GEOPHYSICS Question Bank

Q.1 In electromagnetic (EM) sounding, the depth of investigation with increasing frequency
A. Increases
B. Decreases
C. remains unchanged
D. varies randomly
Answer: B

Q.2 The International Gravity Formula predicts the theoretical gravity value at a given point
assuming a
A. non-rotating homogeneous spherical earth model
B. rotating inhomogeneous spherical earth model
C. rotating homogeneous oblate spheroidal earth model
D. rotating inhomogeneous oblate spheroidal earth model
Answer: C

Q.3 The diurnal variation of geomagnetic elements is due to a system of electric currents
flowing in the
A. ionosphere
B. Earth's outer core
C. inter-planetary medium
D. oceans
Answer: A
Q.4 Match the mineral deposits (listed in Group I) with the most appropriate geophysical
exploration methods (listed in Group II)
GROUP I GROUP II
(P) Mineralized conductive veins (1) Gravity
(Q) Disseminated sulphides (2) Magnetic
(R) Massive barytes (3) Induced Polarization
(S) Kimberlite pipes (4) Resistivity Profiling
(5) Low frequency Magnetotellurics.

A. P-4; Q-3; R-1; S-5

B. P-2; Q-1; R-4; S-5
C. P-5; Q-1; R-4; S-3
D. P-4; Q-3; R-1; S-2
Answer: D

Q.5 Match the type of well logs (listed in Group I) with the characteristics of measurement
(listed in Group II).
GROUP I GROUP II
(P) Dipmeter (1) Hydrogen concentration in pores
(Q) Neutron (2) Velocity of compressional waves
(R) SP (3) Correlation of resistivity changes
(S) Sonic (4) Natural radioactivity
(5) Natural electric potential
A. P - 3; Q - 1; R - 5; S – 2
B. P - 4; Q - 1; R - 5; S – 3
C. P - 3; Q - 4; R - 5; S – 2
D. P - 3; Q - 1; R - 4; S – 2
Answer: A

Q.6 In a metamorphic terrain, crenulations at the hinge zone of a fold along with the
development of axial plane foliation is an evidence of
A. one phase of deformation
B. at least two phases of deformation
C. no deformation
D. extensional regime of the deformation
Answer: B
Q.7 A geological reconnaissance survey is being carried out using remote sensing multispectral
data. Which set of the two Band data of the following is most appropriate for mapping limonite
bearing zones?
A. Near infrared band and Thermal infrared band image data
B. Blue band and Red band image data
C. Shortwave infrared band and Thermal infrared image data
D. Thermal infrared band and X-band radar image data
Answer: B

Q.8 A gaseous hydrocarbon-bearing zone can be best identified by a combined analysis of

A. Density and Self potential(SP) logs
B. Density and Neutron logs
C. Sonic and Neutron logs
D. Natural gamma ray (GR) and Neutron logs
Answer: B

Q.9 In general, geophysical inverse problems dealing with real data obtained from field
measurements are
A. Grossly over determined
B. Even determined
C. Over determined
D. Grossly undetermined
Answer: D

Q.10 Konigsberger ratio refers to

A. anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility
B. ratio of remnant magnetization and induced magnetization
C. ratio of longitudinal and transverse electrical resistivities
D. ratio of P and S wave velocities
Answer: B
Q.11 The Poisson's relation linking the gravity and magnetic potentials assumes the same
anomaly source with
A. inhomogeneous density and intensity of magnetization
B. uniform density contrast and inhomogeneous intensity of magnetization
C. uniform density contrast and homogeneous intensity of magnetization
D. inhomogeneous density and homogeneous intensity of magnetization
Answer: C

Q.12 Arrange the following electrode configurations in the ascending order of their depth of
investigation
(P) Dipole-Dipole
(Q) Schlumberger
(R) Wenner
(S) Pole-Pole
A. R-S-Q–P
B. P-Q-S–R
C. R-Q-P–S
D. R-Q-S–P
Answer: C

Q.13 In a remotely sensed data of a planet, the presence of hydrous species can be inferred
using region of the electromagnetic spectrum?
A. Radiowave
B. Gamma
C. Infrared
D. Visible
Answer: C

Q.14 The acceleration due to gravity, 'g' is maximum at

A. Equator
B. Poles
C. mid-latitudes
D. sub-tropical regions
Answer: B
Q.15 Choose the diamagnetic mineral from the following.
A. Calcite
B. Enstatite
C. Pyrite
D. Ilmenite
Answer: A

Q.16 Two bodies made up of same material with different dimensions have
A. same resistances and resistivities
B. same resistivities but different resistances
C. same resistances but different resistivities
D. different resistances and resistivities
Answer: B

Q.17 Match the following items of Group I with those of Group II

GROUP I GROUP II
(P) Electrical methods (1) Density
(Q) Magnetic methods (2) Velocity
(R) Gravity methods (3) Resistivity
(S) Seismic methods (4) Susceptibility
(5) Dielectric permittivity
A. P - 3; Q - 2; R - 5; S – 1
B. P - 3; Q - 4; R - 1; S – 2
C. P - 3; Q - 4; R - 2; S – 1
D. P - 5; Q - 4; R - 3; S – 2
Answer: B

Q.18 Which of the following physical properties of rocks has the widest range of variation?
A. Magnetic permeability
B. Dielectric permittivity
C. Seismic velocity
D. Electrical resistivity
Answer: D
Q.19 In a homogeneous anisotropic medium, the physical property varies
A. with position but not with direction
B. with both position and direction
C. with direction but not with position
D. neither with position nor with direction
Answer: C

Q.20 Which one of the following stable isotopic ratios is used for estimation of palaeo-
temperature of seawater?
13
A. C/12C
18
B. O/16O
87 86
C. S/ Sr
15
D. N/14N
Answer: B

Q.21 Which of the following logging techniques is best suited to estimate the shaliness of
hydrocarbon reservoirs?
A. Resistivity
B. Induction
C. Sonic
D. Gamma rays
Answer: D

Q.22 Which of the following methods is best suited to estimate the resistivity variations in the
upper mantle?
A. Deep electrical resistivity
B. Ground Penetrating Radar
C. Controlled Source Electromagnetics
D. Magnetotellurics
Answer: D
Q.23 Amongst the following 4-electrode configurations of the electrical resistivity method,
which is best suited for archeological investigations?
A. Schlumberger
B. Pole-Pole
C. Wenner
D. Dipole-Dipole
Answer: B

Q.24 Which of the following characteristics of a Self Potential (SP) anomaly gives the
approximate position of centre of the buried ore body?
A. Position of maximum of the anomaly
B. Position of minimum of the anomaly
C. Position of zero crossing
D. Position midpoint between maximum and minimum of the anomaly
Answer: B

Q.25 Geomagnetic secular variations originate from the

A. inner core
B. outer core
C. crust
D. mantle
Answer: B

Q.26 Removal of regional component from magnetic data is similar to

A. band-pass filtering
B. low-pass filtering
C. high-pass filtering
D. band-reject filtering
Answer: C
Q.27 Which of the following is useful to estimate the depth to the centre of a spherical body
from a gravity anomaly curve?
A. Surface integration
B. Volume integration
C. Twice the absolute maximum
D. Half-width of the anomaly
Answer: D

Q.28 The most common hydrocarbon indicator is

A. flat spot
B. dim spot
C. bright spot
D. velocity sag
Answer: C

 In an electrical resistivity sounding survey a current of 20 mA is passed through the current

electrodes separated by a distance of 50 m and a voltage of 3 V is measured across the
potential electrodes, separated by 10 m.

Q.29 The above electrode configuration is known as

A. Schlumberger
B. Wenner
C. Pole-Dipole
D. Pole-Pole
Answer: A

Q.30 Bouguer correction is applied to correct for the gravity anomaly due to mass between
station location and
A. mean sea level
B. local datum plane
C. base of upper crust
D. Mohorovicic discontinuity
Answer: B
Q.31 Which one of the following can be estimated from SP log against a saline-water saturated
sandstone formation encountered in a well?
A. Resistivity of formation water
B. Degree of water saturation
C. Depth of invasion
D. Permeability
Answer: A

Q.32 Which one of the following can be best explored using electromagnetic method?
A. Oil-bearing strata
B. Coal-bearing strata
C. Disseminated sulphide deposit
D. Massive sulphide deposit
Answer: D

Q.33 The most sensitive instrument for magnetic survey is

A. magnetic field balance
B. fluxgate magnetometer
C. proton precession magnetometer
D. optically pumped magnetometer
Answer: D

Q.34 Which physical property of the medium governs the response of Ground Penetrating
Radar (GPR)?
A. Electrical conductivity
B. Electromagnetic conductivity
C. Seismic wave velocity
D. Electrical permeability (dielectric permittivity)
Answer: D
Q.35 Which one of the following mineral constituents exhibits strong absorption in the UV-blue
band of the EM spectrum due to charge transfer effect leading to colouration?
A. Fe-O
B. Si-O
C. Al-OH
D. Mg-OH
Answer: A

Q.36 The bright spot on a seismic reflection section in a sand-shale sequence can be seen over
A. fresh water-bearing sand
B. saline water-bearing sand
C. oil pool
D. gas pool
Answer: D

Q.37 The change in gravity caused by Earth's tides on the land surface in a complete tidal cycle
is in the range of (in milligal)
A. 0.1 to 0.2
B. 0.2 to 0.3
C. 0.3 to 0.4
D. 0.4 to 0.5
Answer: B

Q.38 According to Archie's equation, the electrical resistivity of porous sandstone doesn't
depend on:
A. Porosity
B. nature of interstitial fluid
C. tortuosity of pores
D. solid matrix
Answer: D
Q.39 Which one of the following can be determined from the NMR log against sandstone?
A. Clay content of sandstone
B. Total porosity
C. Water-filled porosity
D. Structured water
Answer: C

Q.40 According to Airy’s model, gravity anomalies for fully isostatically compensated
topography are characterized by

A. negative Bouguer anomaly and positive free-air anomaly.

B. positive Bouguer anomaly and negative free-air anomaly.
C. zero Bouguer anomaly and negative free-air anomaly.
D. positive Bouguer anomaly and zero free-air anomaly.
Answer: A

Q.41 Match the parameters listed in Group I with the units listed in Group II.
GROUP I GROUP II
(P) Hydraulic conductivity (1) Newton sec./m2
(Q) Permeability (2) m/sec.
(R) Viscosity (3) m
(S) Hydraulic head (4) m2

A. P-2; Q-4; R-1; S-3

B. P-1; Q-2; R-4; S-3
C. P-2; Q-4; R-3; S-1
D. P-4; Q-2; R-1; S-3
Answer: A

Q.42 In digital remote sensing, land-water contrast is best identified in the ______wavelength
band.

A. Ultraviolet
B. near IR
C. middle IR
D. thermal IR
Answer: B
Q.43 Which one of the following rocks has the highest magnetic susceptibility value?

A. Quartzite
B. Limestone
C. Gabbro
D. Shale
Answer: C

Q.44 In which one of the following electromagnetic methods is the rate of change of
secondary field recorded?
A. Very Low Frequency method
B. Time-domain EM method
C. Magnetotelluric method
D. TURAM method
Answer: B

Q.45 Which one of the following geophysical methods is most suitable for the exploration of a
horizontally stratified graphite deposit at a depth of 50 m?

A. Gravity
B. Magnetic
C. Radiometric
D. Electromagnetic
Answer: D

Q.46 Which one of the following logging techniques is most suitable to detect a shale layer
sandwiched between two sandstone layers?

A. Neutron-Gamma
B. Gamma-Gamma
C. Natural Gamma
D. Sonic
Answer: C
Q.47 Which one of the following Natural Remanent Magnetization (NRM) gives a primary,
stable magnetization for igneous rocks?

A. Depositional Remanent Magnetization (DRM)

B. Thermo Remanent Magnetization (TRM)
C. Chemical Remanent Magnetization (CRM)
D. Isothermal Remanent Magnetization (IRM)
Answer: B

Q.48 The following figure shows the total magnetic field intensity anomaly above a spherical
body polarized by the present day geomagnetic field. From among the options below, identify
the region in which such an anomaly could be observed.

A. Equator
B. Latitude 27o
C. North pole
D. South pole
Answer: A

Q.49 Dip angle electromagnetic methods are suitable to delineate

A. both vertical and horizontal conductors.
B. horizontal conductors only.
C. vertical and dipping conductors.
D. horizontal and dipping conductors.
Answer: C

Q.50 which one of the following geophysical methods uses the physical property “Dielectric
constant”?
A. Gravity
B. Ground penetrating Radar
C. Seismic
D. Self-Potential
Answer: B
Q.51 which one of the following corrections is always added during reduction of the observed
gravity data?
A. Latitude
B. Free-air
C. Bouguer
D. Terrain
Answer: D

Q.52 which one of the following rock types has the highest bulk magnetic susceptibility value?
A. Gabbro
B. Marble
C. Orthoquartzite
D. Limestone
Answer: A

Q.53 There is a change in the values of the bulk modulus and density across the Gutenberg
discontinuity (from mantle to outer core). Which one of the following statements is CORRECT?
A. Both bulk modulus and density increase
B. Both bulk modulus and density decrease
C. Bulk modulus decreases and density increases
D. Bulk modulus increases and density decreases
Answer: A

Q.54 Which one of the following well log responses characterizes an overpressured zone in the
subsurface
A. High velocity and high resistivity
B. Low velocity and low density
C. High velocity and low resistivity
D. Low velocity and high density
Answer: B