bending as a first reaction.

Engineering Geology Multiple Choice Questions on “Geological Work of Wind”.

1. The winds are formed basically due to which reason?
a) Uniform heating
b) Non-uniform heating
c) Precipitation
d) Tectonic activity
Answer: b
Clarification: Winds are born mainly due to non-uniform heating of the surface of the earth at different places causing differences in atmospheric pressure. The pressure difference so created makes the atmospheric gases (the air) to move from areas of high pressure to areas of low pressure in the form of winds.

2. The removal of particles of dust and sand by strong winds is called _____________
a) Abrasion
b) Depletion
c) Deflation
d) Aeration
Answer: c
Clarification: The process of removal of dust and sand by strong winds is called deflation. In Latin, ‘deflare’ means ‘to blow away’. It is the main process of wind erosion in desert regions.

3. The water in an oasis is obtained from which source?
a) Rain
b) Erosion from other place
c) Water table
d) Water released from adsorption
Answer: c
Clarification: Sometimes due to deflation, huge depressions are created in the deserts to such an extent that the depression becomes so deep that it intersects with the groundwater table. And it gets partially filled up with water and this is called an oasis.

4. The type of erosion which involves rubbing, grinding is _____________
a) Deflation
b) Attrition
c) Deflection
d) Wind abrasion
Answer: d
Clarification: The type of erosion involving rubbing, grinding, abrading and polishing the rock surfaces by any natural agent (wind, water or ice) with the help of its lead while passing over the rocks is termed as abrasion.

5. Which among the following is called “Mushroom rocks”?
a) Pedestal rocks
b) Yardangs
c) Ventifacts
d) Desert pavements
Answer: a
Clarification: Pedestal rocks are also often called mushroom rocks because of their likeness to mushrooms popping up closely in a level land.

6. The rock which is well polished by wind abrasion is called _____________
a) Yardangs
b) Pedestal rock
c) Ventifacts
d) Desert pavements
Answer: c
Clarification: Ventifacts are small sized rock fragments showing one, two or three or even more typically wind-polished surfaces called faces. The polishing of different sides of originally rough fragments is caused by prolonged wind abrasion.

7. The factor which does not affect the attrition by wind is _____________
a) Nature of the region
b) Velocity of wind
c) Duration
d) Sunlight
Answer: d
Clarification: Factors that affect attrition by wind are nature of the region, velocity of wind and duration. It is not affected by sunlight.

8. Which of the following about saltation is not true?
a) In this process the heavier and coarse sediments are lifted up
b) They are lifted up periodically and for short distances
c) In this process the light-density particles are carried away
d) It is the process of sediment transport by series of jump
Answer: c
Clarification: The heavier and coarse sediments such as sand grains, pebbles and gravels etc. are lifted up periodically during high velocity times and only for short distances and that too for smaller heights above the ground. The uplifting of lighter particles is called suspension.

9. The transporting power of wind depends on the shape of the particle.
a) True
b) False
Answer: a
Clarification: The transporting power of wind depends on its velocity as also on the size, shape and density of the particles.

10. Which among the following has S-shaped outline?
a) Crescentic dune
b) Barchans
c) Transverse dunes
d) Sigmoidal dunes
Answer: d
Clarification: A typical sigmoidal dune is characterized with the absence of horns or cusps and a curved outline. In its simplest form, a sigmoidal dune is a steep sided ridge that extends in a sinuous or S-shaped outline.

11. The type of dune which is short lived is _____________
a) Barchans
b) Sigmoidal
c) Transverse dunes
d) Fixed dune
Answer: a
Clarification: Most of the dunes are migratory in nature and among all, Barchans are especially known to move ahead at the rate of 25 to 250 meters a month. Hence barchans are said to be short-lived relative to other dunes.

12. The particle size in a Loess is around _________
a) 2-3 mm in diameter
b) 1-2 mm in diameter
c) 0.01-0.05 mm in diameter
d) 0.1-1 mm in diameter
Answer: c
Clarification: A typical Loess is unconsolidated, unstratified, and porous accumulation of particles of the size range 0.01-0.05 mm in diameter. This size fraction makes almost 40 percent of a particular loess deposit rest being made up of still finer clay grade material.

13. What is the term used for wind blown deposits of silt and clay grade particles?
a) Dunes
b) Loess
c) Hills
d) Ventifacts
Answer: b
Clarification: The term loess is used for wind blown deposits of silt and clay grade particles. Dune is used to refer to sand particles. Ventifacts and hills are usually rocks.

14. Treating the sands locally with crude oil is not a method of combating the advancing sands.
a) False
b) True
Answer: a
Clarification: Treating the sands locally with crude oil whereby their susceptibility for transport by wind is considerably reduced. It is one of the effective methods to combat advancing sands.

Engineering Geology Multiple Choice Questions on “Effects of Faulting”.

1. What is the effect of faulting on outcrop?
a) Changes in the elevation of the ground
b) Omission of some strata where they are normally expected
c) Repetition of some strata in a given direction
d) Changes in elevation, omission of some strata, repetition of some strata
Answer: d
Clarification: Faulting is essentially a process of rupturing and displacement along the plane of rupture. Its effects may involve- changes in the elevation of the ground, omission of some strata where they are normally expected, repetition of some strata in a given direction and displacements and shifts in the continuity of the same rocks in certain regions.

2. What is the effect of strike faults to the strata?
a) Extension
b) Repetition
c) Omission
d) Repetition and repetition
Answer: d
Clarification: Strike faults are those, which are developed parallel to the strike of the outcrops. These faults produce, besides other changes, two pronounced effects on the outcrops repetition and omission of strata.

3. When the downthrow is against direction of the bed, it leads to ___________
a) Omission
b) Repetition
c) Extension
d) Weakening
Answer: b
Clarification: Repetition of the strata occurs, when the downthrow is against the direction of the dip of the bed in which faulting has taken place.

4. When the downthrow is _____________ direction of the dip, it leads to omission.
a) Parallel to
b) Against
c) Inclined at certain angle
d) Doesn’t depend on downthrow
Answer: a
Clarification: Omission of the strata takes place in a strike fault when the downthrow is parallel to the direction of slip of the faulted bed.

5. What has to be studied at first to tell about the effects with certainty?
a) Aerial photographs
b) Globe
c) Geological maps
d) Topographical photographs
Answer: c
Clarification: It is only after the study of geological maps that the existence of faults at the first place and their effects on the rocks may get established with some certainty.

6. Dip fault leads to ___________
a) Horizontal shift
b) Vertical shift
c) Inclined shift
d) Outburst
Answer: a
Clarification: In dip faults which occur parallel to the dip of the outcrop, the most prominent effect observed after faulting and erosion of the upthrown block is a horizontal shift between the two parts of the outcrop.

7. Which fault causes offset?
a) Normal fault
b) Reverse fault
c) Oblique fault
d) Dip fault
Answer: c
Clarification: Oblique faults cause an offset in the sequence, which is associated with either a gap or an overlap depending upon the downthrow direction.

8. Gap or overlap depends upon ___________
a) Upthrow direction
b) Downthrow direction
c) Heave
d) Hade angle
Answer: b
Clarification: Oblique faults cause an offset in the sequence, which is associated with either a gap or an overlap depending upon the downthrow direction.

9. What will result in an offset with overlap?
a) Downthrow to left side
b) Upthrow to left side
c) Downthrow to right side
d) Upthrow to right side
Answer: a
Clarification: Oblique faults with downthrow to the left side result in an offset with an overlap.

10. What will result in an offset with gap?
a) Downthrow to left side
b) Upthrow to left side
c) Downthrow to right side
d) Upthrow to right side
Answer: c
Clarification: Oblique faults with downthrow to the right side result in an offset with a gap.

11. Effects of faults in different types of folded strata is same as dipping strata.
a) True
b) False
Answer: a
Clarification: The effects of faults on different types of folded sequence is broadly the same as in plainly dipping strata. But with changes in the altitude of the faults or that of rocks, quite complicated results may be seen.

12. What is the effect of faults on topography?
a) Fault gaps
b) Crust extension
c) Fault scarps
d) Crevices
Answer: c
Clarification: One of the main effects of the faults on topography is that they very often result in the development of distinct types of steep slopes which are aptly called fault scarps.

13. The type of scarps not considered under study is ___________
a) Fault scarps
b) Dip scarps
c) Fault-line scarps
d) Composite-fault scarps
Answer: b
Clarification: Three types of fault associated scarps are often recognized: fault scarps, fault-line scarps and composite-fault scarps.

14. The fault which is the result of both fault scarps and fault-line scarps is?
a) Compound-fault scarps
b) Composite-fault scarps
c) Dual-fault scarps
d) By-fault scarps
Answer: b
Clarification: When a given slope is believed to be the result of both of these processes, fault scarp and fault-line scarp, the scarp is of composite type, and is called composite-fault scarp.

15. The type of scarp involving erosion is ___________
a) Fault scarp
b) Fault-line scarp
c) Composite-fault scarp
d) Dip-fault scarp
Answer: b
Clarification: In the fault-line scarp, the relief is produced due to the process of unequal erosion along the fault line with the passage of time.