Category: Engineering Geology Objective Questions

Engineering Geology Questions and Answers for Experienced people on “Fault Terminology – 02”.

1. A fault has how many walls?
a) 1
b) 2
c) 3
d) 4

Answer: b
Clarification: In faults, the concept of walls is very important and must be understood very clearly. In a rock body, when a fracture takes place, it divided the rock into two parts or two blocks.

2. It is easy to locate older and major folds.
a) True
b) False

Answer: b
Clarification: It may be easy to locate fault planes or fault surfaces in small scale and in rather recent faults. In older and especially major faults spreading over miles of area, however, extensive field work including drilling or subsurface investigations using geophysical methods may be required to determine these structures.

3. What is the block which suffer displacement in faulting called?
a) Walls
b) Parts
c) Sections
d) Blocks

Answer: a
Clarification: The blocks which suffer displacement and stand on either sides of the fracture are called as walls. Generally there exist two types of walls, hanging wall and foot wall.

4. The block which lies on the under surface of fault plane or zone is called ___________
a) Hanging wall
b) Sub-wall
c) Foot wall
d) Lower wall

Answer: c
Clarification: The term foot wall is used for that faulted block which lies on the under surface of the fault plane or zone.

5. Who coined the terms “hanging wall” and “foot wall”?
a) Scientists
b) Geologists
c) Engineers
d) Miners

Answer: d
Clarification: Actually the terms “hanging wall” and “foot wall” have been coined by the miners: while traversing along a track excavated in fault plane, the wall under their feet would be foot wall whereas the other block would hang above their heads.

6. What is a small region with definite thickness and distinct composition having numerous closely placed parallel fractures called?
a) Shear zone
b) Fault zone
c) Fracture zone
d) Slikensides

Answer: b
Clarification: Fault zone is a small region with definite thickness and distinct composition having numerous closely placed parallel fractures within itself along which there have been clear displacements.

7. What is the nature of displacement in shear zone?
a) Ductile
b) Brittle
c) Malleable
d) Sonorous

Answer: a
Clarification: The displacements in shear zones are generally ductile in nature compared to brittle fracturing in simple faults or fault zones.

8. Identify the part labelled as “A” in the figure below.

a) Shear zones
b) Fracture zone
c) Fault zone
d) A-zone

Answer: c
Clarification: We can observe numerous parallel placed fractured blocks in the shown region and this is possible in a fault zone. The picture depicts fault zone with distinct thickness and closely placed parallel fractures.

9. Slip is expressed in terms of ___________
a) Millimetres
b) Metres
c) Kilometres
d) All the three

Answer: d
Clarification: The slip is defined as a relative displacement of any points that were formerly contiguous to each other, as measured along the fault plane. It may be expressed in millimetres, metres or even kilometres.

10. The type of slip not considered for study is ___________
a) Strike slip
b) Dip slip
c) Hade slip
d) Oblique slip

Answer: c
Clarification: The slip is further distinguished on the basis of the direction of displacement with respect to the fault as dip-slip, strike-slip or oblique slip. Hade slip is not one such.

11. What is the vertical component of dip separation called?
a) Offset
b) Throw
c) Heave
d) Strike gap

Answer: b
Clarification: Throw is the vertical component of the dip separation measured in the direction perpendicular to the strike of the fault in a vertical plane.

Engineering Geology for Experienced people,

Engineering Geology Multiple Choice Questions on “Physical Properties – 03”.

1. Hardness of human nail varies between ___________
a) 0.5 to 1.5
b) 3 to 4
c) 1.5 to 2.5
d) 2.5 to 3.5
Answer: c
Clarification: Some common materials have been assigned hardness values according to Mohs scale and may prove useful in determination of hardness of an unknown mineral quickly. Hardness of human finger nail varies between 1.5 and 2.5.

2. Hardness is which kind of property?
a) Isotropic
b) Anisotropic
c) Homogenous
d) Non-homogenous
Answer: b
Clarification: Hardness is an anisotropic property; a mineral may show different values in different directions.

3. How does hardness vary with decomposition?
a) Increases with decomposition
b) Decreases with decomposition
c) Does not change
d) Either decreases or increases
Answer: b
Clarification: Hardness decreases on the decomposition of a mineral due to atmospheric attack on the surface. Hence, it must be checked on unweathered and unaltered surfaces.

4. Hardness is a relative property.
a) True
b) False
Answer: b
Clarification: Hardness is a relative property. If talc has H=1 and Quartz H=7, it does not indicate quartz is seven times harder than talc.

5. The tendency of a crystallized mineral to break along certain directions yielding more or less smooth, plane surfaces is ___________
a) Tenacity
b) Hardness
c) Cleavage
d) Fracture
Answer: c
Clarification: Cleavage is defined as the tendency of a crystallized mineral to break along certain directions yielding more or less smooth, plane surfaces. In other words, cleavage are the planes easiest fractures and are essentially indicative of directions of least cohesion.

6. Cleavage is described in terms of ___________
a) Number of direction
b) Degree of perfect splitting
c) Degree of cracking
d) Degree of perfect splitting and number of direction
Answer: d
Clarification: Cleavage is described both in terms of a number of directions in which it is observed on a mineral and also in terms of the degree of perfect splitting.

7. The type of cleavage due to the mineral can be split very easily is ___________
a) Eminent cleavage
b) Distinct cleavage
c) Basal cleavage
d) Cubic cleavage
Answer: a
Clarification: In terms of perfection, the cleavage is described as eminent, perfect, good, distinct and indistinct in that order. In eminent cleavage, the mineral can be split very easily yielding extremely smooth surfaces, e.g., in mica.

8. Mineral which shows parting is ___________
a) Orthoclase
b) Calcite
c) Mica
d) Corundum
Answer: d
Clarification: Parting is a property of minerals by virtue of which it can be split easily along certain secondary planes. Best example of parting can be seen in corundum where cleavage may be absent but parting may be very prominent.

9. Pick the wrong statement about the fracture.
a) It is the broken surface of a mineral along the direction of cleavage
b) It is the broken surface of a mineral in a direction other than that of cleavage
c) In some cases it becomes a characteristic property of a mineral
d) Even and uneven are examples of fractures
Answer: a
Clarification: The appearance of the broken surface of a mineral in a direction other than that of cleavage is generally expressed by the term fracture. In some cases, fracture becomes a characteristic property of a mineral.

10. The term which means, rough woody fracture is ___________
a) Uneven
b) Conchoidal
c) Splintry
d) Hackly
Answer: c
Clarification: When the mineral breaks with a rough woody fracture resulting in rough projection at the surface it is known as sprintly fracture. Example, Kyanite.

11. The behaviour of a mineral towards the forces that tend to destroy it is called ___________
a) Hardness
b) Resistance
c) Tenacity
d) Crystal degree
Answer: c
Clarification: The behaviour of a mineral towards the forces that tend to break, bend, cut or crush it is described by the term tenacity.

Engineering Geology Multiple Choice Questions on “Classification of Sedimentary Rocks”.

1. The process not contributing to clastic rocks is _____________
a) Weathering
b) Oxidation
c) Erosion
d) Deposition
Answer: b
Clarification: The mechanically formed sedimentary rocks undergo processes like- weathering, erosion, transport, deposition and diagenesis. Oxidation is considered under to be a non-clastic cause.

2. What is the size required for a particle to be called gravel?
a) Greater than 1 mm
b) Lesser 1 mm
c) Greater than 2 mm
d) Lesser than 1 mm
Answer: c
Clarification: All sediments and clastic fragments of rocks above the size of 2 mm irrespective of their composition and shape are broadly termed as gravels.

3. What is not true about silts?
a) They are coarser than sand
b) They are finer than sand
c) They are further divided into fine, medium and fine silts
d) They are major constituents of shale
Answer: a
Clarification: Silts are very fine-sized particles of varying composition lying in the range 1/16 mm and 1/256 mm. they are further divided into three categories, fine, medium and coarse. The silts are the major constituents of rocks known as shales.

4. What is the average grain size of rudaceous rocks?
a) Greater than 1 mm
b) Lesser 1 mm
c) Greater than 2 mm
d) Lesser than 1 mm
Answer: c
Clarification: Rudites or rudaceous rocks include all coarse-grained rocks of heterogeneous composition. The average grain size of the constituents in rudites is greater than 2 mm.

5. Give an example for rudaceous rock.
a) Breccia
b) Shale
c) Limestone
d) Sandstone
Answer: a
Clarification: In rudaceous rocks gravels are held together in the form of a rock by natural cementing material. Breccias and conglomerates are important examples of rudites.

6. Rudites are also called as ____________
a) Arenites
b) Psamites
c) Lutites
d) Psephites
Answer: d
Clarification: Rudites or rudaceous rocks are also called as psephites. Rudites are made up of boulders, cobbles and pebbles collectively known as gravels.

7. The arenaceous rocks have the grain size equal to ____________
a) Gravel
b) Sand
c) Silt
d) Clay
Answer: b
Clarification: The arenites are also called as arenaceous rocks. These are made up of sediments of sand grade (2mm-1/16 mm).

8. An example for arenite would be ____________
a) Breccia
b) Shale
c) Limestone
d) Sandstone
Answer: d
Clarification: In a particular rock, the sand grains of a particular size range may be predominating giving rise to coarse, medium and fine arenites. Sandstones, greywackes and arkoses are common types of arenites.

9. Which of the following are finest grain sized?
a) Rudaceous rocks
b) Arenaceous rocks
c) Argillaceous rocks
d) Psephites
Answer: c
Clarification: Argillaceous rocks are also called as lutites. Lutites may be defined as sedimentary rocks of the finest grain-size. They are made up of silt and clay grades.

10. A clastic rock might not have more than one grade.
a) True
b) False
Answer: b
Clarification: Many times a clastic rock may be made of sediments of more than one grade. It is the dominant grade that is taken into consideration while classifying the rock.

11. Non-detrital rocks refer to ____________
a) Clastic rock
b) Non-clastic rock
c) Residual rock
d) None of the types
Answer: b
Clarification:The non-clastic rocks are also called non-detrital rocks. They are generally homogeneous in character, fine-grained in particle size and varying in chemical composition.

12. Pick the type of sedimentary not belonging to chemically formed rocks.
a) Oxide rocks
b) Carbonaceous rocks
c) Ferruginous deposits
d) Siliceous deposits
Answer: d
Clarification: The sedimentary rocks under the chemically formed deposits are Siliceous deposits, carbonate deposits, ferruginous, phosphatic and evaporites.

Engineering Geology Multiple Choice Questions on “Different Rock as Aquifers”.

1. Which sedimentary rock is told to be the best kind of formation for groundwater?
a) Sandstone
b) Shale
c) Gravel
d) Limestone
Answer: c
Clarification: Gravels are classed among the best kind of formations to yield groundwater. But these too show a great variation in their water bearing properties depending on the degree of assortment, packing and cementing of the grains.

2. The rock which shows great variation in water yielding capacity is __________
a) Sandstone
b) Granite
c) Coal
d) Marble
Answer: a
Clarification: Sandstones are the sedimentary rocks that show great variation in their water yielding capacity which is chiefly controlled by their texture and nature of the cementing material.

3. What is rated next to the gravels as water yielding materials?
a) Sandstone
b) Sands
c) Granite
d) Limestone
Answer: b
Clarification: Sand beds or loosely packed sandstones are rated next to gravels as water yielding materials.

4. The porosity range of limestone is __________
a) 50 to 75%
b) 20 to 50%
c) 10 to 40%
d) 1 to 20%
Answer: d
Clarification: The porosity of limestones varies from 1 to 20%. Hydraulic conductivity in highly karsted limestones may be as high as 100 m/day or even more, to be classed among the extremely permeable rocks.

5. What are the qualities required for glacial deposits to make good aquifers?
a) Uniform size and rounded nature
b) Non-uniform and angular nature
c) Uniform size and angular nature
d) Non-uniform and rounded nature
Answer: a
Clarification: When the glacial deposits are made up of sediments of uniform size and rounded nature, they present with best quality. When sufficiently thick and extensive, these may be depended as reliable groundwater reservoirs.

6. Igneous rocks are intrusive in nature.
a) True
b) False
Answer: b
Clarification: Igneous rocks are either intrusive or extrusive in nature. The intrusive igneous rocks are dense in texture with all the component minerals very closely crystallized. The extrusive rocks exhibit great variation in their water bearing properties.

7. The igneous rock rich in cavities is __________
a) Granite
b) Basalt
c) Gabbro
d) Dolomite
Answer: b
Clarification: Basic volcanic rocks like basalts, are characterized by greater gas content and high mobility at the time of eruption.

8. When can a surface become porous and permeable or water bearing?
a) Weathered
b) Weathered and wet
c) Weathered and disintegrated
d) Disintegrated and wet
Answer: c
Clarification: In all igneous rocks, the surface zone when highly weathered and disintegrated may become quite porous and permeable and hence water-bearing.

9. The fractured and fissured metamorphic rock is similar in character to which igneous rock?
a) Volcanic
b) Plutonic
c) Hypabyssal
d) Dykes
Answer: b
Clarification: The profusely fractured and fissured metamorphic rocks exhibit similar characters of that of the igneous rocks of plutonic nature. Groundwater will be found in the fractured zones without lateral and vertical continuity.

10. Metamorphic rocks that are inherently fractured and foliated may prove to be good aquifers.
a) True
b) False
Answer: a
Clarification: Metamorphic rocks that are inherently fractured and foliated such as slates, schists, phyllites and often gneisses, may prove exceptionally good aquifers, in a broader sense.

Engineering Geology Multiple Choice Questions on “Tunnels and Their Types”.

1. The underground routes or passages driven through the ground without disturbing overlying soil cover are called __________
a) Bridges
b) Passages
c) Tunnels
d) Sub-routes
Answer: c
Clarification: Tunnels may be defined as underground routes or passages driven through the ground without disturbing the overlying soil or rock cover. Tunnels are driven for a variety of purposes.

2. Type of tunnels which are excavated to divert the traffic load of whatsoever type from surface to subsurface routes.
a) Traffic tunnels
b) Hydropower tunnels
c) Public utility tunnels
d) Delivery tunnels
Answer: a
Clarification: The traffic tunnels include all tunnels which are excavated to divert the traffic load of whatsoever type from surface to subsurface routes for a short length with a view of facilitating the flow of traffic at a desired speed, maximum convenience and at minimum cost.

3. Pick the tunnel which is not a sub-group of traffic tunnels.
a) Railway tunnels
b) Sewage tunnels
c) Highway tunnels
d) Pedestrian tunnels
Answer: b
Clarification: The railway tunnels, the highway tunnels and the pedestrian tunnels are the main sub-groups of traffic tunnels. A few navigational tunnels also fall under this category.

4. Tunnels associated with hydropower generation are called __________
a) Energy tunnels
b) Power tunnels
c) Generation tunnels
d) Hydropower tunnels
Answer: d
Clarification: During twentieth century most of the tunnelling has been in connection with hydropower generation. Such tunnels are aptly called “hydropower” tunnels.

5. Type of hydropower tunnel where water is conveyed under gravity is __________
a) Discharge tunnel
b) Pressure tunnel
c) Supply tunnel
d) Delivery tunnel
Answer: a
Clarification: In most cases hydropower tunnels are driven through rocks for the purpose of conveying water under gravity from one point to another. In such cases, they are called discharge tunnels.

6. Type of hydropower tunnel where water is conveyed under high pressure to turbines is __________
a) Discharge tunnel
b) Pressure tunnel
c) Supply tunnel
d) Delivery tunnel
Answer: b
Clarification: The other type of hydropower tunnels are those which feed water under great pressure to turbines and are distinguished as pressure tunnels.

7. Underground excavations for carrying pipes, sewage etc. fall under which type?
a) Traffic tunnels
b) Hydropower tunnels
c) Public utility tunnels
d) Delivery tunnels
Answer: c
Clarification: Public utility tunnels include a variety of underground excavations made for specific purposes such as for disposal of urban waste (sewage tunnels), for carrying pipes, cables and supplies of oil, water etc.

8. Subway and tube railways are studied under which type of tunnels?
a) Traffic tunnels
b) Hydropower tunnels
c) Public utility tunnels
d) Delivery tunnels
Answer: c
Clarification: Subways and tube railways also fall in the category of excavations but they are, in most cases, not tunnels in the strict sense because they are excavations made in the ground and then covered from the top.

9. Method of placing tubes in public utility tunnels is called __________
a) Covering method
b) Digging method
c) Slash and cover method
d) Cut and cover method
Answer: d
Clarification: The method of placing the tubes or tracks is called cut and cover method and not tunnelling in which, top cover remains undisturbed and intact during the excavation.

10. Geologically, how many classes of tunnels are recognized?
a) 2
b) 3
c) 5
d) 4
Answer: a
Clarification: Geologically speaking, only two classes of tunnels are recognized: tunnels driven through rocks (rock tunnelling) and tunnels driven through soil, loose sediments or saturated ground (soft-ground tunnelling).

11. Traffic tunnels are always constructed for kilometres.
a) True
b) False
Answer: b
Clarification: Traffic tunnels may vary in length from a few meters to many kilometres and have been excavated in almost all major countries of the world.

Engineering Geology Multiple Choice Questions on “Fault Terminology – 03”.

1. Heave is _______
a) Horizontal component of dip separation
b) Vertical component of dip separation
c) Normal horizontal displacement measured
d) Signifying separation between two beds
Answer: a
Clarification: Heave is the horizontal component of dip separation measured in a direction perpendicular to the strike of the fault in a vertical plane.

2. What signifies the actual separation between two beds?
a) Throw
b) Offset
c) Heave
d) Stratigraphic throw
Answer: d
Clarification: Stratigraphic throw signifies actual separation between two beds with a known stratigraphical position in a sequence of rocks that are now brought into contact by faulting.

3. What is the term related to slickensides and used to express the angular relationship?
a) Rake
b) Tweak
c) Slick
d) Offset
Answer: a
Clarification: Rake is a term related to slickensides in faults. It is used to express the angular relationship of slickensides or some other line with the fault plane.

4. Pick the term which is not a crushed material.
a) Gouge
b) Fault breccia
c) Kaolynite
d) Mylonite
Answer: c
Clarification: Rubbing and mutual shearing of blocks during faulting, especially in brittle rocks, often produces typical crushed materials from the involved blocks that are useful indicators of faulting in that region. The most common and important products are: Gouge, Fault breccia and Mylonite.

5. What is also called as Micro breccia?
a) Gouge
b) Mylonite
c) Kaolynite
d) Shale
Answer: b
Clarification: Mylonite is also called as micro-breccia and is similar to fault breccia but contains very fine-grained broken particles from the involved rocks that get thoroughly cemented and compacted.

6. The finely pulverized, clay-like powdered rock material is ___________
a) Gouge
b) Fault breccia
c) Mylonite
d) Illite
Answer: a
Clarification: Gouge is finely pulverized, clay-like powdered rock material, which occurs at or near the base of the faulted zones.

7. The evidence of slickensides is easily observed in old faults.
a) True
b) False
Answer: b
Clarification: The evidence of slickensides may be expected only on the recently faulted surfaces because in the old faults such an evidence is more likely to be removed by subsequent weathering.

8. Identify the type of slip from the figure below.

a) Strike slip
b) Dip slip
c) Oblique slip
d) Throw slip
Answer: b
Clarification: The displacement has essentially taken place along the dip of the fault. Hence the figure represents dip slip.

9. Identify the part labelled as “A” in the figure below.

a) Throw
b) Slickensides
c) Heave
d) Offset
Answer: b
Clarification: The part “A” is clearly bearing the evidence of frictional rubbing against each other suffered by them during the process of displacement due to faulting. Hence it is showing slickensides.

10. Gouge and fault breccia are both in finely powdered form.
a) True
b) False
Answer: b
Clarification: Gouge is the finely powdered form but faulted breccia is not. Faulted breccia is crushed angular, fragmentary material produced during faulting, especially when the rocks are brittle and hard.

11. Identify the region marked as “OP2”.
a) Slip
b) Throw
c) Heave
d) Strike
Answer: c
Clarification: Heave is the horizontal component of dip separation measured in a direction perpendicular to the strike of the fault in a vertical plane.