Geology 12 Exam Review Package

Exam Date: Monday, June 11th, Morning Sitting

Supplies: Pen, pencil, eraser, calculator (all graphing calculators will have their memories cleared

at the start of the exam. It would be preferable if standard calculators were used).

Exam Format:

-The final exam is cumulative and is worth 30% of your final mark.

- Multiple choice: 100 marks

-Each unit covered this year will be represented. Questions will include identification (from

colour photographs), processes, definitions and characteristics. Use your quizzes and tests and

old provincial exams (distributed in class) to review.

-Short Answer: 50 marks

-Questions will include explaining/describing, definitions, sketches/structures/processes,

photograph identification, application.

-Data booklet will include:

a) Colour photographs (for various questions)

b) Moh’s Hardness Scale

c) Properties of Common and Important Minerals

d) Rock Identification Tables (Igneous, Sedimentary, Metamorphic)

e) Bowen’s Reaction Series

f) Fossil and Geologic Time Scale

g) Half Life Table

Table of Specifications: Approximate weighting of curriculum organizers on final exam

Topic Percentage of Final Exam

Introduction to Geology 5 %

Earth Materials 30 %

Earth Resources 5 %

Geologic Time 20 %

Internal Processes and Plate Tectonics 30 %

Surface Process and Hydrosphere 10 %

Geology 12 : Introduction to Geology

Purpose: To explain the significance of Geology as a discipline and explore the our basic understandings

of Earth.

Text: Chapter 1

-By the end of this unit, students are expected to be able to:

1. Explain the significance of geology as a discipline:

a) Describe methods of obtaining, displaying and analyzing information about Earth.

b) Be able to describe Earth’s basic structure.

c) Recognize the significance of uniformitarianism as a fundamental principle of geology.

d) Relate Earth’s geology to its formation.

e) Describe the origin of the Universe and Solar System.

f) Know the general characteristics of the Inner and Outer Planets.

Geology 12 : Minerals Unit

Purpose: To classify minerals and mineral groups

according to their chemical composition.

Text: Chapter 2 Lab: Lab 3

-By the end of this unit, students are expected to be able

to:

1. Outline the importance and abundance of various

elements in the Earth’s crust. (Text: 46, 54-55)

2. Differentiate between rocks and minerals. (Text: 34-35;

Lab: 57 to 58).

3. Demonstrate an ability to use the following properties in identifying minerals. (Text: 39-45; Lab: 59 to

69)

a) Simple crystal shape b) Cleavage c) Fracture

d) Hardness (Mohs’ hardness scale) e) Specific gravity (relative density)

f) Colour g) Streak h) Lustre

i) Special properties (e.g. magnetism, reaction to dilute HCL)

4. Describe, identify, and classify the following minerals using references or tests as appropriate. (Text:

46-55)

a) Silicates (e.g. quartz) b) Oxides (e.g. hematite) c) Sulphides (e.g. pyrite)

d) Carbonates (e.g. calcite) e) Sulphates (e.g. gypsum) f) Native elements (e.g. gold)

g) Halides (e.g. halite)

Geology 12: Igneous Rocks and Processes

Purpose: To classify igneous rocks and

features by their physical and chemical

properties.

Text: Chapter 3, 4 Lab: Lab 5

-By the end of this unit, students are

expected to be able to:

1. Describe factors affecting crystal size:

-cooling rate, flow behavior, viscosity

(nucleation)

2. Relate texture to rate of the crystallization for intrusive (plutonic) and extrusive (volcanic) igneous

rocks:

3. Identify and classify igneous rocks according to:

4. Describe the features of the following

igneous rocks: (Text pg. 75-81, Lab pg. 92,

93, 97- 103).

Granite Diorite Gabbro

Peridotite Andesite

Tuff Rhyolite Basalt Volcanic breccia Obsidian

Pegmatite Pumice Porphyry

5. Explain the order of crystallization of minerals from magma (Bowen’s Reaction Series). (Text pg. 65,

Lab pg. 96)

6. Distinguish among these volcanic features: (Text pg. 85; 98-110, Lab pg. 114-116)

Shield volcanoes Composite or strato volcanoes Cinder cones

Fissure eruptions Columnar jointing Volcanic domes

Lava plateaus

Texture Composition

Coarse Grained Felsic

Fine Grained Intermediate

Vesicular Mafic

Glassy Ultra-Mafic

Fragmental (Pyroclastic)

8. Distinguish among the following volcanic features by composition, flow behaviour and their resulting

rock or feature: (Text pg. 93-98)

Lava Ash flows or nuee ardente Pillow lava

Aa Pahoehoe

9. Identify and describe: (Text pg. 81-86, Lab pg. 114-116)

Batholiths Sills Dikes Xenoliths

Stocks Pluton

Geology 12: Sedimentary Rocks and Processes

Purpose: To classify sedimentary rocks and features

by their physical and chemical properties.

Text: Chapter 5, 6 Lab: Lab 6

-By the end of this unit, students are expected to be

able to:

1. Outline the origin and process of sedimentary rock

formation.

2. Contrast clastic sediments with chemical

(precipitate or biochemical) sediments and the rocks

they become.

3. Describe the features of, and identify, the

following sedimentary rocks:

Conglomerate Limestone Breccia Chert

Sandstone Gypsum Siltstone Rock Salt

Shale Coal

4. Diagram and describe the following sedimentary features and use them to reconstruct hypothetical

sedimentary environments:

a) Sedimentary structures: Stratification, crossbedding, ripple marks, mud cracks, graded bedding, varves.

b) Particle size, shape and sorting.

c) Fossils and organic structures

Geology 12: Metamorphic Rocks and Processes

Purpose: To classify metamorphic rocks and features by their

physical and chemical properties.

Text: Chapter 7 Lab: Lab 7

-By the end of this unit, students are expected to be able to:

1. Relate the types and characteristics of metamorphic rocks to:

a) Parent Rock b) Temperature

c) Pressure d) Chemical Conditions

2. Describe the features of, and identify, the following sedimentary rocks:

Slate Phyllite Schist Gneiss Metaconglomerate

Quartzite Marble

3. Contrast the two major categories of metamorphic rocks:

a) Foliated b) Non-foliated

4. Contrast the two types of metamorphism:

a) Contact b) Regional

5. Describe changes that occur in country rock and in the intrusion at a contact region.

6. Relate metamorphic rock type to the concept of metamorphic grade.

Geology 12: Geologic Time Unit

Purpose: To classify metamorphic rocks and features by their physical and

chemical properties.

Text: 8 Lab: Lab 8

-By the end of this unit, students are expected to be able to:

1. Relate relative age dating to the development of the Geological Time Scale:

a) Define relative age

b) Determine the relative ages of different formations using available resources

c) Give examples of unconformities and interpret their significance

d) The sequence of major events in Earth’s history

e) Determine the geological history of Earth using relative dating techniques

2. Contrast relative and absolute dating:

a) Define absolute dating

b) Explain how half-lives of radioactive elements are used in estimating the ages of materials.

c) Evaluate the sources of error in estimating a radiometric age.

d) Use the Geological Time Scale to help interpret the history of a sequence of rocks.

3. Relate the fossil record to the Geological Time Scale (Many of the following points were covered in

the Sedimentary Rock Unit):

a) Define fossil and identify conditions necessary for their formation.

b) Describe the process of original preservation.

c) Differntiate between fossils and trace fossils

d) Analyze the characteristics of a fossil that would make it an index fossil.

e) Relate principles of evolution to the interpretation of the fossil record.

f) Describe the probable environment suggested by a fossil assemblage.

g) Correlate sequences of rock using index fossils or rock data.

Geology 12 : Geological Resources

Purpose: To understand the origin and significance of Earth resources.

Text: Chapter 1

-By the end of this unit, students are expected to be able to:

1. Trace the origins of geological resources (Be prepared to discuss your project topic).

2. Assess the risks and benefits of resource extraction (Economic, environmental, political and

geological).

3. Describe the origins of mineral deposits, coal, petroleum and natural gas.

4. Know the following vocabulary: Coal, conservation, evaporate, geochemical, geophysical, grade,

hydrothermal, natural gas, oil, ore, permeability, petroleum, placer, porosity, reservoir.

Geology 12: Plate Tectonics Unit

Purpose: To explain the development and significance of plate tectonics,

recognize and interpret geological structures and identify applications of

seismology.

Text: 1, 10, 12 Lab: Lab 2, 16

-By the end of this unit, students are expected to be able to:

1. Analyse and evaluate applications of seismology.

a) Describe fault creep and elastic rebound as they relate to seismic activity.

b) Describe the generation and propagation of body waves and surface waves.

c) Distinguish between magnitude and intensity.

d) Compare and contrast the Richter and Mercalli scales.

e) Use seismograms to determine the distance and location of an earthquake.

f) Assess the seismic risks for a particular area using: Geographic location, topography, ground strength,

rock types, proximity to faults, construction design.

g) Evaluate methods of earthquake prediction.

2. Demonstrate knowledge of Earth’s layers.

a) Give evidence to support the conclusion that Earth is layered.

b) Describe the characteristics of the various layers of Earth.

3. Relate rock formations and structures to the forces that create them

a) Distinguish between faults and joints.

b) Distinguish between dip-slip, strike-slip and transform faults from maps, cross sections or photographs.

c) Relate compressional, tensional and shear forces to the various types of faults and folds.

d) Interpret the dip and strike of an outcrop to determine subsurface structures.

e) Diagram domes, basins, anticlines, synclines, over-turned folds and unconformities and identify these

structures in maps, cross-sections or photographs.

4. Analyse structures, processes and evidence that support plate tectonic theory.

a) Outline evidence for continental drift theory.

b) Explain seafloor spreading and outline evidence to support it.

c) Relate plate motion to mantle convection and slab pull.

d) Describe the origin of magma formed during plate tectonic processes.

e) Relate volcanic activities and features to plate tectonic theory.

f) Describe the geological activities that occur at lithospheric plate boundaries (earthquakes).

Geology 12: Structural Geology

Purpose: To recognize and interpret geological structures.

Text: 9 Lab: Lab 10

-By the end of this unit, students are expected to be able to:

1. Distinguish between dip-slip (normal, reverse, thrust), strike-slip (left lateral, right lateral) and

transform faults from maps, cross-sections, or photographs.

2. Relate compression, tensional and shear forces to the various types of faults and folds.

3. Interpret the dip and strike of an outcrop to determine subsurface strcutures.

4. Diagram domes, basins, anticlines, synclines, over-turned folds, and unconformities, and

identify these structures in maps, cross-sections, or photographs.

5. Show the inter-relationships among a geologic map, a cross section, a block diagram, and the

subsurface structure and geologic history of an area (e.g. construct a geological map using

appropriate data).

Geology 12: Surface Processes and the Hydrosphere

Purpose: Analyse features and processes associated with

weathering, mass wasting, erosion and the hydrosphere.

Text: Chapters 14, 15, 16, 17 Lab: Labs 11, 12 and 13.

-By the end of this unit, students are expected to be able to:

1. Analyze features and processes associated with weathering and

erosion.

a) Distinguish between weathering and erosion.

b) Describe the processes and effects of physical weathering and

chemical weathering.

c) Relate Bowen’s reaction series to a mineral’s susceptibility to chemical weathering.

d) Identify types and causes of mass wasting

e) Evaluate methods to control mass wasting.

f) Compare features and processes associated with weathering and erosion with those on other

terrestrial bodies.

2. Analyze features and processes associated with stream erosion and deposition.

a) Identify the three types of stream load and describe how each moves in a stream.

b) Relate stream velocity to sediment sorting.

c) Distinguish between stream, glacial and wind deposits with reference to particle size, shape,

degree of sorting and nature of sedimentary structures.

d) Relate factors such as load, gradient, discharge, channel shape, sediment composition and

human activities to erosion and deposition by streams.

3. Evaluate the importance of ground water.

a) Describe features associated with subsurface water.

b) Describe how the abundance, availability and movement of water can be affected by porosity

and permeability of ground materials.

c) Relate the position of the water table to the topographic profile.

d) Describe how the following human activities affect the quality and quantity of ground after:

urbanization, waste disposal, agriculture, conservation.

4. Explain the processes and features associated with glaciation.

a) Identify a variety of erosional features.

b) Identify a variety of deposition features.

c) Explain the formation of alpine and continental glacial features.

d) Reconstruct past glacial positions using erosional and depositional features.