Lithosphere — Part 1 MCQs with Explanations

Dykes are especially constructed in Norway. Dike, also called dyke are tabular or sheetlike igneous body that is often oriented vertically or steeply inclined to the bedding of preexisting intruded rocks; similar bodies oriented parallel to the bedding of the enclosing rocks are called sills.

Water is ejected explosively in a geyser. The big difference between a geyser and a hot spring is that a geyser has an obstruction in its hydrothermal plumbing near the surface. In hot springs, water is allowed to circulate to the surface and move freely, giving off steam and heat. In geysers, constrictions keep the boiling water underground.

Marble is a metamorphic form of limestone. Metamorphic is the process of change of structure of rock by natural agencies such as pressure, heat or introduction of other chemical substance.

he intensity of earthquakes is measured on the Richter scale. Developed by Charles F. Richter in 1935, this scale quantifies the energy released by an earthquake. It is a logarithmic scale, meaning that each whole number increase represents a tenfold increase in amplitude of the seismic waves and approximately 31.6 times more energy release. The Beaufort scale is used to measure wind speed and its effects on sea conditions, not earthquake intensity. The Secant scale and Mercalli scale are used to measure earthquake intensity based on observed effects and damage, but they are not the primary scales for measuring earthquake magnitude. Hence, the correct answer is Option B: Richter scale .

The narrow strip of land joining two land masses is called as Isthmus. Isthmus is a narrow strip of land (with water on both sides) connecting two larger land areas. Isthmus of Panama connects South America and North America, while Isthmus of suez connects Asia and Africa.

An archipelago is a group of islands. It may be a sea or stretch of water having many Islands. Andaman archipelago is an example from the Indian Ocean.

Granite is an example of Abyssal Igneous Rock. An igneous rock that crystallized at considerable depth in the crust; plutonic rock. Igneous rocks forming below the Earth's surface at some depth due to cooling of magma are abyssal igneous rocks e.g Granite.

The material that comes out of a volcano at the time of eruption is Solid, liquid, gaseous. Volcanic eruptions are caused by magma (a mixture of liquid rock, crystals, and dissolved gas) expelled onto the Earth's surface.

The characteristic(s) of primary seismic wave are that it is a longitudinal and compressional wave, it is analogous to sound waves and it travels with faster speed through solids but slowly through liquids. Primary waves (P- waves) are compressional waves that are longitudinal in nature.

Bituminous coal is mainly suitable for producing thermal power. Bituminous coal is mined in the Appalachian region, primarily for power generation. Mining is done via both surface and underground mines.

Calderas are some of the most spectacular features on Earth. They are large volcanic craters that form by two different methods: an explosive volcanic eruption; or, collapse of surface rock into an empty magma chamber.

Dogger bank, rockfall bank, wales bank and sand bank are located in North East Atlantic. Dogger Bank, extensive isolated shoal in the North Sea, lying about 60 miles (100 km) off the northeastern coast of England. Rockall is an uninhabitable granite islet located within the exclusive economic zone of the United Kingdom, situated in the North Atlantic Ocean and is claimed by the United Kingdom as its territory. Wales is bordered by England to the east and by sea in all other directions: the Irish Sea to the north and west, St George's Channel and the Celtic Sea to the southwest and the Bristol Channel to the south.

Bowl shaped depression created as a result of glacial erosion high on a mountain side is called cirque. A cirque (French, from the Latin word circus) is an amphitheatre-like valley formed by glacial erosion.

Pamir mountains or Pamirs are known as roof of the world because of their height. It is called the roof of the world because they are at high altitude. This range is situated at the junction of many mountains such as Karakoram, Tian shan, Kunlun, Hindukush, Suleman and Hindu Raj mountain ranges. Pamir Range is one of the highest mountain range in the World.

Sedimentary rocks are formed by the process of weathering and deposition. These rocks lay on a surface of clay that is also a product of weathering rock. Sedimentary rocks are formed from the breaking apart of other rocks (igneous, metamorphic, or sedimentary rocks) and the cementation, compaction and recrystallization of these broken pieces of rock.

Volcanic Lakes are created by the volcanic activities. When a volcano erupts and the cup shaped depression (crater) is formed and if water or any fluid gets collected in it then it is called Crater lake / Volcanic lake.

The following that are true with regard to fold mountains are they often act as climatic barriers, they receive heavy rain or snow which give rise to rivers and they are rich in minerals. Fold mountains are mountains that form mainly by the effects of folding on layers within the upper part of the Earth's crust.

Limestone is transformed into marble. When limestone is subjected to the heat and pressure of metamorphism, marble, a metamorphic rock, is formed. Marble is composed of calcite or CaCO 3 . The calcite in the limestone will recrystallize when under the conditions of metamorphism.

A hanging valley is a smaller side valley left 'hanging' above the main U-shaped valley formed by a tributary glacier. A hanging valley can be termed as an intermediately valley above another valley in an elevated zone. These are mostly found in glaciated areas.

Marble is a metamorphic rock that forms when limestone is subjected to the heat and pressure of metamorphism.

All the three are correctly matched. Gneiss : Metamorphic. Gneiss is formed by high temperature and high-pressure metamorphic processes acting on formations composed of igneous or sedimentary rocks. Granite : Igneous. Granite is a light-colored igneous rock with grains large enough to be visible with the unaided eye. Sandstone : Sedimentary. Sandstone is a clastic sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized mineral particles or rock fragments.

Limestone, Dolomite and Coal are the examples of the sedimentary rocks. Organic sedimentary rocks are formed from the accumulation of any animal or plant debris such as shells and bones. These plant and animal debris have calcium minerals in them that pile on the sea floor over time to form organic sedimentary rocks. Examples include rocks such as coal, some limestone, and some dolomites.

Soil particle by size in the descending order are Gravel, Sand, Silt and Clay.

I. This statement is incorrect. Igneous rocks are formed from the solidification of molten material (magma or lava) from within the Earth's crust. While they are formed at high temperatures, they do not necessarily form under great pressure. II. This statement is correct. Igneous rocks do not occur in layers like sedimentary rocks. They form when molten material cools and solidifies, often resulting in a more uniform composition and structure. III. This statement is correct. Igneous rocks are mostly crystalline in nature because they form from the solidification of molten material, allowing mineral crystals to grow and develop. IV. This statement is incorrect. Igneous rocks do not typically contain fossils. Fossils are more commonly found in sedimentary rocks where the preservation of organic materials occurs. Therefore, the correct answer is Option C, which means only Statements II and III are true with regard to igneous rocks.

The Alps, the Himalayas, and the Caucasus Mountains are all formed due to the collision of continental plates, a process known as orogeny. The Alps were formed by the collision between the African Plate and the Eurasian Plate, resulting in the uplift of these mountains in Europe. The Himalayas arose from the collision of the Indian Plate with the Eurasian Plate, creating the highest mountain range in the world. The Caucasus Mountains were formed due to the collision between the Arabian Plate and the Eurasian Plate, located between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea. The Rockies , however, were primarily formed by a different process involving the subduction of the Pacific Plate beneath the North American Plate, not a direct continent-continent collision. Thus, they do not fit the criteria of this question. Therefore, the correct answer is Option C: 1, 2 and 4 , as these mountain ranges are directly linked to continental plate collisions.

"Terra Rossa" is a Latin word means Red Landscape. When weathering of limestone rock takes place the clay contained in the rocks are left behind and this red clay soil is termed as "Terra Rossa". This type of red soil is also produced by weathering of dolomite rock.

The denudational processes have not reduced the land masses to a level because the earth movements have uplifted the landmass. Denudation is an erosive process of breaking and removing the rocks from the surface of the earth. It is the wearing away of the terrestrial land by weathering, erosion, moving water, ice waves. Denudation is the result of two main processes, Endogenous and exogenous.

Takla Makan Desert is China's largest desert, situated in the middle of the largest Basin, Tarim in Xinjiang Province. This is reputed to be the world's second largest shifting-sand desert covering an area of over 33, 700 square kilometers (over 13,000 square miles).

Slope of the land and management practice like terracing influences the erosion of soil by water. Terracing is one of the oldest means of saving soil and water.

Pits formed by the deflating action of wind are called Blowouts. Due to wind action in desert lifting and blowing away of a loose material from ground takes place and this lead to a general lowering of land surface known as Blowout or Deflation Hollows.

Peat is the first stage in the formation of coal. Normally, vegetable matter is oxidized to water and carbon dioxide. However, if plant material accumulates underwater, oxygen is not present and so only partial decomposition occurs.

Formation of a rift valley is due to the subsidence of the floor of a river valley.

Aluminum is the most abundant metal in the earth's crust, but it is never found free in nature. All of the earth's aluminum has combined with other elements to form compounds. Two of the most common compounds are alum, such as potassium aluminum sulfate (KAl(SO4)2.

Iceland have over 200 volcanoes, many of them still active. The Land of Ice and Fire, Iceland is a natural wonderland where the freezing forces of glaciers and arctic weather are in constant battle with the explosive heat of the earth. Thousands flock to Iceland to witness its volcanoes and the marvels they have (and continue to) create; during eruptions, even more rush over for their chance to see one of the earth’s most dramatic and beautiful phenomena.

The Comoros are a volcanic group of islands at the northern end of the Mozambique Channel of the Indian Ocean, between Madagascar and the southeast African mainland, about 180 miles (290 km) off the eastern coast of Africa. Comoros, an independent state comprising three of the Comoro Islands in the Indian Ocean, off the coast of East Africa. A fourth island of the Comorian archipelago, Mayotte, is claimed by the country of Comoros but administered by France.

Russia with an area of about 17.1 million sq. km. is the largest country in terms of surface area. In terms of population it takes the ninth place.

Indonesia is an southeast Asian country and is the world's largest Archipelago with nearly 18,000 Islands. Indonesian Archipelago was also known by the name "Indian archipelago".

The Earth is covered with 71% of water and rest 29% is land. Out of this 29%, 1/3rd or 33% of land is covered with deserts. In terms of hot deserts it is Sahara which is the largest desert but in terms of cold deserts Antarctica is the world's largest desert.

Most earthquakes are tectonic earthquakes, which happen when the large, thin plates of the Earth's crust and upper mantle become stuck as they move past one another. They lock together, and pressure builds up. When they finally release, earthquakes occur.

A caldera is a volcanic feature formed by the collapse of a volcano into itself, making it a large, special form of volcanic crater. A caldera collapse is usually triggered by the emptying of the magma chamber beneath the volcano, as the result of a large volcanic eruption.