Section 1: Geologic History (___/12 Points)

1.​ What is the average thickness of Oceanic Crust?

a.​ 6 km
b.​ 40 km
c.​ 100 km
d.​ 1000 km

2. What is the average thickness of Continental Crust?

a.​ 6 km
b.​ 40 km
c.​ 100 km
d.​ 1000 km

3. Which of the following is not true about Laurentia?

a.​ It is also known as the North American Craton
b.​ It is only made up of continental crust that is directly beneath what is now Canada and
the United States
c.​ It was first assembled 2.0-1.8 billion years ago
d.​ The continental crust that makes up Laurentia has been relatively stable for the last 600
million years

4. Which of the following is true about the Long Valley Caldera? (Tiebreaker #1)
a.​ The area is still geothermically active, and this activity is caused by a hot spot located
under the caldera.
b.​ The Long Valley volcano is likely to produce large-scale eruptions in the future
c.​ Unlike geysers at Yellowstone, the heat sources of Long Valley Caldera do not come with
poisonous gasses, making them relatively safe to swim in
d.​ Most of the caldera is filled with the ejecta from the eruption that initially produced the
caldera.
e.​ More than one of the above.

5. Describe the differences in the composition of oceanic and continental crust? [2]

6. Briefly describe why the Earth is made up of layers, and how those layers came to be. [2]

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Section 2: Plate Tectonics (___/49 Points)
7-14. Match the following scientists to their contribution to the theory of Plate Tectonics.
Answers may or may not be repeated. [2 points each]

7. Arthur Holmes a. First scientist to understand mantle convection and is the

author of The Principles of Physical Geology, the book that was
used to write ¾ of this test

8. Alfred Wegener b. Main advocate of the Expanding Earth hypothesis

9. Samuel Warren Carrey c. Proposed the theory of seafloor spreading

10. John Tuzo Wilson d. Believed that there was a supercontinent in the Pennsylvanian
because of the fossils found in the United States and Europe

11. Marie Tharp e. Proposed that there was a supercontinent called

“Urkontinent”

12. Harry Hess f. Proposed that plates might move over fixed hotspots in the
mantle, forming volcanic island chains like Hawaii

13. Hugo Benioff g. First to propose that subduction zones cause deep focus
earthquakes and is the creator of the seismograph

14. Antonio H. Mapped out the ocean floor with Bruce Heezen and
Snider-Pellegrini discovered the existence of the Mid Atlantic Ridge

15. Which of the following is a feature unique to Passive Margins?

a.​ Continental Slope
b.​ Continental Rise
c.​ Continental Shelf
d.​ Shelf Break

16. Which of the following is not an example of a Consuming Plate Margin?

a.​ Benioff Zones
b.​ Mid-Ocean Ridges
c.​ Orogenic Belts
d.​ Subduction Zones

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17. Which of the following Triple Junctions is not matched properly with the type of triple
junction?
a.​ Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, East African Rift - RRR
b.​ Mendocino Triple Junction - FFT
c.​ Rodrigues Triple Junction - TTT

18. Which of the following stages of the Wilson Cycle are not matched properly with its
characteristics?
a.​ Embryonic - young to mature mountain belts
b.​ Declining - trenches and island arcs at basin edge
c.​ Mature - ocean basin with continental margin
d.​ Juvenile - narrow seas, similar coasts on each side

19. The Tethys Sea was a portion of the ancient Tethys Ocean, and remnants of it can still be
found today. Which of the following is not a remnant of the Tethys Sea? (Tiebreaker #2)
a.​ Mediterranean Sea
b.​ Black Sea
c.​ Red Sea
d.​ Caspian Sea

20. How many years does it take for one complete supercontinent cycle to occur?
a.​ 50 millions years
b.​ 100 million years
c.​ 300 million years
d.​ 1 billion years

21. Which of the following is true about isostatic adjustments? (Tiebreaker #3)
a.​ The satellite GRACE would be effective at sensing gravitational anomalies caused by
isostasy.
b.​ Only features with extremely large masses (such as mountains) have detectable changes
in plumb lines.
c.​ John Henry Pratt stated that Earth’s crust has a uniform thickness below sea level
despite supporting unequal weights at different locations.
d.​ More than one of the above.
e.​ All of the above.

22. Alfred Wegener proposed the theory of plate tectonics, but it had some flaws. Describe his
theory, and what some of its flaws were. [5]

23. Briefly describe the Vine-Matthews Hypothesis, and how it supports the Theory of Seafloor
Spreading. Use “Magnetic Stripes” in your explanation. [4]

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24. Identify the following features (ignore the numbers, just a, b, and c): [3, 1 each]

25. Explain how a volcano forms at a subduction zone. [2]

26. What is the difference between a supercontinent and continent? [2]

27. Identify what caused the features circled in red and yellow, and describe an effect they have
on ocean water. [3, 1.5 Each] (Tiebreaker #4)

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Section 3: Earthquakes (___/52 Points)
28. At an underwater fault, a large section of the seafloor is displaced upwards. This will result
in:
a.​ A tsunami’s crest arriving at the coast first, causing the sea level to rapidly fall.
b.​ A tsunami’s crest arriving at the coast first, causing the sea level to rapidly rise.
c.​ A tsunami’s trough arriving at the coast first, causing the sea level to rapidly fall.
d.​ A tsunami’s trough arriving at the coast first, causing the sea level to rapidly rise.

Use the image to answer questions 29-31:

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29. Fault A is a:
a.​ Strike Slip Fault
b.​ Reverse Fault
c.​ Normal Fault
d.​ None of the above

30. Fault B is a:
a.​ Strike Slip Fault
b.​ Reverse Fault
c.​ Normal Fault
d.​ None of the above

31. Fault C is a:
a.​ Strike Slip Fault
b.​ Reverse Fault
c.​ Normal Fault
d.​ None of the above

32. What is the center of an earthquake called?

a.​ Epicenter
b.​ Center of Magnitude
c.​ Origin Point
d.​ Focus
e.​ More than one of the above

33. Rank the following earthquakes in order of increasing magnitude: 1960 Valdivia Earthquake,
1906 San Francisco Earthquake, 2011 Tohoku Earthquake, 1964 Prince WIlliam Sound
Earthquake.
a.​ Tohoku Earthquake, San Francisco Earthquake, Valdivia Earthquake, Prince William
Sound Earthquake
b.​ Prince William Sound Earthquake, San Francisco Earthquake, Valdivia Earthquake,
Tohoku Earthquake
c.​ Valdivia Earthquake, Prince William Sound Earthquake, Tohoku Earthquake, San
Francisco Earthquake
d.​ None of the above

34. How many seismograph stations are required to locate the epicenter of an earthquake?
a.​ 1
b.​ 2
c.​ 3
d.​ 4
e.​ None of the above

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Use the following image to answer questions 35-38.

35. Label on the image approximately where the crust, mantle, outer core, and inner core are. [4,
1 each]

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36. Which of the following letters corresponds with the location of the Lehmann Discontinuity?
a.​ A
b.​ B
c.​ C
d.​ D
e.​ E
f.​ F
g.​ None of the above

37. Which of the following letters corresponds with the location of the Mohorovicic
Discontinuity?
a.​ A
b.​ B
c.​ C
d.​ D
e.​ E
f.​ F
g.​ None of the above

38. Which of the following letters corresponds with the location of the Gutenberg Discontinuity?
a.​ A
b.​ B
c.​ C
d.​ D
e.​ E
f.​ F
g.​ None of the above

39. Which is true:

a.​ P-waves are transverse waves and can travel through only solids.
b.​ P-waves are longitudinal waves and can travel through both solids and
liquids.
c.​ S-waves are transverse waves and can only travel through liquids.
d.​ S-waves are longitudinal waves and can travel through both liquids and solids.

40. Contrast the types of earthquakes that occur at a subduction zone with the types of
earthquakes more common to mid ocean ridges. [2]

41. Explain how a blind thrust earthquake forms. [2]

42. Explain the difference between the Moment Magnitude and the Mercalli scales in terms of
how they measure the intensity of an earthquake. [4, 2 Each]

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Use the following image to answer questions 43-46.

43. What type of fault is the San Gregorio Fault? [1]

44. The San Gregorio Fault is not as well known as its cousin, the San Andreas Fault. However, it
still plays a large role in shaping California’s plate tectonics. Describe one way that the San
Gregorio fault can influence the tectonic activity in this region. [2]

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45. In 2011, researchers had mapped the San Gregorio fault and found that it is continuous for at
least 140 miles, and can cause a major earthquake that could potentially rupture that length.
According to the USGS, the San Gregorio fault could generate a magnitude-7.8 earthquake.
Describe 3 possible hazards that can result from an earthquake this strong. [6, 2 Each]

46. On the map, what kind of fault is present in this region? (other than the fault type mentioned
in question #43) [1]

47. The San Andreas fault has experienced aseismic creep. Define aseismic creep and explain the
impact that it will have on California’s landscape. [2]

48. Define the following in the context of P and/or S waves: [3, 1 Each]
a.​ Epicenter:
b.​ Shadow Zone:
c.​ Anticenter:

49. What effect does the Upper Mantle have on P-waves and S-waves. What is this area called?
What does this imply about the composition of this portion of the mantle? [3]

Section 4: Volcanism (___/31 Points)

50. Order the types of tephra in order of increasing size: Lapilli, Volcanic Bombs, Ash.
a.​ Lapilli, Volcanic Bombs, Ash
b.​ Lapilli, Ash, Volcanic Bombs
c.​ Ash, Lapilli, Volcanic Bombs
d.​ Ash, Volcanic Bombs, Lapilli

51. Which type of magma has the highest silica content?

a.​ Andesitic
b.​ Basaltic
c.​ Rhyolitic

52. Which of the following magma types is not correctly matched with the type of volcano it
normally is found in?
a.​ Basaltic/Shield Volcano
b.​ Rhyolitic/Cinder Cone Volcano
c.​ Andesitic/Stratovolcano
d.​ More than one of the above
e.​ None of the above

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53. Suppose that a hotspot traveled 2500 km over the course of the Cambrian Era. Which of the
following would be closest to the rate at which the plate above it moves?
a.​ 5 mm/year
b.​ 5 cm/year
c.​ 5 m/year
d.​ 5 km/year

54. A hot, fast, down-slope, turbulent flow of pyroclastic material mixed with gas is called a(n):
a.​ Lahar
b.​ Nuee Ardente
c.​ Eruption Column
d.​ Ash Fall
e.​ None of the above

55. For each of the following volcano types, briefly describe how they are formed, notable
characteristics one can use to identify them, and an example of a volcano of this type: [3, 1 Each]
a.​ Cinder Cone:
b.​ Stratovolcano:
c.​ Shield:

56. What rock is commonly found on cinder cone volcanoes that gives it an alternative name? [1]

57. What rock commonly forms when semi-molten lapilli accumulates and welds together? [1]

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58. Identify the types of volcanic eruptions, and for each, state if they are effusive, explosive, or
neither. [6, 1 Each]

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Use the following image to answer questions 59-65.

This satellite image is from ASTER, a radiometer that is used to see changes in land cover and
detection. The image above taken on April 10, 2019 is of Sabancaya, a volcano in Peru.

59. What type of volcano is Sabancaya? [1]

60. What is the feature circle in green? [1]

61. What are hazards from the feature in the previous question? [2]

62. What is the feature in red? [1]

63. Based on the recorded data from ASTER, why do you think they recorded data from
Sabanyaca at this particular time? [3] (Tiebreaker #5)

64. Name 2 climatic effects do volcanic eruptions have on the environment? [2]

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