1-1.

Assemble a listing of all types of occurrences where serious problems for

humans and their developments have resulted when soil deposits (read “solid
ground”) did not perform as expected.
1-2. Name the three main classes of rock and describe how they originated.
1-3. What factor of formation most influences the texture of igneous rocks?
1-4. Provide generalized comments on the hardness, soundness, and durability
associated with the three basic categories of rock.
1-5. What visual properties can frequently be used to distinguish between acidic
rocks and basic rocks?
1-6. Described the two typical processes that occur to transform soil sediments
into sedimentary rock.
1-7. The shale represent what percentage (approximately) of rock materials
closest to the ground surface? Give probable reasons why this condition
exists.
1-8. What processes occur to cause metamorphosis of rocks?
1-9. What type of bedrock formations would be thought to offer good foundation
support for structures? What type would be more suspect of being poor
bedrock materials?
1-10. If sinkhole topography is related to the underground erosion of rock which
results in cavities, what type of rock formation would be considered more
susceptible to having the condition develop?
1-11. What two major geologic changes resulted across the North American
continent during and because of, the planet’s last period of heavy glaciations
(the last “ice age”) when massive sheets of ice extended across Canada and
the northern half of the United States, as well as other continental areas of
the northern hemisphere.
1-12. What are loess soils, and what is the potential danger of loss of stability in
loess deposits?
1-13. Indicate the soil types to be expected in a glacial terminal moraine.
1-14. Provide an outline indicating the relationship between soil deposit, glaciations,
and sedimentary rock formations.
1-15. Indicate why sand or gravel deposits are frequently found along old river and
stream locations.
1-16. What effect does the shape of a channel have on stream flow and the related
carried or deposited soil sediments?
1-17. How do natural levees originate? What is the major soil type expected in a
natural levee?
1-18. What soil type would be expected in a river or stream delta?
1-19. Describe the process by which a glacial lake is formed.
1-20. How can lakes exist at elevations along the groundwater table?
1-21. What type of transported soil deposit commonly is found at the location of
filled-in ancient lakes and basin areas?
1-22. Why are naturally filled-in lake locations often thought of as areas that offer
poor support for building foundations?
1-23. How do eskers differ from drumlins with regard to formation and soil types?
1-24. In glacially affected areas, what types of glacial formation represent possible
good sources of sands and gravels for the construction industry?
1-25. Does an area covered by glacial till represent a location of advantage or
disadvantage to the building and construction industry?
1-26. What is the potential danger to stability in areas where the land is formed
from marine clays?
1-27. Do soils typical of beach deposits represent any advantage or disadvantage
to the building and construction industry?
1-28. (a) Briefly explain the geologic difference between a transported soil
deposit and a residual soil deposit?
(b) What combination of geographic, geologic, topographic, and climatic
conditions are associated with, or responsible for, transported soil deposits?
(c) What combination of geographic, geologic, topographic, and climatic
conditions are associated with the presence of residual soil formations?
1-29. Formations of residual soils typically have strength-related characteristics
distinctly different from deposits of transported soils. Briefly describe the
significant differences.
1-30. On the basis of known lithosphere plate boundaries:
(a) Identify the major continental areas likely to experience
earthquakes in the future.
(b) Identify the major continental areas likely to experience active
volcanic activity in the future.
1-31. Indicate the present-day beliefs used to explain the movements of plates of
the lithosphere.
1-32. Develop a listing that indicates comparative values of specific gravity (or
heaviness) for rock materials in the lithosphere, the asthenosphere, the
continental crust, and the ocean crust.
1-33. Explain how the boundary regions for the plates of lithosphere relate to the
presence of the earth’s major mountain ranges.
1-34. Explain how the boundary regions for plates of lithosphere related to the
presence of present-day active volcanoes.
1-35. Speculate on possible reasons for the development of the fractures in the
lithosphere (the plate boundaries).
1-36. Explain the reason why fossils of cold-region or polar life have been
discovered in tropical areas in recent times.