GATE question papers: Geology and Geophysics 2007 (GG)

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Q. 1 - Q. 20 carry one mark each.

1. The maximum curvature of a cylindrically folded surface occurs at the

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(A) axial plane (B) fold axis (C) hinge (D) limb

2. The plutonic equivalent of rhyolite is

(A) diorite (B) granite (C) hinge (D) limb

3. At a pressure of 14kb and temperature of 600C, basalt would metamorphose to

(A) amphibolite (B) eclogite (C) greenschist (D) mafic granulite

4. Which is the most abundant sediment in the deep sea?

(A) Clay (B) Pebble (C) Sand (D) Silt

5. Which of the following is an ore mineral of iron?

(A) Manganite (B) Magnesite (C) Malachite (D) Magnetite

6. "Bajada" is
(A) an arid region landform (B) a fluvial landform
(C) a glacial landform (D) an oceanic landform

7. Which of the following does NOT lie within the Dharwar craton?
(A) Bababudan Group (B) Closepet granite
(C) Khairagarh volcanics (D) Kolar schist belt

8. In which of the following oil and gas fields is limestone the reservoir rock?
(A) Bombay High (B) Cambay basin
(C) Cauvery basin (D) Krishna-Godavari basin

9. In remote sensing, DTM is an abbreviation for

(A) Day Time Mapping (B) Digital Triangulation Model
(C) Digitla Transverse Meridian (D) Digital Terrain Model

10. Which is the most abundant element in the solar system?

(A) Hydrogen (B) Iron (C) Oxygen (D) Silicon

11. Latitude correction applied gravity data reduction is maximum at the latitude of
(A) 0 (B) 30 (C) 45 (D) 60

12. The ratio of the Earth's total magnetic field at the Equator to that at the North Pole is
1 1 2 3
(A) (B) (C) (D)
3 2 3 4

13. The apparent resistivity type curve recorded over the following three layer section (top - dry soil;
middle - saturated aquifer; bottom - bed rock) is
(A) A-Type (B) H-Type (C) K-Type (D) Q-Type

14. Self-potential method is used in geophysical prospecting of ore deposits predominantly containing
(A) chalcopyrite (B) Chromite (C) Ilmenite (D) magnetite

15. Deep earthquakes are associated with

(A) mid-oceanic ridges (B) rift zones
(C) subduction zones (D) transform faults

16. The average P-wave velocity in the continental crust is

(A) 3.5 km/s (B) 4.5 km/s (C) 5.5 km/s (D) 6.5 km/s

17. The amplitude of ground motion generated by an earthquake of magnitude 8 is greater than that of
an earthquake of magnitude 5 by a factor of
(A) 3 (B) 100 (C) 300 (D) 1000

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18. A P-wave is NOT a

(A) dilatational wave (B) irrotational wave
(C) longitudinal wave (D) rotational wave

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19. Low velocity zone (LVZ) occurs globally at the base of the
(A) asthenosphere (B) crust (C) lithosphere (D) outer core

20. The fastest spreading divergent plate boundary is the

(A) Carlsberg ridge (B) Central-Indian ridge
(C) East Pacific rise (D) Mid-Atlantic ridge

Q. 21 to Q. 75 carry two marks each.

21. An open fold may appear to be isoclinical when viewed in a section

(A) at a low angle to the fold axis (B) at 45 to the fold axis
(C) perpendicular to the fold axis (D) parallel to the axial plane

22. Glaucophane is a dense mineral because

(A) Na occurs in the 'A' site while Al is in the octahedral site
(B) Na occurs in the 'A' site while Al is in the tetrahedral site
(C) Na occurs in the 'M4' site while Al is in the octahedral site
(D) Na occurs in the 'M4' site while Al is in the tetrahedral site

23. When a hydrous fluid infiltrates a rock containing the assemblage wollastonite + calcite + quartz at a
fixed pressure and temperature, the model proportion of
(A) calcite will increase at the expense of quartz and wollastonite
(B) wollastonite will increase at the expense of quartz and calcite
(C) quartz will increase at the expense of calcite and wollastonite
(D) calcite and quartz will increase at the expense of wollastonite

24. Which of the following represents a correct magmatic fractionation sequence?

(A) Basalt  Andesite  Dacite  Phonolite
(B) Basalt  Andesite  cc  Rhyolite
(C) Basalt  Mugearite  Dacite  Rhyolite
(D) Basalt  Mugearite  Trachyte  Phonolite

25. In the following figure, four rocks (W, X, Y and Z) undergo fractional melting. Which rock will require
the highest temperature for complete melting? (Rock Y is of eutectic composition)

Pressure = 1 bar 1553C

Liquid
1392C
Anorthite + 1274C
Diopside Liquid
+ Liquid
Temperature 

1274C
E

Diopside + Anorthite

W X Y Z
Diopside Anorthite

(A) W (B) X (C) Y (D) Z

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26. Which is the most common type of porosity in sandstone?

(A) Mouldic (B) Intraparticle (C) Interparticle (D) Shelter

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27. Which of the following features is NOT a tool 'mark'?
(A) Chevron mark (B) Groove cast (C) Load cast (D) Prod mark

28. Match the following

Group I Group II
P. Lead 1. Magmatic
Q. Aluminium 2. Pegmatitic
R. Chromite 3. Residual
S. Muscovite 4. Hydrothermal

(A) P - 2, Q - 1, R - 3, S - 4 (B) P - 4, Q - 3, R - 1, S - 2
(C) P - 3, Q - 4, R - 2, S - 1 (D) P - 3, Q - 4, R - 2, S - 1

29. State the nature of the following reaction:

Si4+ + 4H2O  H4SiO4 + 4H+
(A) hydration (B) hydrolysis (C) oxidation (D) reduction

30. Match the ionic species in Group I with their representative concentrations (ppm) in Group II, asfound
in meteoric water at 6C.

Group I Group II
P. Na+ 1. 2.4
Q. Mg2+ 2. 23.0
R. Ca2+ 3. 1.0
S. K+ 4. 5.1
(A) P - 2, Q - 1, R - 4, S - 3 (B) P - 1, Q - 2, R - 3, S - 4
(C) P - 4, Q - 3, R - 2, S - 1 (D) P - 3, Q - 4, R - 1, S - 2

31. Which of the following properties does NOT affect the permeability of sandstone?
(A) Pore size (B) Tortuosity of pores
(C) Sorting (D) Mineralogy of framework grains

32. Which of the following macerals has the lowest H/C ratjio?
(A) Alginite (B) Fusinite (C) Resinite (D) Sporinite

33. The paleoenvironmental condition indicated by the foraminiferal assemblage,

Ammonia - Cibicides - Quinqueloculina is
(A) abyssal (B) bathyal (C) non-marine (D) shelf

34. Match the bivalves in Group I with the dentitions in Group II.

Group I Group II
P. Nucula 1. Desmodont
Q. Spondylus 2. Pachydont
R. Mytihus 3. Dysodont
S. Mya 4. Taxodont
5. Isodont
6. Schizodont

(A) P - 4, Q - 5, R - 3, S - 1 (B) P - 4, Q - 1, R - 3, S - 2
(C) P - 6, Q - 5, R - 1, S - 3 (D) P - 6, Q - 5, R - 3, S - 2

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35. Match the following stratigraphic units in Group I with their corresponding ages in Group II.

Group I Group II

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P. Katrol 1. Paleozoic
Formation
Q. Po Formation 2. Archean
R. Kheinjua 3. Proterozoic
Formation
S. Dhokpathan 4. Mesozoic
Formation
5. Quaternary
6. Tertiary
(A) P - 6, Q - 1, R - 3, S - 5 (B) P - 4, Q - 6, R - 2, S - 1
(C) P - 1, Q - 4, R - 1, S - 6 (D) P - 4, Q - 1, R - 3, S - 6

36. Match the minerals in Group I with their respective silicate structures in Group II.

Group I Group II
P. Olivine 1. Nesosilicate
Q. Quartz 2. Sorosilicate
R. Epidote 3. Inosilicate
S. Biotite 4. Phyllosilicate
5. Cyclosilicate
6. Tectosilicate
(A) P - 1, Q - 2, R - 5, S - 4 (B) P - 1, Q - 6, R - 2, S - 4
(C) P - 3, Q - 6, R - 4, S - 2 (D) P - 4, Q - 5, R - 6, S - 1

37. Match the following:

Group I Group II
P. Moyar-Bhavani 1. Eastern Ghats
Shear Zone Mobile Belt
Q. Kui-Chitraseni 2. Southern Granulite
Shear Zone Terrain
R. Nagavalli- 3. Western Dharwar
vamsadhara Craton
Shear Zone
S. Jabanahalli 4. Aravalli-Delhi fold
Shear Zone belt
5. Singhbhum Craton
6. Bhandara Craton

(A) P - 1, Q - 2, R - 5, S - 4 (B) P - 6, Q - 5, R - 2, S - 4
(C) P - 4, Q - 2, R - 6, S - 1 (D) P - 2, Q - 4, R - 1, S - 3

38. Which is the correct sequence of occurrence of the following thrusts in the Himalayan mountain belt
along a south to north traverse?
(A) Krol Thrust  Ramgarh Thrust  Almora Thrust  ITSZ
(B) Ramgarh Thrust  Krol Thrust  Almora Thrust  ITSZ
(C) Krol Thrust  Almora Thrust  Ramgarh Thrust  ITSZ
(D) Almora Thrust  Ramgarh Thrust  ITSZ  Krol Thrust

39. Which of the following triple junction is ALWAYS stable? (R = ridge; T = trench; F = transform fault)
(A) F-F-F (B) R-R-R (C) T-R-F (D) T-T-T

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40. Match the following

Group I Group II

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P. Nickpoints 1. Karst topography
Q. Pediplains 2. Paleosols
R. Duricrust 3. Moraine
S. Yardangs 4. Rejuvenation
5. Desert
6. Abrasion
(A) P - 1, Q - 2, R - 5, S - 4 (B) P - 4, Q - 5, R - 2, S - 6
(C) P - 6, Q - 5, R - 2, S - 3 (D) P - 5, Q - 3, R - 1, S - 2

41. A straight, steep mountain front, with little penetration of the alluvial fans into the range suggests the
following:
(A) wind erosion (B) slow uplift along an active fault
(C) rapid uplift along an active fault (D) the presence of ancient inactive fault

42. At a fixed temperature, find the concentration (mole/litre) of ferric ion in solution if
i) solubility product of ferric hydroxide K = 10-38.6
ii) ionisation product of water Kw = 10-14.2
iii) pH = 7
(A) 10-17 (B) 10-7 (C) 10+7 (D) 10+17

43. A basaltic lava flow is found to have a 87Sr/86 Sr ratio of 0.720, and a 87Rb/86 Sr ratio of 0.750. If the
initial 87Sr/86 Sr value is determined to be 0.704, what is the age of the flow?
(assume  = 1.42  10-11 year-1)
(A) 2.5  109 years (B) 1.5  109 years (C) 2.5  109 years (D) 1.5  109 years

44. What are the normal (n) and shear (  ) stresses acting on a plane that makes an angle of 30 with
the maximum principal compressive stress (1) direction?
(A) n = 5.25 kb;  = 1.17 kb (B) n = 6.25 kb;  = 2.17 kb
(C) n =7.25 kb;  = 3.17 kb (D) n = 8.25 kb;  = 4.17 kb

45. Quartz can be optically distinguished from nepheline based on

(A) relief (B) birefringence (C) optic sign (D) extinction angle

46. The poisson's ratio of a rock with P-and S-wave velocities in the ratio of 3 : 1 is
(A) 0.20 (B) 0.25 (C) 0.30 (D) 0.35

47. A seismic reflection segment after migration

(A) shallows and steepens
(B) deepens and steepens
(C) lengthens and deepens
(D) shortens and deepens

48. The coverage obtained for a 12 geophone CDP profile with short spacing equal to twice the geophone
spacing is
(A) 3-fold (B) 6-fold (C) 12-fold (D) 24-fold

49. A P-wave incident on a horizontal interface between two layers at an angle of 30 generates a
reflected S-wave. What is the angle of reflection of the S-wave? (The P-and S-wave velocities in the
top layer are 4 km/s and respectively).
(A) 12 (B) 14 (C) 16 (D) 18

50. The decimal number 27 is represented in binary form as

(A) 11101 (B) 11001 (C) 10111 (D) 11011

51. A salt dome is characterized by

(A) low velocity and low density (B) low velocity and high density
(C) high velocity and low density (D) high velocity and high density

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52. Convolving two sampled signals f(n) = {1,1,2,2} with g(n) = {3,2,1} results in a function x(n) equal
to
(A) {1, 3, 7, 9, 10, 6} (B) {3, 5, 9, 11, 6, 2}

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(C) {3, 9, 6, 11, 2, 2} (D) {3, 5, 9, 6, 11, 5}

53. The correct sequence in which the following EM methods should be arrange in order of their
increasing depth of investigation is
P - Very Low Frequency method
Q - Magnetotelluric method
R - Ground Penetrating Radar method
S - Slingram method
(A) P < R < S < Q (B) S < R < P < Q (C) R < P < S < Q (D) P<R<Q<S

54. Which of the following is measured in the time domain induced polarization method?
(A) Transient decay of electric potential
(B) Electric current injected into the ground
(C) Electric potential and injected current
(D) DC resistance only

55. In magnetotelluric method, EM source field is

(A) a plane wave source (B) a spherical wave source
(C) a cylindrical wave source (D) an elliptical wave source

56. In magnetotelluric method, phase angle derived from measured data over a homogeneous medium is
(A) 0 (B) 30 (C) 45 (D) 90

57. For a fixed electrode spacing, arrange the following electrode configurations in the order of their
increasing depth of investigation.
P - Schlumberger; Q - Wenner; R - Three electrodes; S - Two electrodes
(A) P<Q<S<R (B) P<R<S<Q
(C) P<R<Q<R (D) P<Q<R<S

58. The correct expression relating the gravitational (U) and magnetic (W) potentials is (G - universal
gravitational constant, P - density, I - intensity of magnetization and  - the direction of
magnetization)
I U p U p W I W
(A) W= (B) W= (C) W= (D) W=
Gp  GI  GI  Gp 

59. Magnetic survey was conducted from 8:00 A.M. to 12:00 noon and the following observations were
recorded.

Station No 1 (Base) 2 3 4 5 1 (Base)

Time 8:00 9:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 12:00
Total field 45500 45650 45750 45850 45850 45700

Which station shows the maximum anomaly after linear drift correction?
(A) 2 (B) 3 (C) 4 (D) 5

60. At 45N latitude, a spherical body having a radius 500 m, density 3.5 g/cc and magnetic susceptibility
5.01011 CGS unit, lies at a depth o f1.0 km. Assuming present day magnetic field, which statement
is true if measurements are made along an E-W profile?
(A) Both gravity and total magnetic field anomalies are symmetric
(B) Gravity anomaly is symmetric and total magnetic field anomaly is asymmetric
(C) Total magnetic field anomaly is symmetric and gravity anomaly is asymmetric
(D) Both gravity and total magnetic field anomalies are asymmetric

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61. Match the following

Group I Group II

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P. Paramagnetic 1. Cobalt
Q. Diamagnetic 2. Ilmenite
R. Ferromagnetic 3. Pyroxence
S. Antiferromagn 4. Quartz
etic
(A) P - 2, Q - 3, R - 1, S - 4 (B) P - 1, Q - 3, R - 2, S - 4
(C) P - 4, Q - 2, R - 1, S - 3 (D) P - 3, Q - 4, R - 1, S - 2

62. The difference in gravity measurements aboard two ships sailing towards each other in opposite
directions (E-W) with a constant speed of 10 knots is 130 mgals at the crossing point of both the
ships. At what latitude are the ships sailing?
(A) 15 (B) 30 (C) 45 (D) 60

63. After decaying through 7 half-life periods, the original amount of radioactive substance that reduces
1
to an amount of g, is
64
(A) 0.25 g (B) 0.50 g (C) 1.0 g (D) 2.0 g

64. Number of atoms and disintegration constants of the parent (N1, 1) and daughter (N2, 2) radio-
nuclides respectively in secular equilibrium are related as
N1  N1  N1  N1  1 N 2  2
(A)  2 (B)  1 (C)  2 (D) 
N2 1 N2 2 1 N2 N2 N1

65. What is the volume (%) of shale in a shaly-sand bed bed exhibiting a pseudo-static SP of 44 mV?
(static SP for clean sand = 55 mV)
(A) 10 (B) 20 (C) 30 (D) 40

66. If the saturation exponent in Archie's equation is 2, the bulk resistivity of 50% water saturated
formation increases in comparison to that of a fully water saturated formation by a factor of
(A) 4 (B) 8 (C) 16 (D) 32

67. Determination of formation porosity using neutron logging is based on

(A) chlorine index (B) hydrogen index
(C) neutron activation index (D) oxygen index

68. Which combination of logs is used to identify a gas zone based on the characteristic shape of the
derived porosity plots?
(A) Sonic and density (B) Resistivity and density
(C) Density and neutron (D) Sonic and neutron

69. Inverse solution for an underdetermined problem can be constructed by

(A) minimum normal inversion (B) Resistivity and density
(C) Density and neutron (D) Sonic and neutron

70. Primary field source used in Slingram EM method is a

(A) small circular loop (B) large rectangular loop
(C) long grounded wire (D) long vertical transmitter

Common Data Questions

Common Data for Questions 71, 72, 73:

A P-wave generated from a surface source is incident at an angle of 15 on the horizontal interface between
two 100 m thick layers with velocities V1 = 2 km/s and V2 = 4 km/s for the first and second layers
respectively.

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71. The crossover distance (metres) for a head wave from the interface between the two layers is
(A) 326 (B) 165 (C) 170 (D) 356

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72. A reflection from the base of the second layer is recorded at an offset (source-receiver) distance
(metres) of
(A) 160 (B) 165 (C) 170 (D) 175

73. The total travel time (ms) taken for the P-wave generated at the surface to reach the detector after
reflection from the base of the second layer is
(A) 152 (B) 157 (C) 162 (D) 167

Common Data for Questions 74, 75:

The figure below represents the geological map of an area. Based on the map, attempt questions 74 and 75.
Contours depicted are in metres.

74. What is the nature of the discontinuity AB?

(A) Fault (B) Disconformity
(C) Paraconformity (D) Angular unconformity

75. The discontinuity CD represents a

(A) normal fault (B) reverse fault
(C) strike-slip (D) strike fault

Linked Answer Questions: Q.76 to Q.85 carry two marks each.

Statement for Linked Answer Questions 76  77:

The discontinuities within the earth are marked by changes in velocity and density of the medium.

76. The velocity discontinuity within the earth at which the density of the medium is closest to the
average density of the earth, is
(A) Conrad (B) Gutenberg (C) Lehmann (D) Mohorovicic

77. The change in P-wave velocity across the above discontinuity is

(A) 1.7 km/s (B) 3.7 km/s (C) 5.7 km/s (D) 7.7 km/s

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Statement for Linked Answer Questions 78  79:

In electromagnetic method of geophysical prospecting, the depth of investigation (skin depth), is a function of

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the physical property of the medium and frequency of the source field.

78. A homogeneous medium is represented by the electrical conductivity '' and magnetic permeability
''. If the angular frequency of the source field is , then the expression for the skin depth '' is:
 2
(A) = (B) =
2 
1 2
(C) = (D) =
2 

79. The frequency of the EM source required to achieve a depth of investigation of 1 km in a medium of
electrical resistivity of 4.0 m and magnetic permeability of 4  10-7 H/m is
(A) 1 Hz (B) 10 Hz (C) 100 Hz (D) 1000 Hz

Statement for Linked Answer Questions 80  81:

Paleocurrent data for a sedimentary succession is as follows:

N 20 E, N 25 E, N 30 E, N 15 E, S 20 W, S 25 W, S 30 W, S 15 W, N 25 E, S 25 W,

80. The rose diagram generated from the paleocurrent data is

(A) bimodal - bipolar (B) polymodal
(C) trimodal (D) unimodal

81. Which environment of deposition can explain the above paleocurrent data?
(A) Alluvial fan (B) Deep marine (C) Fluvial (D) Tidal flat

Statement for Linked Answer Questions 82  83:

A garnet peridotite contains 60% olivinre, 25% orthopyroxene, 10% clinopyroxene and 5% garnet. The KD
values for the element cerium during melting for each mineral are as follows: olivine = 0.001 ; orthopyroxene
= 0.003 ; clinopyroxene = 0.1; garnet = 0.02.

82. During melting of the garnet peridotite, the bulk distribution coefficient of cerium is
(A) 0.0124 (B) 0.1240 (C) 8.0650 (D) 83.3300

83. The extent of equilibrium partial melting required to double the concentration of cerium in the melt
compared to the source is
(A) 5% (B) 20% (C) 35% (D) 50%

Statement for Linked Answer Questions 84  85:

A dipping limestone bed with a true width of 5 metres shows an apparent width of 10 metres on a horizontal
surface.

84. Calculate the true dip of the limestone bed.

(A) 70 (B) 50 (C) 30 (D) 10

85. At what horizontal distance (metres) from the exposed upper surface of the bed should a vertical drill
hole be made so as to intersect the top of the bed at a depth of 100 metres?
(A) 73.2 (B) 173.2 (C) 273.2 (D) 373.2

End of the question paper

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