Geography · Science General
Rocks and Earth Materials
1,291 Questions
Study geographical questions centered around rocks, minerals, and earth materials. The focus is on the formation and identification of igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks. These earth science topics are commonly tested in civil services and state level examinations.
Igneous rocksSedimentary rocksMetamorphic processEarth materialsGeomorphic symbols
Rocks and Earth Materials Questions
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brown earth
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red earth
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red and brown stones
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reddish stone
D
Correct answer
Explanation
Mr. Tumnus's cave, where he invited Lucy for tea and attempted to betray her, was carved into a hillside. The cave walls were made of reddish stone, which provided a warm, dry shelter in the cold Narnian winter.
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Limestone
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Sandstone
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Marbel
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Quartzite
A
Correct answer
Explanation
The Great Pyramid of Giza was constructed using an estimated 2.3 million limestone blocks. The outer casing was made of highly polished white limestone from Tura, while the inner structure used local limestone quarried from the Giza plateau.
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graphite
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Volcanic glass, also known as obsidian
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A smaller lump of coal
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a diamond
D
Correct answer
Explanation
Coal is composed primarily of carbon. Under extreme pressure and high temperature over geological time, the carbon atoms rearrange into a crystal lattice structure, forming diamonds. This process occurs deep within the Earth's mantle. Graphite is also formed from carbon but under different conditions.
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shale is more porous so the oil tends to leak out over time
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shale, especially black shale, is much richer in primary organic matter than is sandstone
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sandstone is more abundant than shale
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sandstone is more permeable than shale, so fluids may flow through it faster
D
Correct answer
Explanation
Sandstone has higher permeability than shale, meaning it has interconnected pore spaces that allow petroleum to flow through freely. Shale may be porous but has extremely low permeability due to its fine-grained structure, which traps fluids rather than allowing them to migrate toward extraction points.
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as deposits around submarine, hot spring vents
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by decomposition of humus and soil gases during intense, tropical weathering
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by regional metamorphism of organic-rich, black shales
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as hydrothermal vein deposits in limestone around a granitic batholith
C
Correct answer
Explanation
Graphite primarily forms through regional metamorphism of organic-rich sedimentary rocks, particularly black shales. The high temperatures and pressures of metamorphism transform the carbonaceous material into crystalline graphite. This is the most common geological process for graphite formation.
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Graphite
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Volcanic glass, also known as obsidian
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A smaller lump of coal
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A diamond
D
Correct answer
Explanation
When coal (which is composed mostly of carbon) is subjected to extreme pressure and temperature deep within the Earth over millions of years, the carbon atoms rearrange into a crystalline structure to form diamonds. This process requires pressures of 45-60 kilobars and temperatures of 900-1300°C. The other options are incorrect transformations of coal.
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Bone repair
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Cancer treatment
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HIV treatment
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Analgesics research
A
Correct answer
Explanation
Coral skeletons are made of calcium carbonate with a porous structure similar to human bone, making them useful for bone grafts and repair materials in orthopedic surgery. Coral scaffolds provide a framework that new bone cells can grow into and eventually replace.
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R.D.X
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T.N.T
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Raw Dynamite
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Ammonium Nitrate
A
Correct answer
Explanation
Cyclonite is indeed another name for RDX (Research Department Explosive), a powerful military high explosive used in many applications. TNT (trinitrotoluene) is a different explosive compound, 'Raw Dynamite' is not a standard chemical name, and Ammonium Nitrate is a different compound used in fertilizers and some explosives.
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yes
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no
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do not know
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it never happens
A
Correct answer
Explanation
Volcanoes emit sulfur dioxide (SO2) and other gases that can react with water vapor in the atmosphere to form sulfuric acid, leading to acid rain. This is a natural source of acid rain, alongside human activities like burning fossil fuels. Major volcanic eruptions can significantly increase acidic precipitation in affected regions.
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Silica
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Sodium Bicarbonate
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Calcium Carbonate
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Magnesium Carbonate
C
Correct answer
Explanation
Stalactites (hanging from cave ceilings) and stalagmites (rising from floors) form primarily from calcium carbonate deposited by mineral-rich groundwater. While some formations contain silica, calcium carbonate is the dominant material. Sodium and magnesium carbonates are not the main components.
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Rock of baking soda
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Unglazed ceramic, clay, or stone tiles
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A stone-like substance for checking the heat of oven before baking
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A stone to accelerate heating
B
Correct answer
Explanation
A baking stone is a portable cooking surface made of unglazed ceramic, clay, or stone. It mimics the floor of a stone oven by absorbing and radiating heat evenly to the food (like pizza or bread), helping to create a crisp crust. It is not made of baking soda.
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at the bottom of certain parts of the Indian Ocean
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in certain types of caves just below the Earth's surface
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about 100 miles below the Earth's surface, in the mantle's molten rock
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bottom of the Pacific ocean
C
Correct answer
Explanation
Diamonds form approximately 100 miles below the Earth's surface in the mantle's molten rock under extreme pressure and temperature conditions. They are brought to the surface through volcanic pipes and kimberlite eruptions.
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Basalt
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Pumice
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Granite
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Diabase
B
Correct answer
Explanation
Pumice is a volcanic rock that is full of gas bubbles, making it less dense than water and causing it to float. Basalt, granite, and diabase are all dense rocks that sink.
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Dormant
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Effective
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Extinct
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Active
B
Correct answer
Explanation
Volcanoes are classified into three main types: Active (currently erupting or likely to erupt), Dormant (currently inactive but may erupt again), and Extinct (unlikely to ever erupt again). 'Effective' is not a scientific classification term for volcanoes - it appears to be a distractor word.
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graphite
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volcanic glass, also known as obsidian
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a smaller lump of coal
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a diamond
D
Correct answer
Explanation
Diamonds are formed when carbon-containing materials (like coal) are subjected to extreme pressure and heat over long periods in Earth's mantle. The carbon atoms rearrange into a crystal lattice structure, creating diamonds. Graphite requires different formation conditions, obsidian is volcanic glass, and coal doesn't just become a smaller version of itself.