Question 1

A major earthquake is one that measures in what range on the Richter scale?

Accepted Answer

A)  4.0 to 4.9 
B)  5.0 to 5.9 
C)  6.0 to 6.9 
D)  7.0 to 7.9 
E)  over 8.0 
A)  4.0 to 4.9 
B)  5.0 to 5.9 
C)  6.0 to 6.9 
D)  7.0 to 7.9 
E)  over 8.0 D

Question 2

The majority of the earth's rare earth minerals are found in ____.

Accepted Answer

A)  China 
B)  Saudi Arabia 
C)  United States 
D)  Canada 
E)  Russia 
A)  China 
B)  Saudi Arabia 
C)  United States 
D)  Canada 
E)  Russia A

Question 3

China has lower costs for the mining of rare earth minerals because of ____.

Accepted Answer

A)  their fewer environmental regulations 
B)  their larger deposits 
C)  the proximity of their deposits to the earth's surface 
D)  the accessibility of their minerals without subsurface mining 
E)  their low labor costs 
A)  their fewer environmental regulations 
B)  their larger deposits 
C)  the proximity of their deposits to the earth's surface 
D)  the accessibility of their minerals without subsurface mining 
E)  their low labor costs A

Question 4

Which of the following is a type of metallic mineral?

Accepted Answer

A)  iron 
B)  sand 
C)  limestone 
D)  coral 
E)  coal 
A)  iron 
B)  sand 
C)  limestone 
D)  coral 
E)  coal

Question 5

A naturally occurring,chemical element or inorganic compound that exists as a solid with a regular repeating internal arrangement of its atoms or ions is called a(n)____.

Accepted Answer

A)  isotope 
B)  crystal 
C)  mineral 
D)  element 
E)  oxide 
A)  isotope 
B)  crystal 
C)  mineral 
D)  element 
E)  oxide

Question 6

Experts are particularly concerned about four strategic metal resources that are important for the U.S.economy and military strength,and that must be imported.What percentage does the U.S.import?

Accepted Answer

A)  25% 
B)  35% 
C)  90% 
D)  80% 
E)  70% 
A)  25% 
B)  35% 
C)  90% 
D)  80% 
E)  70%

Question 7

Compare and contrast surface and subsurface mining in terms of environmental impact.

Accepted Answer

Surface mining removes large amounts of

Question 8

The second largest volcanic eruption of the 20th century occurred in 1991 when ____ erupted.

Accepted Answer

A)  Mt.Pinatubo 
B)  Mt.McKinley 
C)  Mt.St.Helens 
D)  Mt.Everest 
E)  Humphrey's Peak 
A)  Mt.Pinatubo 
B)  Mt.McKinley 
C)  Mt.St.Helens 
D)  Mt.Everest 
E)  Humphrey's Peak

Question 9

Some analysts suggest we can increase supplies of some minerals by extracting lower grades of ore.Which factor would not limit the mining of lower- grade ores?

Accepted Answer

A)  increased cost of mining and processing the larger volumes of ore 
B)  increasing shortage of freshwater needed to mine and process ore 
C)  lack of new earth-moving equipment and mining techniques 
D)  environmental impact of increased land disruption 
E)  pollution produced during the mining and processing of ore 
A)  increased cost of mining and processing the larger volumes of ore 
B)  increasing shortage of freshwater needed to mine and process ore 
C)  lack of new earth-moving equipment and mining techniques 
D)  environmental impact of increased land disruption 
E)  pollution produced during the mining and processing of ore

Question 10

The United States subsidizes mining companies through depletion allowances that amount to ____% of their gross income from mining and processing.

Accepted Answer

A)  2-4 
B)  4-8 
C)  5-10 
D)  5-22 
E)  6-33 
A)  2-4 
B)  4-8 
C)  5-10 
D)  5-22 
E)  6-33

Question 11

The oceanic crust makes up less than 30% of the earth's crust.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

What steps can an individual take in his or her community to encourage the sustainable use of mineral resources?

Accepted Answer

The answer should include some indicatio

Question 13

There are many advantages to using microorganisms for mining.Which of the following is not one of these?

Accepted Answer

A)  reduced land disturbance 
B)  reduced air pollution 
C)  faster removal of the mineral 
D)  reduced use of hazardous chemicals 
E)  reduced water pollution 
A)  reduced land disturbance 
B)  reduced air pollution 
C)  faster removal of the mineral 
D)  reduced use of hazardous chemicals 
E)  reduced water pollution

Question 14

At least 500 mountaintops in West Virginia and other Appalachian states have been removed by mining activities in the region.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

An active volcano forms where magma reaches the earth's surface through a vent or a fissure.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

What are a series of large waves generated in the ocean by an earthquake,landslide,or volcanic activity?

Accepted Answer

A)  pipe waves 
B)  quake waves 
C)  seismic waves 
D)  rollers 
E)  tsunamis 
A)  pipe waves 
B)  quake waves 
C)  seismic waves 
D)  rollers 
E)  tsunamis

Question 17

A(n)____________________ is an element or inorganic compound that occurs naturally in the earth's crust as a solid with a regular internal crystalline structure.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A(n)____________________ is an element or inorganic compound...

Question 18

Why does subsurface mining have less of an environmental impact than surface mining?

Accepted Answer

A)  Subsurface mining uses less than one-tenth as much land. 
B)  Subsurface mining does not produce any water pollution. 
C)  Subsurface mining does not produce acid mine drainage. 
D)  Subsurface miners are not exposed to air pollution. 
E)  Subsurface mining is guaranteed to produce less waste product. 
A)  Subsurface mining uses less than one-tenth as much land. 
B)  Subsurface mining does not produce any water pollution. 
C)  Subsurface mining does not produce acid mine drainage. 
D)  Subsurface miners are not exposed to air pollution. 
E)  Subsurface mining is guaranteed to produce less waste product.

Question 19

Reserves of minerals increase when new,profitable sources are identified,and when technologies make it profitable to extract deposits formerly considered too expensive to remove.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

Vibrations caused when energy accumulated over time is released are called ____.

Accepted Answer

A)  fractures 
B)  seismic waves 
C)  glaciations 
D)  tsunamis 
E)  drift 
A)  fractures 
B)  seismic waves 
C)  glaciations 
D)  tsunamis 
E)  drift

Exam 14: Geology and Nonrenewable Mineral Resources

A major earthquake is one that measures in what range on the Richter scale?

The majority of the earth's rare earth minerals are found in ____.

China has lower costs for the mining of rare earth minerals because of ____.

Which of the following is a type of metallic mineral?

A naturally occurring,chemical element or inorganic compound that exists as a solid with a regular repeating internal arrangement of its atoms or ions is called a(n)____.

Experts are particularly concerned about four strategic metal resources that are important for the U.S.economy and military strength,and that must be imported.What percentage does the U.S.import?

Compare and contrast surface and subsurface mining in terms of environmental impact.

The second largest volcanic eruption of the 20th century occurred in 1991 when ____ erupted.

Some analysts suggest we can increase supplies of some minerals by extracting lower grades of ore.Which factor would not limit the mining of lower- grade ores?

The United States subsidizes mining companies through depletion allowances that amount to ____% of their gross income from mining and processing.

The oceanic crust makes up less than 30% of the earth's crust.

What steps can an individual take in his or her community to encourage the sustainable use of mineral resources?

There are many advantages to using microorganisms for mining.Which of the following is not one of these?

At least 500 mountaintops in West Virginia and other Appalachian states have been removed by mining activities in the region.

An active volcano forms where magma reaches the earth's surface through a vent or a fissure.

What are a series of large waves generated in the ocean by an earthquake,landslide,or volcanic activity?

A(n)____________________ is an element or inorganic compound that occurs naturally in the earth's crust as a solid with a regular internal crystalline structure.

Why does subsurface mining have less of an environmental impact than surface mining?

Reserves of minerals increase when new,profitable sources are identified,and when technologies make it profitable to extract deposits formerly considered too expensive to remove.

Vibrations caused when energy accumulated over time is released are called ____.

Environmental Problems, their Causes, and Sustainability

Science, matter, energy, and Systems

Ecosystems: What Are They and How Do They Work

Biodiversity and Evolution

Biodiversity, species Interactions, and Population Control

The Human Population and Its Impact

Climate and Biodiversity

Aquatic Biodiversity

Sustaining Biodiversity: The Species Approach

Sustaining Terrestrial Biodiversity: The Ecosystem Approach

Sustaining Aquatic Biodiversity

Food, soil, and Pest Management

Water Resources

Nonrenewable Energy

Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

Environmental Hazards and Human Health

Air Pollution

Climate Disruption and Ozone Depletion

Water Pollution

Solid and Hazardous Waste

Cities and Sustainability

Economics, environment, and Sustainability

Politics, environment, and Sustainability

Environmental Worldviews, ethics, and Sustainability

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