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Physical Geography Practice Quiz: Rocks I

Test your knowledge with this physical geography practice quiz

Questions

1. What are the three major classes of rocks?

 

2. What is molten rock material called?

 

3. What do we call rocks which have formed from the cooling and solidification of molten material?

 

4. What do we call magma that reaches the surface of the Earth still molten (that is, erupts out of a volcanic vent)?

 

5. Is lava extrusive igneous rock or intrusive igneous rock?

 

6. Magma which cools and solidifies below the Earth’s surface is called plutonic rock. Is plutonic rock extrusive igneous rock or intrusive igneous rock?

 

7. Extrusive rock cools so rapidly that there is little time for crystals to form. Does this make it fine-textured or coarse-textured?

 

8. Intrusive igneous rock cools slowly, so large mineral crystals may form. Does this make it fine-textured or coarse-textured?

 

9. What do we call loose particles that result from the weathering of pre-existing rocks, or from chemical action or an accumulation of organic material?

 

10. When these loose particles lithify to form rocks owing to pressure or chemical cementation, to which major class do these rocks belong?

 

11. What do we call rock that has been changed into a different rock as a result of heat and/or pressure (but not enough heat to completely melt the rock)?

 

12. Basalt is composed of minerals high in iron and magnesium. Is basalt extrusive igneous rock or intrusive igneous rock?

 

13. What do we call plutonic rock with a composition similar to basalt but with a coarse-grained texture?

 

14. Rhyolite is a fine-grained volcanic rock high in quartz and feldspars. What do we call plutonic rock with a composition similar to rhyolite but with a coarse-grained texture?

 

15. What do we call a sedimentary rock formed from compacted sand grains?

 

16. What do we call sedimentary rock formed from fine-grained clay and silt particles?

 

17. What do we call metamorphic rock usually derived from limestone?

 

18. What do we call foliated metamorphic rock with very thin layers of platy materials such as mica?