Resources From Geology - Middle School Earth and Space Science
Card 1 of 25
Identify the best evidence that a sand resource is being replenished naturally.
Identify the best evidence that a sand resource is being replenished naturally.
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Active river delta or beach with ongoing sediment supply. Continuous sediment input maintains the resource despite erosion.
Active river delta or beach with ongoing sediment supply. Continuous sediment input maintains the resource despite erosion.
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What is the definition of a geologic resource in Earth science?
What is the definition of a geologic resource in Earth science?
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A naturally occurring material used by humans. Resources must exist naturally and have human utility.
A naturally occurring material used by humans. Resources must exist naturally and have human utility.
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Which geoscience process forms placer deposits of gold in river sediments?
Which geoscience process forms placer deposits of gold in river sediments?
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Weathering and stream sorting by density. Dense gold particles settle in stream beds as water velocity decreases.
Weathering and stream sorting by density. Dense gold particles settle in stream beds as water velocity decreases.
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Identify the sediment type that most strongly supports a placer gold resource claim.
Identify the sediment type that most strongly supports a placer gold resource claim.
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Well-sorted sand and gravel in stream channels. Stream sorting concentrates heavy minerals like gold in channel deposits.
Well-sorted sand and gravel in stream channels. Stream sorting concentrates heavy minerals like gold in channel deposits.
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What geoscience process forms coal from plant material over long time periods?
What geoscience process forms coal from plant material over long time periods?
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Burial, compaction, and heating of swamp plants. Dead plants transform to coal through pressure and heat over millions of years.
Burial, compaction, and heating of swamp plants. Dead plants transform to coal through pressure and heat over millions of years.
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What geoscience conditions are required to form most petroleum resources?
What geoscience conditions are required to form most petroleum resources?
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Organic-rich sediment, burial heat, and time. Oil forms when buried organic matter is heated to specific temperatures.
Organic-rich sediment, burial heat, and time. Oil forms when buried organic matter is heated to specific temperatures.
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What is the definition of a petroleum trap that controls oil and gas distribution?
What is the definition of a petroleum trap that controls oil and gas distribution?
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A sealed structure that stops upward migration. Traps prevent oil and gas from escaping to the surface.
A sealed structure that stops upward migration. Traps prevent oil and gas from escaping to the surface.
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Which rock property is the best evidence that a reservoir rock can store oil or gas?
Which rock property is the best evidence that a reservoir rock can store oil or gas?
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High porosity and permeability. These properties allow fluids to flow through and be stored in rock.
High porosity and permeability. These properties allow fluids to flow through and be stored in rock.
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Which geoscience process creates evaporite minerals such as halite and gypsum?
Which geoscience process creates evaporite minerals such as halite and gypsum?
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Evaporation of saline water in arid basins. Minerals precipitate as water evaporates and concentrates dissolved salts.
Evaporation of saline water in arid basins. Minerals precipitate as water evaporates and concentrates dissolved salts.
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Identify the best evidence that an area once had an evaporating shallow sea or lake.
Identify the best evidence that an area once had an evaporating shallow sea or lake.
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Thick layers of halite or gypsum in sedimentary rock. Evaporites only form where water evaporates faster than it's replenished.
Thick layers of halite or gypsum in sedimentary rock. Evaporites only form where water evaporates faster than it's replenished.
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What geoscience process forms many metamorphic resources such as marble from limestone?
What geoscience process forms many metamorphic resources such as marble from limestone?
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Metamorphism by heat and pressure. Heat and pressure recrystallize minerals into new metamorphic forms.
Metamorphism by heat and pressure. Heat and pressure recrystallize minerals into new metamorphic forms.
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Which observation best supports the claim that a marble resource formed from limestone?
Which observation best supports the claim that a marble resource formed from limestone?
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Recrystallized calcite with no visible fossils. Metamorphism destroys fossils and creates interlocking calcite crystals.
Recrystallized calcite with no visible fossils. Metamorphism destroys fossils and creates interlocking calcite crystals.
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Choose the geoscience process that most directly redistributes sediments along coasts.
Choose the geoscience process that most directly redistributes sediments along coasts.
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Wave action and longshore drift. Waves and currents transport sand parallel to the shoreline.
Wave action and longshore drift. Waves and currents transport sand parallel to the shoreline.
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Which statement best links evidence to process: fossils in limestone imply what resource-forming setting?
Which statement best links evidence to process: fossils in limestone imply what resource-forming setting?
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A shallow marine environment that deposited carbonate sediments. Marine fossils indicate limestone formed from ancient seafloor sediments.
A shallow marine environment that deposited carbonate sediments. Marine fossils indicate limestone formed from ancient seafloor sediments.
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Which depositional environment is most associated with coal formation evidence?
Which depositional environment is most associated with coal formation evidence?
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Ancient coastal swamps and deltas. Swamps preserve plant matter that later becomes coal through burial.
Ancient coastal swamps and deltas. Swamps preserve plant matter that later becomes coal through burial.
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What is the definition of ore in the context of resource distribution?
What is the definition of ore in the context of resource distribution?
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Rock with enough valuable mineral to mine profitably. Economic viability distinguishes ore from regular mineral-bearing rock.
Rock with enough valuable mineral to mine profitably. Economic viability distinguishes ore from regular mineral-bearing rock.
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What geoscience process concentrates metals from hot fluids into veins?
What geoscience process concentrates metals from hot fluids into veins?
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Hydrothermal mineral deposition. Hot water dissolves minerals and deposits them in fractures as it cools.
Hydrothermal mineral deposition. Hot water dissolves minerals and deposits them in fractures as it cools.
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Which plate-boundary setting most commonly forms copper-rich porphyry deposits?
Which plate-boundary setting most commonly forms copper-rich porphyry deposits?
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Convergent subduction-zone volcanic arcs. Subduction generates magma that concentrates copper during crystallization.
Convergent subduction-zone volcanic arcs. Subduction generates magma that concentrates copper during crystallization.
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What is the most direct evidence that a mineral deposit formed from hydrothermal fluids?
What is the most direct evidence that a mineral deposit formed from hydrothermal fluids?
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Mineral-filled veins cutting across older rock. Veins form when mineral-rich fluids flow through and fill rock fractures.
Mineral-filled veins cutting across older rock. Veins form when mineral-rich fluids flow through and fill rock fractures.
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Which geoscience process most directly concentrates heavy minerals into placer deposits?
Which geoscience process most directly concentrates heavy minerals into placer deposits?
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Running water sorting by density during erosion and deposition. Flowing water physically separates particles by weight, concentrating dense minerals.
Running water sorting by density during erosion and deposition. Flowing water physically separates particles by weight, concentrating dense minerals.
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What geoscience process commonly concentrates copper, lead, and zinc near magma?
What geoscience process commonly concentrates copper, lead, and zinc near magma?
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Hydrothermal circulation driven by igneous heat. Magma heats groundwater, creating metal-rich fluids that form ore deposits.
Hydrothermal circulation driven by igneous heat. Magma heats groundwater, creating metal-rich fluids that form ore deposits.
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What is a placer deposit?
What is a placer deposit?
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Dense minerals concentrated by moving water or wind. Physical sorting separates heavy minerals from lighter sediments.
Dense minerals concentrated by moving water or wind. Physical sorting separates heavy minerals from lighter sediments.
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What evidence best supports that a mineral deposit formed from hydrothermal fluids?
What evidence best supports that a mineral deposit formed from hydrothermal fluids?
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Veins filling fractures and minerals precipitated along cracks. Minerals filling cracks show fluids moved through rock fractures.
Veins filling fractures and minerals precipitated along cracks. Minerals filling cracks show fluids moved through rock fractures.
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Which geoscience process forms bauxite (aluminum ore) in many regions?
Which geoscience process forms bauxite (aluminum ore) in many regions?
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Intense chemical weathering and leaching in warm, wet climates. Tropical weathering removes other elements, leaving aluminum-rich residue.
Intense chemical weathering and leaching in warm, wet climates. Tropical weathering removes other elements, leaving aluminum-rich residue.
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Which evidence most strongly indicates a placer gold deposit formed in a stream?
Which evidence most strongly indicates a placer gold deposit formed in a stream?
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Rounded heavy grains concentrated in river bars or channel bends. Stream flow sorts particles by density, concentrating gold in bends.
Rounded heavy grains concentrated in river bars or channel bends. Stream flow sorts particles by density, concentrating gold in bends.
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