External Examination 2009

2009 GEOLOGY
FOR OFFICE
USE ONLY
SUPERVISOR
CHECK

ATTACH SACE REGISTRATION NUMBER LABEL

TO THIS BOX

RE-MARKED

Wednesday 18 November: 1.30 p.m.

Time: 2 hours
Examination material: one
one
one
one

Pages: 27
Questions: 24

27-page question booklet

8-page script book
multiple-choice answer sheet
SACE registration number label

Approved dictionaries and calculators may be used.

Instructions to Students
1.

You will have 10 minutes to read the paper. You must not write in your question booklets or script book or
on your multiple-choice answer sheet, or use a calculator during this reading time but you may make notes
on the scribbling paper provided.

2.

This paper is in three sections:

Section A: Multiple-choice Questions (Questions 1 to 15)
Answer this section on the separate multiple-choice answer sheet, using black or blue pen.
Answer all questions in Section A.
Section B: Short-answer Questions (Questions 16 to 23)
Answer this section in the spaces provided in this question booklet.
Answer all questions in Section B.
Section C: Extended-response Question (Question 24)
Answer this question in the separate script book.
Include maps, diagrams, graphs, and eld examples wherever possible.

3.

The allocation of marks and the suggested (approximate) allotment of time are as follows:
Section A
Section B
Section C
Total

30
70
20
120

marks
marks
marks
marks

30
70
20
120

minutes
minutes
minutes
minutes

4.

The geological time-scale is on page 27. You may remove it from this booklet before the examination
begins.

5.

Attach your SACE registration number label to the box at the top of this page. Copy the information from
your SACE registration number label into the boxes on your multiple-choice answer sheet and on the front
cover of your script book.

6.

At the end of the examination, place your script book and multiple-choice answer sheet inside the back
cover of this question booklet.

STUDENTS DECLARATION ON THE USE OF

CALCULATORS
By signing the examination attendance roll I declare that:
my calculators have been cleared of all memory;
no external storage media are in use on these calculators.
I understand that if I do not comply with the above conditions
for the use of calculators I will:
be in breach of the rules;
have my marks for the examination cancelled or amended;
be liable to such further penalty, whether by exclusion from
future examinations or otherwise, as the SACE Board of
South Australia determines.

SECTION A: MULTIPLE-CHOICE QUESTIONS (Questions 1 to 15)

(30 marks)
Answer all questions in this section.
Each of the multiple-choice questions in Section A involves choosing from four alternative
answers. Read each question carefully. Then indicate the one alternative that you consider best
answers the question by shading the bubble by the appropriate letter alongside the question
number on the multiple-choice answer sheet. Use black or blue pen. It is in your interest to give
an answer to every question in this section of the paper, as no marks are deducted for incorrect
answers. Each question is worth 2 marks. You should spend about 30 minutes on this section.

1.

Which one of the following combinations correctly identies a metallic ore, its mineral group,
and the metal that can be extracted from it?
Metallic Ore

2.

Mineral Group

Extracted Metal

J.

galena

sulphide

lead

K.

galena

oxide

iron

L.

haematite

oxide

lead

M.

haematite

sulphide

iron

Refer to the following ow chart, which shows the processes that may affect a body of
magma over millions of years:

Magma
solidifies
underground

Igneous
rock is
formed

Igneous
rock is
exposed and
subjected to
weathering

Sediments
are
transported
and
deposited

Sedimentary
rock is
formed

Which statement correctly describes process X?

J.

Sediments undergo deformation and metamorphism.

K. Sediments undergo melting and crystallisation.

L. Sediments undergo uplifting and erosion.
M. Sediments undergo compaction and cementation.

PLEASE TURN OVER

3.

Refer to the following diagram, which shows the Tasman Fold Belt, located on the East Coast
of Australia. It is an orogenic belt.

Darwin

TASMAN
FOLD
BELT

Perth

Brisbane

Sydney

Adelaide
Melbourne

Hobart

An orogenic belt
J.

consists of a belt of sedimentary rocks deposited on top of older continental crust.

K. is a linear belt of Precambrian sedimentary rocks that are highly deformed.

L. is a linear belt of highly deformed sedimentary rocks.
M. is a belt composed of only sedimentary rocks, including sandstones, shales, and
limestones.

4.

In general, oceanic crust is

J.

closer to the Earths core than the mantle is.

K. thicker than the inner core.

L. more dense than continental crust.
M. composed of older rocks than continental crust is.

5.

Refer to the following diagram, which shows the dip and strike of a tilted rock sequence:

strike

dip

dip
Source: Adapted from Strike and Dip web page, Department of Civil and Geological Engineering, University of Saskatchewan

Which one of the following combinations correctly identies the dip and strike that is
indicated in the diagram?
Strike Direction

6.

Dip Angle and Direction

J.

eastwest

45 S

K.

eastwest

20 N

L.

northsouth

45 S

M.

northsouth

20 N

Refer to the following diagram, which shows the paths of seismic waves produced by an
earthquake travelling through the Earths mantle:
earthquake
focus

It can be seen from the diagram that the seismic waves travel along curves, rather than in
straight lines.
A probable explanation for this behaviour of the waves is that they
J.

are affected by the magnetic properties of the Earth.

K. are refracted as they travel through mantle material of increasing density.

L. are reected at boundaries between different layers within the mantle.
M. interfere with each other, causing changes in the directions in which they are travelling.

PLEASE TURN OVER

7.

Refer to the following diagram, which shows sedimentary rock strata that have been subjected
to several episodes of igneous activity:
dolerite
basalt

C
A
B

Source: Adapted from I.F. Clark & B.J. Cook (eds), Geological Science: Perspectives of the Earth,
Australian Academy of Science, Canberra, 1983, p. 295

Which one of the following statements concerning the relative ages of the igneous structures
is correct?
J.

The lava ow B is older than the dolerite dyke, A.

K. The dolerite dyke, A, is younger than the dolerite sill, C.

L. The lava ow D was probably ejected from a composite volcano.
M. Lava ows B and D were ejected during the same volcanic eruption.

8.

The feature that distinguishes an ore deposit from any other mineral deposit is a
concentration of
J.

one or more minerals that contain metals.

K. one or more minerals that can be protably extracted.

L. minerals in a remote area.
M. at least three different useful minerals.

9.

Refer to the following photograph, which shows a layer of dark-coloured rock between
several layers of sedimentary rocks:

sedimentary rock
layers

sedimentary rock
layers

coin
layer containing
iridium
Source: Tunguska web page, Washington State University

The dark-coloured rock has been found to contain the element iridium.
A possible explanation for the layer of dark-coloured rock is
J.

a volcanic eruption caused lava that contained iridium to ow over the sedimentary rocks.

K. the impact of an extraterrestrial object caused debris that contained iridium to be scattered
over the sedimentary rocks.
L. erosion of a nearby mountain range that was rich in iridium resulted in a layer of iridium
being deposited on the sedimentary rocks.
M. iridium from the surrounding rocks seeped between the layers of sedimentary rocks.

10. Which one of the following techniques for extracting ore deposits is likely to cause the least
disturbance to the environment?
J.

Open-cut mining.

K. Strip mining.
L. Underground mining.
M. Dredging.

11. The atmosphere during the early Archaean Eon

J.

supported early life in the form of bacteria and cyanobacteria.

K. contained many gases such as carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, oxygen, and water released
during volcanic eruptions.
L. contained more ozone than todays atmosphere.
M. was so harsh because of unstable regions of erupting lava that no life existed.

PLEASE TURN OVER

12. Refer to the following photograph, which shows a foliated rock sample:

What do the foliations in the sample indicate about the amount of pressure and the type of
metamorphism that acted on the rock?
Amount of Pressure

Type of Metamorphism

J.

high

regional

K.

low

thermal

L.

low

regional

M.

high

thermal

13. Areas like Mount Gambier, south-western Victoria, and eastern Australia are sites of previous
volcanic activity.
The soils from these areas are formed from weathered basalt. They are generally fertile due to
J.

steep slopes, which promote the development of fertile soils.

K. weathering and erosion on steep-sided volcanoes.

L. the presence of well-drained silica-rich soils.
M. the presence of elements essential for plant growth.

14. Magnetic anomalies on the sea oor exist in the form of stripes that are
J.

parallel to both continental margins and to transform faults.

K. parallel to mid-ocean ridges and shifted along transform faults.

L. perpendicular to transform faults and end at mid-ocean ridges.
M. perpendicular to mid-ocean ridges and parallel to transform faults.

15. Refer to the following diagrams, which compare the approximate size and shape of three
different types of volcanic cone:
A

2 km

20 km

200 km

Which one of the following combinations correctly identies the material ejected and the
appropriate tectonic setting for the type of volcanic cone indicated in the rst column?
Cone

Material Ejected

Tectonic Setting

J.

basaltic lava

convergent boundary

K.

ash and cinders

conservative boundary

L.

andesitic lava

convergent boundary

M.

basaltic lava

conservative boundary

PLEASE TURN OVER

SECTION B: SHORT-ANSWER QUESTIONS (Questions 16 to 23)

(70 marks)
Answer all questions in this section. Write your answers in the spaces provided under each
question. The allocation of marks is shown in brackets at the end of each part of each question.
You should spend about 70 minutes on this section.

16. Refer to the following table, which shows the average monthly world price of gold over a
year:
Month

Price of Gold (US$ per ounce)*

January

900

February

900

March

1000

April

925

May

900

June

900

July

970

August

800

September

900

October

750

November

750

December

800

* US$ means United States dollar.

10

(a) On the following grid, write in the scale for the vertical axis and draw a line graph of
the data supplied in the table on the opposite page.

December

November

October

September

August

July

June

May

April

March

February

January

gold price (US$ per ounce)

Average Monthly World Gold Price

month

(3 marks)

(b) Describe the general trend of the world gold price over the year.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________ (1

mark)

(c) Describe one way that gold mining companies would be affected by a fall in the price of
gold.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________ (2

11

marks)

PLEASE TURN OVER

17. Refer to the following photograph, which shows a road cutting near Parliament House in
Canberra:

rock stratum A

1 metre

(a) State one piece of evidence that indicates that the rock strata shown in the photograph
are made up of sedimentary rocks.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________ (1

mark)

(b) Name the geological principle that allows the determination that rock stratum A is the
oldest layer shown in the photograph.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________ (1

mark)

(c) On the photograph, mark and label the following features of the rocks:
(i) the position of a fault.

(1 mark)

(ii) the foot wall and hanging wall of the fault.

(1 mark)

(iii) the relative directions (using arrows) of movement of the rocks either side
of the fault.

(1 mark)

12

(d) (i) Name the type of fault shown in the photograph.

________________________________________________________________________________________ (1

mark)

(ii) Name the type of crustal forces involved in the formation of the fault.
________________________________________________________________________________________ (1

mark)

(e) (i) State one potential hazard associated with building in this area.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________ (1

mark)

(ii) Suggest one recommendation that a geologist may make to minimise the damage to
or impact on building in this area as a result of the hazard identied in your answer
to part (e)(i).
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________ (1

13

mark)

PLEASE TURN OVER

18. Refer to the following diagram, which is an example of a classication scheme for igneous
rocks. Six common igneous rocks are named in the diagram.
mineralogy classification
Felsic

100

Intermediate

Mafic

Ultramafic
100

mineral composition (%)

orthoclase
feldspar
80

80

plagioclase
feldspar

60

quartz

60

augite

40

olivine

te
bioti

20

40

20

hornblende
0

rhyolite

andesite

Medium
Coarse

basalt
dolerite

granite

gabbro

rock name

grain size

Fine

Source: Adapted from I.F. Clark & B.J. Cook (eds), Geological Science: Perspectives of the Earth,
Australian Academy of Science, Canberra, 1983, p. 154

(a) Name two properties of igneous rocks on which this classication scheme is based.
(i)

________________________________________________________________________________________ (1

mark)

(ii)

________________________________________________________________________________________ (1

mark)

(b) From the diagram above, name one igneous rock that contains quartz.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________ (1

mark)

(c) From the diagram above, name one igneous rock that has the following average
composition:
Plagioclase feldspar:

60%

Hornblende:

20%

Augite:

10%

Biotite:

10%

_____________________________________________________________________________________________ (1

14

mark)

(d) Complete the following table for gabbro by listing each mineral present and estimating its
minimum and maximum concentration in this rock.
Name of Mineral

Min. Percentage Present

Max. Percentage Present

(3 marks)

15

PLEASE TURN OVER

19. Refer to the following article and photographs, which describe a recently discovered fossil.
This animal is an addition to the wide variety of soft-bodied animals for which fossil evidence
has already been discovered in the Flinders Ranges.

a 'new' lifeform from 550 million years ago

CLARE PEDDIE
SCIENCE REPORTER

TRACE OF HISTORY: Museum palaeontology

collection manager Dennis Rice with an Eoandromeda
under the magnifying glass. Picture: DEAN MARTIN

O n e o f n a t u r e s f a i l e d
experiments, a strange
and beautiful animal with
eight spiralling arms, has
been rediscovered on two
continents.
The soft-bodied animal
that lived on the bottom of
the ocean 550 million years
ago was preserved as casts
and moulds in sandstone
of the Flinders Ranges and
carbon stains in mudstones
of Southern China.
Chinese and Australian
researchers met by chance at
an international conference
and started to compare
notes.

Palaeontologist Dr Jim
Gehling, from the South
Australian Museum, said
the creature eventually was
named Eoandromeda after
the galaxy, because the spiral
looks like a whirlpool-shaped
galaxy.
It is thought it lived
on the ocean floor and
absorbed nutrients from the
environment.
We dont know what it did.
We cant see a mouth and we
cant be sure it had a stomach
so we think it absorbed the
nutrients, he said.
This is straining the edges
of our knowledge of biology,
because we dont have things
like this alive today.

Source: Excerpt from the Advertiser, Adelaide, 7 November 2008, p. 11

A reconstruction showing the

possible appearance of the animal

Source: Photo from SA Museum published on Adelaide Now website, 8 November 2008

(a) (i) State the geological period that has been named after the assemblage of fossils found
in the Flinders Ranges.
________________________________________________________________________________________ (1

mark)

(ii) State the time range, in millions of years, that is covered by the period you identied
in part (a)(i).
________________________________________________________________________________________ (1

mark)

(iii) State one reason why this assemblage of fossils provides very signicant information
about the history of life on Earth.
________________________________________________________________________________________ (1

16

mark)

(b) Estimate the approximate diameter of the fossil shown in the photograph.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________ (1

mark)

(c) (i) Explain why the preservation of a soft-bodied animal is a very unusual occurrence.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________ (1

mark)

(ii) State the probable energy level of the environment in which Eoandromeda became
fossilised.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________ (1

mark)

(iii) Give a reason for your answer to part (c)(ii).

__________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________ (1

mark)

(d) State the likely geographical distribution of Eoandromeda when they were alive.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________ (1

17

mark)

PLEASE TURN OVER

20. Refer to the following table, which shows information on the generation of electricity from
nuclear power stations in European countries:
Electricity from
Nuclear Power Stations

Working Nuclear
Power Stations

Bulgaria

32%

Czech Republic

32%

France

77%

59

Germany

23%

17

Lithuania

64%

United Kingdom

13%

19

European Country

Source: Adapted from http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4713398.stm, 26 May 2009

(a) Name the country that obtains the greatest percentage of its electricity from nuclear
power stations.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________ (1

mark)

(b) Identify a potential problem with Lithuanias electricity supply.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________ (1

mark)

(c) Australia and Canada have most of the worlds uranium reserves. Explain briey how the
location of the worlds uranium reserves could affect the cost of electricity in European
countries.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________ (2

marks)

(d) Identify one benet of producing electricity from power stations that use uranium rather
than fossil fuels.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________ (1

18

mark)

(e) (i) State whether uranium is a renewable or non-renewable energy resource.

________________________________________________________________________________________ (1

mark)

(ii) Give a reason for your answer to part (e)(i).

__________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________ (1

mark)

Radioactive waste generated by nuclear power stations is extremely dangerous and is often
stored underground.
(f ) State two geological requirements that must be met for an underground site to be suitable
for storing radioactive waste.
(i)

__________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________ (1

(ii)

mark)

__________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________ (1

mark)

(g) State one reason apart from storage and disposal of radioactive wastes why there is
considerable opposition to the construction of nuclear power stations in Australia.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________ (1

19

mark)

PLEASE TURN OVER

21. Refer to the following diagram, which shows a map of Gondwana 135 million years ago:

Africa
Arabia
New
Guinea
India
South America

Antarctica

Australia

Source: Day 143, THS Earth/Space Science web page, posted by J. Gontesky, 13 April 2007

(a) State the name given to the theory which describes the movement of continents over
time.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________ (1

mark)

(b) Explain why similar dinosaur fossils from the Cretaceous Period could be found in both
Australia and India today.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________ (1

mark)

(c) State why earthquakes would have been common during the break up of Gondwana.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________ (1

mark)

(d) Name the structure that has formed on the ocean oor because of the South American
plate and the African plate moving apart.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________ (1

20

mark)

(e) In the box provided below, draw and label, using arrows, a cross-section of a divergent
plate boundary showing:
the directions in which the plates are moving
the type(s) of crust involved (e.g. oceanic and/or continental)
rising magma.

(5 marks)

21

PLEASE TURN OVER

22. Groundwater is a critical resource in Australia, especially during prolonged drought. Refer to
the following diagram, which shows the typical structure of an aquifer:
granite
limestone
shale
sandstone

(a) Locate the following features on the diagram, using arrows, and label them A, B, C,
and D as indicated:
A: recharge area
B: water-table
C: aquifer
D: aquiclude.

(4 marks)

(b) (i) Describe two properties of the rock that acts as an aquifer.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________ (4

marks)

(ii) Describe one property of the rock that acts as an aquiclude.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________ (2

22

marks)

(c) Describe one factor that affects the amount of water stored below the ground.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________ (2

marks)

(d) Describe one human activity that may pollute the groundwater.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________ (2

23

marks)

PLEASE TURN OVER

23. Refer to the following stratigraphic column and table, which contain data collected and
recorded by paleontologists about a sequence of rocks. The sequence shown below has not
been overturned.

Number
of
Species

Middle Triassic
shale/siltstone

Early Triassic
muddy limestone

Layer of
volcanic ash

Fossil
Abundance
Rating

Dominant
Fossil
Group

100

high

ammonites

25

low

none

0
333

zero
high

none
trilobites

Late Permian
limestone

(a) (i) The stratigraphic column shows evidence of an event in which no sedimentary rocks
were formed. State what the event was.
________________________________________________________________________________________ (1

mark)

(ii) State two pieces of evidence for the event identied in part (a)(i).
(1)

___________________________________________________________________________________ (1

mark)

(2)

___________________________________________________________________________________ (1

mark)

(iii) State two warning signs that could be observed before an event similar to that
identifed in part (a)(i).
(1)

___________________________________________________________________________________ (1

mark)

(2)

___________________________________________________________________________________ (1

mark)

(b) Explain a reason for the large decrease in the number of species from the late Permian to
the early Triassic.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________ (2

24

marks)

SECTION C: EXTENDED-RESPONSE QUESTION (Question 24)

(20 marks)
Answer this section in the separate script book. You should spend about 20 minutes on this
section.
You should present a clear, logical, and well-illustrated response to this question. Include maps,
diagrams, graphs, and eld examples wherever possible.

24. The environments in which sediments are deposited leave clues in the resulting rocks.
Geologists use these clues to deduce the nature of past sedimentary environments. The
sedimentary rocks can be subjected to further changes during thermal and regional
metamorphism.
Describe some features of sedimentary rocks that provide information about the environments
in which the sediments were deposited and the subsequent changes resulting from
metamorphism.
Your answer should refer to:
two sedimentary structures that may be found in any sedimentary rock;
sorting of sediments in a sandstone. Draw a well-labelled diagram to illustrate the
features described;
the transporting agent and the environment of deposition involved in the formation
of the sandstone drawn above;
changes in the texture, mineralogy, and other properties of a sandstone when it is
subjected to thermal or regional metamorphism.

SACE Board of South Australia 2009

25

PLEASE TURN OVER

26

You may remove this page from the question booklet by tearing along the perforations so that you
will have the information in front of you for easy reference.
THE GEOLOGICAL TIME-SCALE
Eon

Era

Period

Epoch

Date at Boundary
(million years)

Holocene

Neogene
(previously Quaternary)

0.01
Pleistocene

Old TertiaryQuaternary boundary

1.5

Cainozoic

Pliocene
5
Miocene
24
Oligocene
35
Palaeogene
(previously Tertiary)

Eocene
55
65

Cretaceous

Mesozoic

Phanerozoic

Palaeocene

145
Jurassic
210
Triassic
250
Permian
300
Carboniferous

Palaeozoic

350
Devonian
400
Silurian
440
Ordovician
500
Cambrian

Proterozoic

540
Ediacaran
600

Archaean

2500

4500

27

GEOLOGY 2009
ACKNOWLEDGMENT

The photograph for Question 19 on page 16, of a reconstruction showing the possible appearance
of an Eoandromeda, is reproduced by permission of Tang Feng, Peking University.

The SACE Board of South Australia has made every effort to trace copyright holders. If however,
any material has been incorrectly acknowledged, we apologise and invite the copyright holder to
contact us.

GEOLOGY 2009
ACKNOWLEDGMENT

The photograph for Question 19 on page 16, of a reconstruction showing the possible appearance
of an Eoandromeda, is reproduced by permission of Tang Feng, Peking University.

The SACE Board of South Australia has made every effort to trace copyright holders. If however,
any material has been incorrectly acknowledged, we apologise and invite the copyright holder to
contact us.