EOSC 120: MIDTERM 2001

Answer any three questions; all are of equal value. Use labeled diagrams where possible. Write clearly.
 
 

  1. Combined with oxygen the seven next most abundant elements in the earth's crust form the common silicate minerals found in igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks. What are the seven elements, what common minerals would you find them in (be as specific as you can), and in what rocks (igneous, metamorphic or sedimentary) would you expect to find the minerals??
  2. Merapi is an active stratovolcano in Java. Summarize the main characteristics of stratovolcanoes and their origin. What hazards might Merapi present to nearby villages?
  3. Acid rock/mine drainage (ARD) in an environmental problem. What causes ARD and how might you reduce it if you were dealing with waste from an abandoned mine?
  4. Describe a soil profile and explain the processes going on in the different horizons. What are laterite soils and why are they relatively infertile compared to other soils?
  5. Summarize the main processes involved in weathering. Describe an experiment to quantify rates of weathering.
  6. In the excavation for the foundations of an office block we observe the following sequence of rocks from top to bottom:
    1. Sandstone
      Mudstone
      Sandstone
    How might such a sequence have developed?

Back to Eosc110, section 202