CN134 Geology for Civil Engineers 1

School of Environment & Technology

Semester 2 Examinations June 2014

CN134

Geology for Civil Engineers 1

Instructions to Candidates:

Time allowed: TWO hours

Answer ALL questions from section A and TWO questions from section B

Write your student number on ALL separate sheets of paper.

Question Mark
Section A
1
2
Student number 3
4
Place number
5
Room 6
7
Section B
Examiner

Verified by:

Total Mark

02-13 June 2014

 Exam CN134 Geology for Civil Engineers 1

Section A: Answer ALL questions of this section

Write the answers in the boxes on the exam paper unless otherwise stated
Question 1
On the next page you will see a geological map on which five different geological
formations have been identified. These comprise of 4 formations of Permian age and
a Triassic dyke.
(a) Construct strike lines on the map (where necessary).
(6 marks)

(b) Construct a cross section through the map from X to Y with the horizontal scale
500m = 25mm and vertical scale 50m = 10mm on graph paper.
(15 marks)

(c) Determine at what depth a vertical borehole at point Z would encounter the
boundary between strata D and E.

(4 marks)

(d) Determine the strike, dip and dip direction of the Permian strata.

(5 marks)

Section A 2 of 8
 Exam CN134 Geology for Civil Engineers 1

Map for Question 1

X
A

C
Z

T
Y
Map Key
Permian Triassic

A S

B T

D
Section A 3 of 8
E
 Exam CN134 Geology for Civil Engineers 1

Question 2
Multiple choice – please circle the letter of the correct answer

1. How is dolomite formed?

(a) By evaporation of sea water.
By magnesium-rich water passing through existing limestone replacing
(b)
calcium-ions with magnesium-ions.
(c) It is a weathering product of limestone.
(d) It is a man-made product and does not form naturally.

2. Which of the following minerals weather to clay minerals?

(a) Calcite
(b) Quartz
(c) Gypsum
(d) Feldspar

3. The following is true about mudstone formed by compaction of clay:

(a) This rock is very strong.
(b) This rock is very resistant to weathering.
(c) This rock may disintegrate when put into water.
(d) The clay minerals in this rock have recrystallised to form larger grains.

4. How is petroleum formed?

(a) It is formed from marine organisms embedded in mud on the sea floor.
(b) It is formed from marine organisms embedded in porous sand.
(c) It is formed from peat that was buried under sediment.
(d) It forms inside coal as pressure and temperature increase.

5. Where are metamorphic rocks formed?

(a) Around intrusions of igneous rocks.
(b) In continental collision zones.
(c) In subduction zones.
(d) All of the above.

6. 10 mm distance on a map with a scale of 1:50,000 is equivalent to which

distance in the field:
(a) 250 m
(b) 500 m
(c) 1 km
(d) 2.5 km
(6 marks)

Section A 4 of 8
 Exam CN134 Geology for Civil Engineers 1

Question 3
Explain briefly why increasing urbanisation can be responsible for increased risk of
flooding.

(6 marks)
Question 4
Briefly explain the term ‘ice wedging’; you may use sketches for illustration.

(6 marks)

Section A 5 of 8
 Exam CN134 Geology for Civil Engineers 1

Question 5
Briefly describe the following types of tectonic plate boundaries (you may use
sketches for illustration in addition to your description).

Divergent plate boundary

Convergent plate boundary

Transform plate boundary

(9 marks)

Section A 6 of 8
 Exam CN134 Geology for Civil Engineers 1

Question 6
Discuss the various modes of sediment transport in flowing water; you may use a
sketch for illustration.

(8 marks)
Question 7
Indicate true or false to each of the following statements by circling “T” or “F”:
a) Beach sediments are normally even-graded. T F
b) Limestone is the parent rock for marble. T F
c) The San Andreas Fault in California is a famous example of a divergent T F
plate boundary.
d) Increased frequency of storms is likely to build up large beaches on the T F
UK coast.
e) Coral reefs are formed in warm, shallow water. T F

(5 marks)

Section A 7 of 8
 Exam CN134 Geology for Civil Engineers 1

Section B:
Answer TWO questions from this section.
Write the answers on the provided sheets.
Write your student number on each sheet of paper.
You may use sketches for illustration additional to your explanations.

Question 8
Taking into account the role of joints in the rock, describe in detail the stages of
weathering from fresh rock to disintegrated material (i.e. residual soil).
(15 marks)

Question 9
Discuss different types of volcanic eruption and the types of volcanoes created by
them.
(15 marks)

Question 10
Explain the term ‘lithostratigraphy’. Discuss the limitations of lithostratigraphy and the
additional information that can be used to overcome these limitations.
(15 marks)

Question 11
Explain how headlands are first created and then eroded by coastal erosion.
Describe the most common erosional features of headlands.
(15 marks)

Section B 8 of 8