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

Multiple choice

Which of the following is the most explosive volcano?

  1. Shield volcano

  2. Broad volcano

  3. Composite volcano

  4. Caldera
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Calderas represent the most explosive volcanic systems, formed by massive eruptions that empty magma chambers causing ground collapse. Shield volcanoes are least explosive (lava flows), composite volcanoes are moderately explosive, while caldera-forming eruptions are the most violent (e.g., Yellowstone, Krakatoa).

Multiple choice

Name the mineral which is commonly found in meteorites.

  1. Quartz

  2. Pyroxene

  3. Feldspar

  4. Amphibole
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Pyroxene is a common mineral found in meteorites, particularly in stony meteorites. It is a silicate mineral that makes up a significant portion of many meteoritic materials, more commonly than the other options listed.

Multiple choice

Which is the main source of minerals?

  1. Magma

  2. Sea floor

  3. High mountain ridge

  4. Continental plate
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Magma is molten rock beneath Earth's surface that contains minerals in dissolved form. As magma cools and solidifies, minerals crystallize and concentrate, forming mineral deposits. The sea floor, mountain ridges, and continental plates are locations where minerals might be found, but magma is the primary source from which minerals originate.

Multiple choice

The ALH84001 meteorite is believed to have arrived from the ___________.

The term ‘meteorite’ is a substance that is originated in the outer space and falls on the Earth's surface. The ALH84001 meteorite is hypothesized to have arrived from Mars and the subject of controversy of having life form remains.

  1. Mercury

  2. Venus

  3. Mars

  4. Jupiter

  5. Saturn
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Mars is the fourth nearest planet of the solar system. The ALH84001 meteorite is to have come from Mars.

Multiple choice

What is a meteoroid?

  1. The small pieces of rocks, which move around the Sun.

  2. Parts of a planet, which exploded many years back.

  3. Huge pieces of rock, which move around the Sun in fixed paths.

  4. The huge pieces of rocks moving around the planets.

  5. An icy small object, which when passing close to the Sun, heats up and begins to outgas.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

This is the correct option.

Multiple choice

Which process causes breaking of rocks?

  1. Weathering

  2. Raining

  3. Thundering

  4. Grinding
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Weathering is the natural process of breakdown and alteration of rocks and minerals at or near the Earth's surface through physical, chemical, and biological processes. This causes rocks to break into smaller particles over time.

Multiple choice

Which of the following type of rocks has the smallest size particles?

  1. Clay

  2. Silt

  3. Sand

  4. Gravel
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Clay particles are the finest among soil particle sizes, typically less than 0.002mm in diameter. Silt particles are larger (0.002-0.05mm), sand even larger (0.05-2mm), and gravel is the coarsest (>2mm). The smaller the particle size, the greater the surface area and water-holding capacity.

Multiple choice

Which of the following statements is/are true?

  1. 80% of the geothermal energy of the Earth's crust originates from radioactive decay of minerals.
  2. The US is the largest producer of geothermal energy.

  1. Only 1

  2. Only 2

  3. Both of these

  4. Neither of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Statement 1 is correct. The geothermal energy of the Earth's crust originates from the original formation of the planet (20%) and from radioactive decay of minerals (80%). At the core of the Earth, most of the thermal energy is created by radioactive decay.

Statement 2 is correct: The United States led the world in geothermal electricity production with 3086 megawatts (MW) of installed capacity from 77 power plants.

Multiple choice

What do you mean by meteorites?

  1. Small meteors are known as meteorites.

  2. Meteors that reach the surface of the earth before evaporating completely are called meteorites.

  3. Meteors that crash into the surface of the earth at night time only are called meteorites.

  4. Meteors that reach the surface of the earth after cooling down in the cold upper reaches of the atmosphere are called meteorites.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Meteors that reach the surface of Earth before evaporating completely are known as meteorites. 

Multiple choice

Which is TRUE about sedimentary rocks?

  1. limestone is made of nitrate minerals

  2. limestone readily fizzes with acid and limestone is made of carbonate minerals

  3. the red of sandstone is usually due to calcium compounds

  4. hard wearing, not easily weathered, even by acid rain

  5. usually non-porous
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

yes, it is true about limestone which is a sedimentary rock.

Multiple choice

Which rock description is most likely to be that of the basalt?

  1. usually orange-red, porous, sometimes fossils

  2. larger crystals, many colours, close grained (non-porous), no fossils

  3. dark coloured, close grained, small crystals, no fossils

  4. usually white-grey-yellow, often fossils, porous

  5. usually white,porous,sometimes fossils
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

yes,It is basalt,which is a igneous rock.

Multiple choice

In general, rocks can best be described as a

  1. mixtures of compounds

  2. pure element

  3. pure compound

  4. mixtures of metals

  5. mixture of acids
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Rocks are formed by the deposition of many inorganic minerals. So, it is a mixture of compounds.