Review Questions for sedimentary environments

Which of the following features in a sedimentary rock can be used to interpret its depositional environment?
1. sedimentary structures
2. types of fossils
3. the types of minerals (such as halite or gypsum)
4. the size, shape and surface texture of the sedimentary grains
5. All of the above features can be used to interpret depositional environment
How does a cross bed form?
1. an abrupt change in the composition of the sediment
2. a gradual decrease in the strength of the current over time
3. piling of sediment down the front of a dune or ripple
4. a gradual change in the climate
5. two glaciers that cross
How does a graded bed form?
1. an abrupt change in the composition of the sediment
2. a gradual decrease in the strength of the current over time
3. piling of sediment down the front of a dune or ripple
4. a gradual change in the climate of the region
5. a gradual change in global climate
Which environment is least likely to deposit sand?
1. sand dunes along a beach or in a desert
2. channel of a meandering river
3. beach along the ocean or lake
4. delta along an ocean or lake
5. open ocean away from land
Climatic conditions most suitable for evaporites to form are:
1. High rainfall and humid like in the tropical countries
2. Hot and dry with very little rain and lots of evaporation (desert)
3. High mountains with very cold winters and moderate summers
4. Deep oceans near the equator
5. Climate like we see in Antarctica today
A sedimentary structure that forms a polygonal pattern in a fine-grained sedimentary layer when the layer dries up because it was exposed to the air is known as _____________
1. Ripple mark
2. Cross bed
3. Burrow
4. Mud crack
5. Graded bed
The direction of wind or water flow can be interpreted using _______
1. wave marks
2. ridge marks
3. ripple marks
4. mullion marks
5. burrow marks
The most likely conditions under which coal beds form are:
1. Hot and dry with little rain and lots of evaporation (desert)
2. Deep ocean
3. Climate like we see in Antarctica today
4. In a swampy and boggy environment under tropical or temperate climate
5. All of the above conditions are suitable for coal formation
The most likely conditions under which mud cracks form are:
1. High mountains with very cold winters and moderate summers
2. Deep ocean
3. Climate like we see in Antarctica today
4. Swampy and boggy with lots of rain
5. Some environment where mud can periodically get wet and dries out again
The most likely conditions under which ripple marks form are:
1. Hot and dry with little rain and lots of evaporation (desert)
2. Beach or tidal flat with shallow water flowing over the sand
3. Deep ocean
4. Swampy and boggy environment under tropical or temperate climate
5. Some environment where mud can periodically get wet and dries out again
Continental environments include all of the following except ___
1. lake beds
2. river beds
3. glacial deposits
4. coral reefs
5. alluvial fans
Which rock type is most likely to form under a high-energy environment (such as a very turbulent stream)?
1. Conglomerate
2. Shale
3. Limestone
4. Both conglomerate and shale
5. All of the above
Which of the following environments would likely have large clasts (or grains)?
1. a strong current
2. steep slopes
3. dunes formed by wind
4. all of the above
5. a and b only
What is the main difference between conglomerate and breccia?
1. the size of the clasts
2. the shape of the clasts
3. the sorting of the clasts
4. the kind of cement
5. all of the above
One of the following pairs of terms refer to sedimentary characteristics that you would not expect to find together in the same environment of deposition. The pair that does not make sense together is ___
1. high-energy beach, sand
2. mountain stream, angular boulders
3. quiet lagoon, mud
4. deep submarine basin, mud cracks
5. lake bottom, mud

Review Questions for sedimentary environments

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