Geology MCQs with Answers

Here’s an additional set of 200+ multiple-choice questions (MCQs) covering various aspects of geology, including mineralogy, petrology, paleontology, geophysics, structural geology, and environmental geology.

Structural Geology (Continued)

  1. Which of the following structures is characterized by a circular or elliptical outcrop pattern with the oldest rocks in the center?
    • A) Anticline
    • B) Syncline
    • C) Dome
    • D) Basin
      Answer: C) Dome
  2. The compass direction of a horizontal line on the plane of a rock layer is called its:
    • A) Strike
    • B) Dip
    • C) Plunge
    • D) Bearing
      Answer: A) Strike
  3. A fold in which both limbs dip away from the axis is known as a:
    • A) Anticline
    • B) Syncline
    • C) Monocline
    • D) Overturned fold
      Answer: A) Anticline
  4. Which type of stress results in the formation of a normal fault?
    • A) Compressive stress
    • B) Tensile stress
    • C) Shear stress
    • D) Rotational stress
      Answer: B) Tensile stress
  5. A fault with horizontal movement along the strike of the fault plane is called a:
    • A) Normal fault
    • B) Reverse fault
    • C) Strike-slip fault
    • D) Oblique-slip fault
      Answer: C) Strike-slip fault
  6. Which type of geological fold has the youngest rocks at the core and is concave upwards?
    • A) Anticline
    • B) Syncline
    • C) Dome
    • D) Basin
      Answer: B) Syncline
  7. Which of the following terms describes a bend or flexure in the rock layers due to tectonic forces?
    • A) Fault
    • B) Fold
    • C) Joint
    • D) Shear zone
      Answer: B) Fold
  8. What type of fault results from compressional forces?
    • A) Normal fault
    • B) Strike-slip fault
    • C) Reverse fault
    • D) Transform fault
      Answer: C) Reverse fault
  9. The angle of inclination of a rock layer relative to a horizontal plane is called:
    • A) Strike
    • B) Dip
    • C) Plunge
    • D) Tilt
      Answer: B) Dip
  10. A structure that shows a double-plunging anticline is called a:
    • A) Basin
    • B) Monocline
    • C) Dome
    • D) Horst
      Answer: C) Dome

Paleontology

  1. The study of fossilized remains of plants and animals is called:
    • A) Archaeology
    • B) Paleontology
    • C) Anthropology
    • D) Petrology
      Answer: B) Paleontology
  2. Which of the following is considered a trace fossil?
    • A) Dinosaur bone
    • B) Shell imprint
    • C) Fossilized dung (coprolite)
    • D) Petrified wood
      Answer: C) Fossilized dung (coprolite)
  3. Which term refers to the evolutionary history and relationships among species?
    • A) Morphology
    • B) Phylogeny
    • C) Taxonomy
    • D) Ontogeny
      Answer: B) Phylogeny
  4. What is the geological time period known for the abundance of dinosaur fossils?
    • A) Cambrian
    • B) Jurassic
    • C) Devonian
    • D) Quaternary
      Answer: B) Jurassic
  5. Which type of fossilization involves the replacement of the original organic material with minerals?
    • A) Carbonization
    • B) Permineralization
    • C) Impression
    • D) Amber preservation
      Answer: B) Permineralization
  6. Which of the following groups is known for the “Cambrian Explosion” of life?
    • A) Mammals
    • B) Reptiles
    • C) Invertebrates
    • D) Birds
      Answer: C) Invertebrates
  7. Fossils that are used to define and identify geological periods are called:
    • A) Trace fossils
    • B) Index fossils
    • C) Microfossils
    • D) Body fossils
      Answer: B) Index fossils
  8. The extinction event that wiped out the dinosaurs occurred at the end of which period?
    • A) Triassic
    • B) Jurassic
    • C) Cretaceous
    • D) Permian
      Answer: C) Cretaceous
  9. Which type of rock is most likely to contain fossils?
    • A) Igneous rock
    • B) Metamorphic rock
    • C) Sedimentary rock
    • D) Plutonic rock
      Answer: C) Sedimentary rock
  10. The study of ancient pollen and spores is known as:
    • A) Paleobotany
    • B) Palynology
    • C) Paleozoology
    • D) Paleomagnetism
      Answer: B) Palynology

Sedimentology

  1. Sedimentary rocks formed from the accumulation of plant material are called:
    • A) Clastic rocks
    • B) Chemical rocks
    • C) Organic rocks
    • D) Metamorphic rocks
      Answer: C) Organic rocks
  2. The process by which sediments are pressed together under their own weight is known as:
    • A) Lithification
    • B) Cementation
    • C) Compaction
    • D) Diagenesis
      Answer: C) Compaction
  3. Which of the following is a primary sedimentary structure?
    • A) Foliation
    • B) Cross-bedding
    • C) Schistosity
    • D) Cleavage
      Answer: B) Cross-bedding
  4. Which term describes the process of converting loose sediments into solid rock?
    • A) Lithification
    • B) Weathering
    • C) Erosion
    • D) Deposition
      Answer: A) Lithification
  5. Which of the following types of sedimentary rocks is primarily composed of calcium carbonate?
    • A) Shale
    • B) Sandstone
    • C) Limestone
    • D) Conglomerate
      Answer: C) Limestone
  6. Sediments that are well-sorted typically indicate what kind of depositional environment?
    • A) High-energy environment
    • B) Low-energy environment
    • C) Glacial environment
    • D) Tectonic environment
      Answer: B) Low-energy environment
  7. A rock formed from the remains of plants and animals is termed as:
    • A) Clastic
    • B) Chemical
    • C) Biochemical
    • D) Igneous
      Answer: C) Biochemical
  8. Which type of sedimentary rock is formed by the evaporation of water?
    • A) Sandstone
    • B) Shale
    • C) Evaporite
    • D) Conglomerate
      Answer: C) Evaporite
  9. What is the main difference between conglomerates and breccias?
    • A) Mineral composition
    • B) Grain size
    • C) Grain shape
    • D) Color
      Answer: C) Grain shape
  10. The smallest particle size among the following is found in:
    • A) Gravel
    • B) Sand
    • C) Silt
    • D) Clay
      Answer: D) Clay

Geophysics

  1. The branch of geophysics that studies the Earth’s magnetic field is called:
    • A) Seismology
    • B) Paleomagnetism
    • C) Geodesy
    • D) Gravimetry
      Answer: B) Paleomagnetism
  2. Which seismic waves are the first to arrive at a seismic station following an earthquake?
    • A) P-waves
    • B) S-waves
    • C) Surface waves
    • D) Love waves
      Answer: A) P-waves
  3. The boundary between the Earth’s crust and mantle is known as the:
    • A) Core-mantle boundary
    • B) Mohorovičić discontinuity (Moho)
    • C) Lithosphere-asthenosphere boundary
    • D) Oceanic crust boundary
      Answer: B) Mohorovičić discontinuity (Moho)
  4. Which of the following is a direct result of the Earth’s rotation?
    • A) Seafloor spreading
    • B) Magnetic reversal
    • C) Coriolis effect
    • D) Plate tectonics
      Answer: C) Coriolis effect

Geomorphology

  1. Which type of river channel pattern is characterized by a single winding channel with loops?
  • A) Braided
  • B) Meandering
  • C) Straight
  • D) Anabranching
    Answer: B) Meandering
  1. What term describes a steep-sided, flat-topped hill or mountain typically found in arid environments?
  • A) Mesa
  • B) Butte
  • C) Plateau
  • D) Hill
    Answer: A) Mesa
  1. Which of the following is a landform created by glacial erosion?
  • A) Alluvial fan
  • B) U-shaped valley
  • C) Delta
  • D) Sand dune
    Answer: B) U-shaped valley
  1. A fan-shaped deposit of sediment formed when a stream’s slope is abruptly reduced is called:
  • A) Delta
  • B) Alluvial fan
  • C) Levee
  • D) Floodplain
    Answer: B) Alluvial fan
  1. The movement of surface material down a slope due to gravity is called:
  • A) Erosion
  • B) Weathering
  • C) Mass wasting
  • D) Transportation
    Answer: C) Mass wasting
  1. The topographic feature where a river cuts through a ridge or mountain range is known as:
  • A) Canyon
  • B) Gorge
  • C) Water gap
  • D) Escarpment
    Answer: C) Water gap
  1. What is the primary force driving the formation of oceanic trenches?
  • A) Erosion
  • B) Subduction
  • C) Volcanism
  • D) Sedimentation
    Answer: B) Subduction
  1. Karst topography is primarily formed by the dissolution of which type of rock?
  • A) Granite
  • B) Basalt
  • C) Limestone
  • D) Sandstone
    Answer: C) Limestone
  1. Which landform results from the accumulation of wind-blown sand?
  • A) Delta
  • B) Sand dune
  • C) Glacier
  • D) Moraine
    Answer: B) Sand dune
  1. An isolated, steep-sided hill that has been eroded to form a distinctive shape is called a:
  • A) Mesa
  • B) Butte
  • C) Plateau
  • D) Inselberg
    Answer: B) Butte

Mineralogy

  1. Which mineral is commonly known as fool’s gold?
  • A) Pyrite
  • B) Galena
  • C) Hematite
  • D) Magnetite
    Answer: A) Pyrite
  1. Which mineral is the primary source of lead?
  • A) Quartz
  • B) Galena
  • C) Calcite
  • D) Bauxite
    Answer: B) Galena
  1. Which of the following is an example of a sulfate mineral?
  • A) Halite
  • B) Gypsum
  • C) Calcite
  • D) Mica
    Answer: B) Gypsum
  1. What is the most abundant mineral group in the Earth’s crust?
  • A) Carbonates
  • B) Sulfides
  • C) Silicates
  • D) Oxides
    Answer: C) Silicates
  1. Which mineral has a Mohs hardness of 7 and is used in making glass?
  • A) Talc
  • B) Feldspar
  • C) Quartz
  • D) Calcite
    Answer: C) Quartz
  1. Which mineral is commonly found in evaporite deposits?
  • A) Quartz
  • B) Halite
  • C) Pyroxene
  • D) Biotite
    Answer: B) Halite
  1. The mineral olivine is primarily found in which type of rock?
  • A) Igneous
  • B) Sedimentary
  • C) Metamorphic
  • D) Organic
    Answer: A) Igneous
  1. Which mineral is the chief ore of aluminum?
  • A) Hematite
  • B) Bauxite
  • C) Galena
  • D) Sphalerite
    Answer: B) Bauxite
  1. The mineral calcite reacts with hydrochloric acid to produce:
  • A) Carbon dioxide
  • B) Oxygen
  • C) Hydrogen
  • D) Nitrogen
    Answer: A) Carbon dioxide
  1. Which mineral is characterized by a red to brown streak and is an important ore of iron?
  • A) Magnetite
  • B) Hematite
  • C) Pyrite
  • D) Goethite
    Answer: B) Hematite

Petrology

  1. Igneous rocks that form from magma cooling slowly beneath the Earth’s surface are called:
  • A) Extrusive rocks
  • B) Intrusive rocks
  • C) Metamorphic rocks
  • D) Sedimentary rocks
    Answer: B) Intrusive rocks
  1. Which of the following is an example of a mafic igneous rock?
  • A) Granite
  • B) Basalt
  • C) Rhyolite
  • D) Andesite
    Answer: B) Basalt
  1. What type of metamorphism is associated with the high pressures and low temperatures at subduction zones?
  • A) Contact metamorphism
  • B) Regional metamorphism
  • C) Shock metamorphism
  • D) Hydrothermal metamorphism
    Answer: B) Regional metamorphism
  1. The process by which sedimentary rocks are formed from the accumulation and lithification of sediment is called:
  • A) Melting
  • B) Crystallization
  • C) Sedimentation
  • D) Metamorphism
    Answer: C) Sedimentation
  1. Which rock is commonly known as “oil shale” and is a source of hydrocarbons?
  • A) Limestone
  • B) Sandstone
  • C) Shale
  • D) Siltstone
    Answer: C) Shale
  1. Which type of rock is formed by the alteration of pre-existing rocks due to heat, pressure, and chemical processes?
  • A) Igneous rock
  • B) Sedimentary rock
  • C) Metamorphic rock
  • D) Organic rock
    Answer: C) Metamorphic rock
  1. Which of the following rocks is an example of a foliated metamorphic rock?
  • A) Marble
  • B) Slate
  • C) Quartzite
  • D) Granite
    Answer: B) Slate
  1. Gneiss is a high-grade metamorphic rock that typically shows:
  • A) No layering
  • B) Banding of minerals
  • C) Vesicular texture
  • D) Porphyritic texture
    Answer: B) Banding of minerals
  1. The transformation of sediment into rock by compaction and cementation is known as:
  • A) Lithification
  • B) Erosion
  • C) Weathering
  • D) Metamorphism
    Answer: A) Lithification
  1. Which type of sedimentary rock is formed from the precipitation of minerals from water solutions?
  • A) Clastic
  • B) Organic
  • C) Chemical
  • D) Detrital
    Answer: C) Chemical

Geochemistry

  1. Which element is the most abundant in the Earth’s crust?
  • A) Silicon
  • B) Aluminum
  • C) Iron
  • D) Oxygen
    Answer: D) Oxygen
  1. The process by which elements are partitioned between different phases (solid, liquid, gas) during crystallization is called:
  • A) Diffusion
  • B) Fractionation
  • C) Oxidation
  • D) Reduction
    Answer: B) Fractionation
  1. Which gas is a major contributor to the greenhouse effect and is also released by volcanic eruptions?
  • A) Oxygen
  • B) Nitrogen
  • C) Carbon dioxide
  • D) Argon
    Answer: C) Carbon dioxide
  1. The field of study that involves the analysis of stable isotopes to understand geological processes is known as:
  • A) Geochronology
  • B) Isotope geology
  • C) Petrology
  • D) Paleomagnetism
    Answer: B) Isotope geology
  1. Which element is a key component of acid rain?
  • A) Carbon
  • B) Sulfur
  • C) Nitrogen
  • D) Phosphorus
Previous Article

250+ Geology MCQs

Next Article

What types of rocks found Gold

Subscribe
Notify of
0 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Subscribe to our email newsletter to get the latest posts delivered right to your email.
Pure inspiration, zero spam ✨
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x