Category: Engineering Geology Objective Questions

Engineering Geology Multiple Choice Questions on “Sources and Zonal Distribution of Groundwater”.

1. The water which in a state of downward movement under gravity is __________
a) Groundwater
b) Vadose water
c) Connate water
d) Juvenile water
Answer: b
Clarification: Vadose water, which occurs from surface downwards up to a variable depth and is in a state of downward movement under the influence of gravity.

2. What is the process of movement downwards of vadose water called?
a) Infiltration
b) Filtration
c) Deposition
d) Down-flow
Answer: a
Clarification: The movement of vadose water is commonly described as infiltration. The thickness of soil and rock through which the vadose water infiltrates is called the zone of aeration.

3. What is the upper surface of the zone saturation called?
a) Aquifer
b) Aquiclude
c) Water table
d) Aquifuge
Answer: c
Clarification: Water table is the name given to the upper surface of the zone of saturation and is of fundamental importance in the study of groundwater reservoirs.

4. Pick the wrong statement about groundwater.
a) It is turbid
b) It is odourless
c) It is free from pathogens
d) It is coloured
Answer: d
Clarification: Groundwater has a suitable composition in most cases and is free from turbidity, objectionable colours and pathogenic organisms requiring not much treatment.

5. Groundwater is not safer than other sources of water.
a) True
b) False
Answer: b
Clarification: The groundwater is relatively much safe from hazards of chemical, radiogenic and biological pollution to which surface water bodies are badly exposed.

6. What is the water obtained from precipitation called?
a) Meteoric water
b) Connate water
c) Juvenile water
d) Secondary water
Answer: a
Clarification: Meteoric water is the water derived from precipitation (rain and snow). Although bulk of rainwater or meltwater from snow and ice reaches the sea through surface flows or run off, a considerable part of precipitation gradually infiltrates into the ground.

7. Water present in rocks from the time of their deposition is __________
a) Meteoric water
b) Connate water
c) Juvenile water
d) Secondary water
Answer: b
Clarification: Connate water is the water present in the rocks right from the time of their deposition in an aqueous environment.

8. What is usually the nature of connate water?
a) Sweet
b) Odour
c) Salty
d) Odourless
Answer: c
Clarification: This connate water may be encountered in sedimentary rocks like limestones, sandstones and gravels. It is commonly saline in nature and is of no importance as a source for exploitable groundwater.

9. Juvenile water is also called __________
a) Meteoric water
b) Connate water
c) Magmatic water
d) Secondary water
Answer: c
Clarification: Juvenile water is also called magmatic water and is of only theoretical importance as far as water-supply schemes are concerned.

10. Some hot springs are derived from which water?
a) Meteoric water
b) Connate water
c) Juvenile water
d) Secondary water
Answer: c
Clarification: Juvenile water is the water formed in the cracks or crevices or pores of rocks due to condensation of steam given out from hot molten masses or magmas existing below the Earth’s surface. Some hot springs and geysers are clearly derived from juvenile water.

11. The vadose water which is lost to the atmosphere by transpiration and evaporation is __________
a) Soil water
b) Intermediate water
c) Phreatic water
d) Water table
Answer: a
Clarification: The soil water is very important for the life and growth of the vegetable cover of the globe. It is lost to the atmosphere by transpiration and evaporation.

12. Which zone is a zone of non-saturation among vadose water?
a) Soil water
b) Intermediate water
c) Phreatic water
d) Water table
Answer: b
Clarification: The intermediate vadose zone occurs immediately below the zone of soil water. It is in fact a zone of non-saturation: water in this zone is moving downwards under the influence of gravity.

13. Which zones are together called zone of aeration?
a) Soil water and intermediate zone
b) Intermediate zone and zone of capillary water
c) Zone of capillary water and phreatic water
d) Soil water and phreatic water
Answer: a
Clarification: The intermediate zone is generally of small thickness and may be even absent in many cases. The soil water and intermediate zones are sometimes collectively referred to as the zone of aeration.

14. The zone of water which occurs only in fine particle size is __________
a) Soil water
b) Intermediate water
c) Phreatic water
d) Zone of capillary water
Answer: d
Clarification: The zone of capillary water, called capillary fringe is present only in the solids and rocks of fine-sized particles underlying the vadose zone. It is absent in the coarse sediments.

15. Which vadose water zone is also called the zone of saturation?
a) Soil water
b) Intermediate water
c) Phreatic water
d) Zone of capillary water
Answer: c
Clarification: The phreatic water zone, also called the zone of saturation lies below the capillary fringe, and it is the water held in this zone that is called groundwater in the real sense.

Engineering Geology Interview Questions and Answers for freshers on “Causes of Folding – 02”.

1. Which rock is lifted up during the folding due to intrusions?
a) Overlying metamorphic rocks
b) Overlying igneous rocks
c) Overlying sedimentary rocks
d) Overlying petroleum rocks
Answer: c
Clarification: In magmatic intrusions, highly viscous magma may be forced up gradually and with considerable force so that sedimentary host rocks overlying are lifted up to provide the space for the rising magma.

2. The process of folding which is considered to be non-tectonic is ___________
a) Differential compression
b) Tangential compression
c) Intrusions
d) Tangential tension
Answer: a
Clarification: Folding due to differential compression is totally dependent on the load from above and are attributed to superficial causes. These are, therefore, non-tectonic folds.

3. What is the indirect cause for warping or folding?
a) Homogenous strata
b) Non-homogenous strata
c) Inclined strata
d) Curved strata
Answer: b
Clarification: If the strata in question is not homogenous, the bending may not be uniform in character and results in warping or folding of different types.

4. What is the reason for rock bursts?
a) Change in attitude of rocks
b) Shattering of rocks
c) Intense precipitation
d) Strained nature
Answer: d
Clarification: All the stresses that have acted on the rocks during their folding are generally absorbed by these rocks by undergoing strain. Enough stored energy is released as soon as the excavations are made and this leads to rock bursts.

5. What is affected when the layers of undesirable nature are encountered?
a) Project cost
b) Time schedule
c) Safety of the project
d) All the three are affected
Answer: d
Clarification: Same layers may be repeated along an alignment or one or more encountered layers are of undesirable nature, the project cost may be affected as also the time schedule and safety of the project.

6. Axial zones are the places of maximum concentration of stresses.
a) True
b) False
Answer: a
Clarification: Folding is the response of the rocks to the stresses induced during the process. These stresses are often strong enough to break or shatter the rocks, especially in the axial zones, which are the places of maximum concentration of these forces.

7. Shattering makes the rocks ___________
a) Non-porous
b) Impervious
c) Stronger
d) Pervious
Answer: d
Clarification: Shattering effect is of utmost importance because shattered rocks become: weak in strength parameters of all types; porous and pervious in character.

8. The axial regions have to be avoided and there is no alternative method to utilize the place.
a) False
b) True
Answer: a
Clarification: Axial regions should be thoroughly studied and avoided if possible. If it is not possible to avoid them, these areas must be subjected to suitable processes of rock treatment for developing in them desired qualities of strength and imperviousness.

9. The process of folding which mainly causes uparching is ___________
a) Folding due to differential compression
b) Folding due to tangential shearing
c) Folding due to intrusions
d) Folding due to differential tension
Answer: c
Clarification: Intrusion of magma or even rock salt bodies from beneath has been found to be the cause of uparching of the overlying strata.

10. What is the cause of downward bending?
a) Differential compression
b) Differential shearing
c) Intrusions
d) Flowage folding
Answer: a
Clarification: Strata that are being compacted under load in a basin of sedimentation develop, with the passage of time, downward bending especially in the zones of maximum loading.

11. Which rock might undergo flowage folding?
a) Siltstone
b) Sandstone
c) Gypsum
d) Limestone
Answer: c
Clarification: Flowage folding is the principal process of folding in incompetent or weaker, plastic type of rocks such as clays, shales, gypsum and rock salt etc.

12. At what angle is the primary lateral compressive force said to act in tangential compression?
a) 60° to the trend of the folds
b) 90° to the trend of the folds
c) 30° to the trend of the folds
d) 45° to the trend of the folds
Answer: b
Clarification: In general, the primary lateral compressive force is believed to act at right angles to the trend of the folds.

Engineering Geology Multiple Choice Questions on ” Physical Properties – 01″.

1. Which of the following is not true about a mineral?
a) Naturally occurring
b) Inorganic substance
c) Organic substance
d) Definite chemical composition
Answer: c
Clarification: A mineral, is defined as, a naturally occurring inorganic solid substance that is characterized with a definite chemical composition and very often with a definite atomic structure.

2. Mineralogy deals with?
a) Individual properties of minerals
b) Formation of minerals
c) More of occurrence
d) Properties, formation and occurrence
Answer: d
Clarification: Mineralogy is the branch of geology dealing with the wide range of aspects related to minerals like their individual properties, mode of occurrence and mode of formation.

3. A colour is produced due to ___________
a) Reflection
b) Refraction
c) Absorption
d) Reflection and absorption
Answer: d
Clarification: A particular colour is produced by reflection of some and absorption of other components of white light.

4. Colour of a mineral depends upon its?
a) Atomic structure
b) Outer surface
c) Composition
d) Atomic structure and composition
Answer: d
Clarification: A mineral shows colour of that wavelength of the white light which is not absorbed by it by virtue of its composition and atomic structure.

5. Metallic minerals belong to which category with respect to colour?
a) Idiochromatic
b) Pseudochromatic
c) Allochromatic
d) Iridescence
Answer: a
Clarification: Idiochromatic having a characteristic, fairly constant colour related primarily to the composition of mineral. Metallic minerals belong to this category.

6. The type of mineral showing variable colour is?
a) Idiochromatic
b) Allochromatic
c) Iridescence
d) Pseudochromatic
Answer: b
Clarification: Allochromatic minerals have a variable colour; the variety in colour is generally due to minute quantities of colouring impurities thoroughly dispersed in the mineral composition.

7. The type of mineral which shows a set of colours in succession is?
a) Idiochromatic
b) Pseudochromatic
c) Allochromatic
d) Iridescence
Answer: b
Clarification: Pseudochromatic minerals show false colour. Such an effect generally happens when a mineral is rotated in hand; it is then seen to show a set colours in succession.

8. Allochromatic minerals may show more than two colours.
a) True
b) False
Answer: a
Clarification: Many non-metallic minerals like quartz, calcite, fluorine, tourmaline etc. may occur in more than two colours depending on the nature of impurities.

9. Pseudochromatism occurs due to ___________
a) Reflection
b) Transmittance
c) Refraction
d) Simultaneous reflection and refraction
Answer: d
Clarification: Psuodochromatism is attributed to simultaneous reflection and refraction from the mineral surface due to minute inclusions of impurities in the mineral at different locations.

10. The phenomenon due to which a mineral shows rainbow colours is?
a) Idiochromatism
b) Allochromatism
c) Iridescence
d) Pseudochromatism
Answer: c
Clarification: Some minerals may show rainbow colours either in their interior or on the exterior surface. This is called iridescence.

11. Play of colours is not desirable.
a) True
b) False
Answer: b
Clarification: Due to play of colours, the colours change in rapid succession on rotation and their effect is quite brilliant and appealing to the eye.

Engineering Geology Multiple Choice Questions on “Sedimentary Rocks and Their Mode of Formation”.

1. Which rock is also called secondary rock?
a) Igneous rock
b) Sedimentary rock
c) Metamorphic rock
d) No class of rock is termed so
Answer: b
Clarification: Sedimentary rocks are also called secondary rocks. This group includes a wide variety of rocks formed by accumulation, compaction and consolidation of sediments.

2. Which is the rock present in the majority on the surface of earth?
a) Igneous rock
b) Sedimentary rock
c) Metamorphic rock
d) No class of rock in particular
Answer: b
Clarification: Sedimentary rocks are known to cover as much as 75 percent of the surface of the earth the rest being covered by the igneous rocks and the metamorphic rocks.

3. What are the mechanically formed sedimentary rocks also called?
a) Clastic rocks
b) Non-clastic rocks
c) Elite rocks
d) Mech rocks
Answer: a
Clarification: Sedimentary rocks are broadly grouped into three classes on the basis of their mode of formation: Mechanically formed or Clastic rocks: Organically formed rocks and chemically rocks which are called as Non-clastic rocks.

4. Detrital rocks refer to which type of sedimentary rocks?
a) Mechanically formed
b) Organically formed
c) Chemically formed
d) Residual
Answer: a
Clarification: During the formation of the sedimentary rocks by a mechanical method, original hard and coherent rock bodies are gradually broken down into smaller fragments. This disintegrated, loosened material is called detritus. Hence, clastic rocks are often also called as detrital rocks.

5. The important phenomenon that happens during deposition is ________________
a) Settling
b) Erosion
c) Sorting
d) Blowing
Answer: c
Clarification: The most important phenomenon that happens to the sediments during their transport and deposition is sorting or grading according to their size, shape and density.

6. Deposition takes place in which conditions?
a) Ordinary pressure and temperature
b) High temperature and low pressure
c) High pressure and low temperature
d) High pressure and high temperature
Answer: a
Clarification: The sorting or grading occurs during the deposition stage of the formation of sedimentary rocks and the deposition happens in layers in most cases. Deposition generally takes place under ordinary pressure and temperature conditions.

7. The process not associated with diagenesis is ____________
a) Sediments get gradually converted to cohesive material
b) Sediments get gradually converted to hard material
c) Decaying occurs basically
d) Might occur due to pressure or cementing material
Answer: c
Clarification: The process of transformation of loose sediments deposited in the settlement basins to solid cohesive rock masses either under pressure or because of cementation is collectively known as diagenesis.

8. The process which involves pressure exerted by the load is ____________
a) Loading
b) Welding
c) Cementation
d) Unloading
Answer: b
Clarification: Welding is the process of compaction of the sediments accumulated in lower layers of a basin due to the pressure exerted by the load of the overlying sediments.

9. The process other than welding which is studied under diagenesis is ____________
a) Co-welding
b) Cementation
c) Pressurising
d) Unloading
Answer: b
Clarification: Diagenesis is achieved by two methods. They are welding and cementation. Cementation is the process by which loose grains or sediments in a settlement basin get held together by a binding material.

10. Rock salt may be formed by ____________
a) Erosion
b) Winds
c) Continued evaporation
d) Continued precipitation
Answer: c
Clarification: Limestone may be formed by precipitation from carbonated water due to loss of carbon dioxide. Rock salt may be formed from sodium-chloride rich seawater merely by the process of continued evaporation.

11. Example of chemically formed sedimentary rocks is ____________
a) Gypsum
b) Sandstone
c) Shale
d) Breccia
Answer: a
Clarification: Chemically formed rocks are of two types: precipitates and evaporites. Examples are limestones, rock salt, gypsum and anhydrite.

12. Pick the organically formed sedimentary rock.
a) Shale
b) Sandstone
c) Breccia
d) Limestone
Answer: d
Clarification: Limestones are the best examples of organically formed sedimentary rocks. Generally, the evidence of the source material gets obliterated from these rocks with the passage of time.

13. How is the degree of packing in welding related to load of overlying sediments?
a) Directly related
b) Inversely related
c) Not related at all
d) Totally independent
Answer: a
Clarification: Welding initially involves squeezing out of all or most of the water from in between the sediments, thus bringing them closer and closer and hence resulting in compaction. In fact the degree of packing of sediments in a sedimentary rock is directly proportional to the load of the overlying sediments.

14. Animal and vegetable life don’t contribute to the formation of sedimentary rocks.
a) True
b) False
Answer: b
Clarification: Animal and vegetable life, including microorganisms also contribute a fairly large supply of organic residues, which on gradual accumulation after the death of the source get compacted and turn into hard massive bodies of sedimentary rocks.

Engineering Geology Multiple Choice Questions on “Water Bearing Qualities of Rocks”.

1. The rock mass which is capable of yielding the contained water economically __________
a) Aquifer
b) Aquiclude
c) Aquifuge
d) Aquitard
Answer: a
Clarification: Aquifer is defined as a rock mass, layer or formation which is saturated with groundwater and which virtue of its properties is capable of yielding the contained water at economical costs when tapped.

2. Which among the following is not an example of the good aquifer?
a) Granite
b) Gravels
c) Limestones
d) Sandstones
Answer: a
Clarification: Gravels, limestones and sandstones generally form good aquifers when occurring in suitable geological conditions and geographic situations.

3. The formation which may be porous enough to hold enough quantity of water is __________
a) Aquifer
b) Aquiclude
c) Aquifuge
d) Aquitard
Answer: b
Clarification: A rock body or formation which may be porous enough to hold enough quantity of water which by virtue of its other properties does not allow an easy and quick flow through it, is called an aquiclude.

4. Example for best aquiclude is __________
a) Granites
b) Gravels
c) Compacted clay
d) Sandstone
Answer: c
Clarification: Aquiclude is to be treated as a practically impermeable rock mass. Compacted clay formation are the best example of aquicludes.

5. Which rock formation is absolutely impermeable?
a) Aquifer
b) Aquiclude
c) Aquifuge
d) Aquitard
Answer: c
Clarification: Aquifuge is an absolutely impermeable rock formation through which there is no possibility of storage or movement of water.

6. Granite and quartzite are examples of __________
a) Aquifer
b) Aquiclude
c) Aquifuge
d) Aquitard
Answer: c
Clarification: Aquifuge is almost free from pores and other interstices. Examples are compact interlocking granites and quartzites.

7. Which is the rock mass where partial perviousness is caused because of profuse jointing or cracks?
a) Aquifer
b) Aquiclude
c) Aquifuge
d) Aquitard
Answer: d
Clarification: Aquitard is a less common term used sometimes for an aquifuge or aquiclude that has become locally leaky due to the development of partial perviousness caused because of profuse jointing or cracks.

8. All rocks are suitable for holding groundwater.
a) True
b) False
Answer: b
Clarification: All rocks are neither capable nor suitable for holding and transmitting groundwater. The terms like aquifer, aquiclude, aquifuge need to be understood well for studying the concept of groundwater.