ASBOG Practice Exam

What characteristic will not produce V-shaped outcropping in geological mapping?

1. Completely horizontal bedding

2. Steeply inclined beds

3. Complex erosion surfaces

4. Normal faults

The correct answer is: Completely horizontal bedding

Completely horizontal bedding will not produce V-shaped outcroppings in geological mapping because it lacks the necessary inclination to contribute to a distinct topographic feature. In geological mapping, V-shaped outcroppings typically occur where inclined or uneven layers of rock intersect with a valley or slope. These formations can create a V-shape as the erosion processes remove softer materials, revealing the harder layers beneath that are tilted towards the valley. In contrast, completely horizontal bedding does not provide these steep angles or inclinations; therefore, it will not create the V-shaped patterns seen in more complex geological structures. Instead, horizontal beds would typically result in more uniform, flat-lying outcrops without the distinctive shapes that characterize V-shaped formations. In certain other scenarios, like steeply inclined beds or normal faults, the resulting angles from erosion can indeed lead to V-shaped outcrops.