Engineering Geology – MCQs

1. Which of the following is the primary constituent of granite?
(A) Quartz
(B) Calcite
(C) Gypsum
(D) Halite

2. Which type of rock is formed from cooling and solidification of magma?
(A) Sedimentary
(B) Igneous
(C) Metamorphic
(D) Fossiliferous

3. Which mineral is the hardest on Mohs hardness scale?
(A) Corundum
(B) Quartz
(C) Topaz
(D) Diamond

4. Which of the following is a clastic sedimentary rock?
(A) Limestone
(B) Shale
(C) Gypsum
(D) Rock Salt

5. The ability of a rock to allow water to pass through is called:
(A) Porosity
(B) Density
(C) Permeability
(D) Elasticity

6. Which of the following is a foliated metamorphic rock?
(A) Marble
(B) Quartzite
(C) Slate
(D) Hornfels

7. The Richter scale is used to measure:
(A) Wind velocity
(B) Rock hardness
(C) Earthquake magnitude
(D) Soil bearing capacity

8. Which mineral reacts with dilute HCl acid?
(A) Quartz
(B) Feldspar
(C) Calcite
(D) Mica

9. The most abundant element in the Earth’s crust is:
(A) Iron
(B) Silicon
(C) Oxygen
(D) Aluminum

10. The boundary between two rock layers of different ages is called:
(A) Joint
(B) Fault
(C) Unconformity
(D) Fold

11. Which igneous rock is intrusive and coarse-grained?
(A) Basalt
(B) Granite
(C) Obsidian
(D) Pumice

12. The point inside the Earth where an earthquake originates is called:
(A) Epicenter
(B) Hypocenter
(C) Focus depth
(D) Rift zone

13. Which of the following is a non-metallic mineral?
(A) Magnetite
(B) Gypsum
(C) Chalcopyrite
(D) Hematite

14. A fold in which both limbs dip away from the axis is called:
(A) Anticline
(B) Syncline
(C) Monocline
(D) Dome

15. Which process is responsible for breaking down rocks at Earth’s surface?
(A) Crystallization
(B) Weathering
(C) Lithification
(D) Diagenesis

16. Which of the following is an extrusive igneous rock?
(A) Gabbro
(B) Basalt
(C) Granite
(D) Diorite

17. Which scale is used to express the intensity of an earthquake?
(A) Mohs scale
(B) Modified Mercalli scale
(C) Beaufort scale
(D) Richter scale

18. Which mineral group is the most abundant in Earth’s crust?
(A) Silicates
(B) Carbonates
(C) Sulfides
(D) Oxides

19. Rocks formed by cooling of lava on the Earth’s surface are:
(A) Intrusive igneous
(B) Extrusive igneous
(C) Metamorphic
(D) Clastic

20. The measure of void spaces in a rock is called:
(A) Permeability
(B) Porosity
(C) Elasticity
(D) Ductility

21. Which of the following is considered a geological hazard?
(A) Folding
(B) Landslide
(C) Sedimentation
(D) Erosion

22. Which rock is used as the main raw material in cement industry?
(A) Granite
(B) Limestone
(C) Shale
(D) Dolerite

23. The San Andreas Fault in California is an example of:
(A) Normal fault
(B) Reverse fault
(C) Strike-slip fault
(D) Thrust fault

24. Which test is commonly used to identify calcite?
(A) Streak test
(B) Acid test
(C) Magnet test
(D) Hardness test

25. Metamorphism caused by heat and pressure over large areas is called:
(A) Contact metamorphism
(B) Regional metamorphism
(C) Burial metamorphism
(D) Dynamic metamorphism

26. Which of the following is NOT a sedimentary structure?
(A) Ripple marks
(B) Cross-bedding
(C) Foliation
(D) Mud cracks

27. The most abundant gas in volcanic eruptions is:
(A) CO₂
(B) SO₂
(C) H₂O vapor
(D) CH₄

28. Which igneous texture indicates rapid cooling?
(A) Coarse-grained
(B) Fine-grained
(C) Pegmatitic
(D) Porphyritic

29. The strength of a rock is influenced most by its:
(A) Porosity
(B) Density
(C) Mineral composition
(D) Elasticity

30. Rocks formed from alteration of pre-existing rocks are called:
(A) Igneous
(B) Sedimentary
(C) Metamorphic
(D) Volcanic

31. Which rock is known as volcanic glass?
(A) Obsidian
(B) Pumice
(C) Basalt
(D) Rhyolite

32. The angle of inclination of rock layers is known as:
(A) Dip
(B) Strike
(C) Plunge
(D) Pitch

33. Which mineral is used in making plaster of Paris?
(A) Gypsum
(B) Quartz
(C) Feldspar
(D) Mica

34. Which of the following processes leads to soil formation?
(A) Cementation
(B) Weathering
(C) Compaction
(D) Melting

35. The study of earthquakes is called:
(A) Seismology
(B) Geomorphology
(C) Petrology
(D) Geophysics

36. Which of the following is a renewable geological resource?
(A) Coal
(B) Oil
(C) Groundwater
(D) Natural Gas

37. What type of fault occurs due to compressional forces?
(A) Normal fault
(B) Reverse fault
(C) Strike-slip fault
(D) Transform fault

38. Which of the following is NOT an igneous rock?
(A) Andesite
(B) Basalt
(C) Quartzite
(D) Gabbro

39. Which metamorphic rock is derived from limestone?
(A) Slate
(B) Quartzite
(C) Marble
(D) Schist

40. The Pacific Ring of Fire is famous for:
(A) Gold deposits
(B) Volcanoes and earthquakes
(C) Oil reserves
(D) Karst topography

41. Which of the following minerals is used in making glass?
(A) Mica
(B) Quartz
(C) Gypsum
(D) Talc

42. Which sedimentary rock is mainly composed of calcium carbonate?
(A) Shale
(B) Limestone
(C) Sandstone
(D) Conglomerate

43. Which geophysical method is most useful for locating groundwater?
(A) Seismic method
(B) Magnetic method
(C) Resistivity method
(D) Gravity method

44. The slope stability of a hill depends mostly on:
(A) Rock strength and water content
(B) Rock color
(C) Latitude
(D) Earth’s magnetic field

45. Which igneous rock has the lowest density?
(A) Basalt
(B) Granite
(C) Pumice
(D) Gabbro

46. Which mineral is commonly known as fool’s gold?
(A) Pyrite
(B) Chalcopyrite
(C) Magnetite
(D) Hematite

47. The upper rigid layer of the Earth is called:
(A) Asthenosphere
(B) Lithosphere
(C) Mesosphere
(D) Core

48. Which sedimentary rock often serves as a reservoir for oil and gas?
(A) Shale
(B) Sandstone
(C) Gypsum
(D) Limestone

49. Which type of unconformity separates sedimentary rocks from igneous or metamorphic rocks?
(A) Angular unconformity
(B) Disconformity
(C) Nonconformity
(D) Paraconformity

50. The scale that measures the hardness of minerals is called:
(A) Richter scale
(B) Mohs scale
(C) Mercalli scale
(D) Beaufort scale