Geology Identification Questions (with

Answer Key)
1. 1. It is the Greek term from which the word 'geology' is derived and means 'earth.'
2. 2. It is the Greek word meaning 'study,' forming part of the word 'geology.'
3. 3. This event in 1928 highlighted the importance of geological studies in civil
engineering.
4. 4. The branch of science devoted to studying the solid Earth and the processes that
shape it.
5. 5. A person who studies how the Earth works, both today and in the past.
6. 6. This type of geology applies geological knowledge for safe and economical civil
engineering design.
7. 7. The goal of this discipline is to identify potential geologic hazards for human-made
structures.
8. 8. A type of geological data that includes slope, contour, and elevation details.
9. 9. This data includes soil type, rock composition, and load-bearing capacity.
10. 10. These rocks are strong, massive, and generally do not require tunnel lining.
11. 11. These sedimentary rocks are generally competent and suitable for tunneling without
lining.
12. 12. These rocks are foliated and require good tunnel lining due to their softness.
13. 13. These very hard and brittle metamorphic rocks are competent and need no lining.
14. 14. This test measures a soil’s resistance to penetration and is crucial for pavement
design.
15. 15. This test determines the workability of fresh concrete.
16. 16. This test is used to determine particle size distribution in soil.
17. 17. A test that evaluates asphalt’s resistance to flow.
18. 18. This test measures how much pavement deforms under a load.
19. 19. This term refers to the upper level of groundwater in soil or rock.
20. 20. This government agency in the Philippines manages water resources.
21. 21. This method uses satellite images and GIS to study Earth's surface.
22. 22. This test determines aquifer properties like transmissivity and hydraulic
conductivity.
23. 23. The amount of space between soil particles where water can be stored.
24. 24. The ability of water to flow through rock or soil.
25. 25. This water quality parameter should typically be between 6.5 and 8.5.
26. 26. These contaminants come from fertilizers and pesticides used in farming.
27. 27. This is the Earth’s solid innermost layer, mostly composed of iron and nickel.
28. 28. This layer surrounds the inner core and is responsible for generating Earth's
magnetic field.
29. 29. This boundary separates the crust from the mantle.
30. 30. This layer is involved in plate tectonics and lies just below the lithosphere.
31. 31. These are the two main types of Earth’s crust.
32. 32. This is the largest tectonic plate.
33. 33. This tectonic plate is moving towards the Eurasian plate and forms the Himalayas.
34. 34. This transform boundary in California is famous for causing earthquakes.
35. 35. This boundary type occurs where two tectonic plates move apart.
36. 36. This theory proposed by Alfred Wegener suggests continents once formed a single
landmass.
37. 37. This process refers to the wearing away and transport of rock by natural forces.
38. 38. This is the movement of eroded material from one place to another.
39. 39. This is the process where eroded materials settle in a new location.
40. 40. This depositional feature forms at a river’s mouth as it enters a body of water.
41. 41. These are rocks formed from accumulated layers of sediment over time.
42. 42. This map shows surface features and uses contour lines for elevation.
43. 43. This type of map depicts vertical slices of terrain, showing underground layers.
44. 44. This test checks for the presence of groundwater to avoid construction issues like
waterlogging.
45. 45. A fracture in Earth’s crust where two blocks of rock move relative to each other.
46. 46. These are cracks or fractures in rocks without significant movement.
47. 47. A type of fold where the oldest rocks are in the center and layers dip away.
48. 48. A type of fold where the youngest rocks are in the center and layers dip toward the
axis.
49. 49. This test uses radar pulses to detect shallow faults and fractures underground.
50. 50. This tectonic boundary is where two plates collide, often forming mountains or
trenches.
51. 51. This tectonic boundary occurs where two plates slide past one another.
52. 52. The name of the ancient supercontinent proposed by Alfred Wegener.
53. 53. This trench is formed by oceanic-oceanic convergence and includes the world’s
deepest point.
54. 54. This mountain range formed due to the collision of the Indian and Eurasian plates.
55. 55. Joints that are parallel and evenly spaced.
56. 56. Joints that are irregular in spacing and orientation.
57. 57. Joints roughly parallel to fold axes.
58. 58. Joints that cut across the axial plane of a fold.
59. 59. This test measures soil’s ability to allow water to pass through.
60. 60. This common borehole test is used to evaluate aquifer properties.
61. 61. These technologies use satellite data to assess Earth’s surface and groundwater
changes.
62. 62. This term describes the process of replenishing groundwater naturally or artificially.
63. 63. This term refers to groundwater exiting to rivers, lakes, or human usage.
64. 64. Rock formed from the cooling of magma or lava.
65. 65. Rock formed under heat and pressure but without melting.
66. 66. Rock formed by compaction and cementation of sediments.
67. 67. Fine-grained sedimentary rock that needs tunnel lining.
68. 68. Very durable igneous rock in continental crust.
69. 69. Hazard caused by excessive groundwater extraction and sediment compaction.
70. 70. Contamination of water from leaked industrial waste and chemicals.
71. 71. Process when groundwater weakens soil or rock, affecting foundations.
72. 72. Test evaluating how folded or jointed rocks behave under stress.
73. 73. Naturally occurring substances in soil/rock that dissolve in water and contaminate.
74. 74. Toxic elements like lead and mercury from industrial sources.
75. 75. Common contaminant from excessive use of fertilizer.
76. 76. Leakage from septic systems contaminating groundwater.
Answer Key
1. Geo

2. Logia

3. St. Francis Dam failure

4. Geology

5. Geologist

6. Engineering Geology

7. Engineering Geology

8. Topographic Data

9. Geotechnical Data

10. Igneous Rocks

11. Siliceous Sandstones

12. Schists and Phyllites

13. Quartzite

14. California Bearing Ratio (CBR)

15. Slump Test

16. Sieve Analysis

17. Viscosity Test

18. Deflection Test

19. Water Table

20. National Water Resources Board (NWRB)

21. Remote Sensing and GIS

22. Pumping Test

23. Porosity

24. Permeability
25. pH

26. Agricultural Runoff

27. Inner Core

28. Outer Core

29. Mohorovičić Discontinuity (Moho)

30. Asthenosphere

31. Continental Crust and Oceanic Crust

32. Pacific Plate

33. Indian Plate

34. San Andreas Fault

35. Divergent Boundary

36. Continental Drift Theory

37. Erosion

38. Transportation

39. Deposition

40. Delta

41. Sedimentary Rocks

42. Topographic Map

43. Cross-sectional Map

44. Groundwater Testing

45. Fault

46. Joints

47. Anticline

48. Syncline

49. Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR)

50. Convergent Boundary

52. Pangaea

53. Mariana Trench

54. Himalayas

55. Systematic Joints

56. Nonsystematic Joints

57. Longitudinal Joints

58. Cross-strike Joints

59. Soil Permeability Test

60. Aquifer Test

61. Remote Sensing and GIS

62. Recharge

63. Discharge

64. Igneous Rock

65. Metamorphic Rock

66. Sedimentary Rock

67. Shale

68. Granite

69. Land Subsidence

70. Groundwater Contamination

71. Seepage

72. Triaxial Compression Test

73. Natural Sources

74. Heavy Metals

75. Nitrates

76. Coliform Bacteria