Engineering Geology Questions and Answers Part-25

1. Sheet joints are caused not due to ___________
a) Consequence of loading
b) Weathering
c) Removal of overlying rock mass
d) Consequence of unloading

Answer: a
Explanation: Sheet joints are sometimes caused due to weathering and removal of overlying rock masses, which cause expansion of the underlying igneous and other rocks as a consequence of unloading.

2. The geometrical distribution where rock mass is divided into cubes is ___________
a) Sheet jointing
b) Mural jointing
c) Columnar jointing
d) Radial jointing

Answer: b
Explanation: Mural jointing is a sort of geometrical distribution of joints dividing the rock mass into cubical blocks or murals and hence the name.

3. Types of joint found in volcanic igneous rocks are?
a) Sheet joints
b) Mural joints
c) Columnar joints
d) Radial joints

Answer: c
Explanation: Columnar joints are typical of volcanic igneous rocks although they may also be observed in other rocks.

4. Columnar joints are also called ___________
a) Radial joints
b) Pyramid joints
c) Prismatic joints
d) Box joints

Answer: c
Explanation: Columnar joints are also called as prismatic joints. The joints divide the rock mass into polygonal blocks each block being bounded by three to eight sides.

5. How are the main joints aligned to the cooling surface?
a) Perpendicular
b) Parallel
c) At 45°
d) At 30°

Answer: a
Explanation: Normally, the main joints are vertical or perpendicular to the cooling surface and may extend to varying depths ranging a few centimetres to many metres

6. How and what are the polygonal cracks related to?
a) Directly related to compressive forces
b) Directly related to tensile forces
c) Inversely related to tensile forces
d) Directly related to shearing forces

Answer: b
Explanation: The polygonal cracks are thought to be directly related to the tensile forces developed during cooling (accompanied by contraction) of hot molten material (lava).

7. The contraction is equally developed in all directions in which kind of mass?
a) Non-homogenous
b) Isotropic
c) Anisotropic
d) Homogenous

Answer: d
Explanation: In a homogenous mass undergoing uniform cooling throughout the surface, contraction is equally developed in all directions.

8. At what angle do the fractures appear to the lines of tensile stresses?
a) 180°
b) 90°
c) 45°
d) 60°

Answer: b
Explanation: When the strength of the rock is overcome, fractures appear at right angles to the lines of tensile forces.

9. In sedimentary rocks, joints are genetically related to those forces that have caused the major structural deformation.
a) True
b) False

Answer: a
Explanation: Since sedimentary rocks are often folded and faulted, the joints in them are genetically related to those forces that have caused the major structural deformations.

10. Joints in metamorphic rocks are due to ___________
a) Indirect stresses
b) Local stresses
c) Regional stresses
d) Local and regional stresses

Answer: d
Explanation: The metamorphic rocks types are heavily jointed in many cases, the joints being of irregular or non-systematic types. These joints are often the result of local and regional stresses acting on rocks as a source of metamorphism.