According to a recent theory, Archean-age gold-quartz
vein systems were formed over two billion years ago from
magmatic fluids that originated from molten granitelike
bodies deep beneath the surface of the Earth. This theory is
(5) contrary to the widely held view that the systems were
deposited from metamorphic fluids, that is, from fluids that
formed during the dehydration of wet sedimentary rocks.
he recently developed theory has considerable practical
importance. Most of the gold deposits discovered during
(10) the original gold rushes were exposed at the Earth’s surface
and were found because they had shed trails of alluvial
gold that were easily traced by simple prospecting methods.
Although these same methods still lead to an occasional
discovery, most deposits not yet discovered have gone
(15) undetected because they are buried and have no surface
expression.
The challenge in exploration is therefore to unravel the
subsurface geology of an area and pinpoint the position of
buried minerals. Methods widely used today include
(20) analysis of aerial images that yield a broad geological
overview; geophysical techniques that provide data on the
magnetic, electrical, and mineralogical properties of the
rocks being investigated; and sensitive chemical tests that
are able to detect the subtle chemical halos that often
(25) envelop mineralization. However, none of these high-
technology methods are of any value if the sites to which
they are applied have never mineralized, and to maximize
the chances of discovery the explorer must therefore pay
particular attention to selecting the ground formations most
(30) likely to be mineralized. Such ground selection relies to
varying degrees on conceptual models, which take into
account theoretical studies of relevant factors.
These models are constructed primarily from empirical
observations of known mineral deposits and from theories
35) of ore-forming processes. The explorer uses the models to
identify those geological features that are critical to the
formation of the mineralization being modeled, and then
tries to select areas for exploration that exhibit as many of
the critical features as possible.
1. The author is primarily concerned with
(A) advocating a return to an older methodology
(B) explaining the importance of a recent theory
(C) enumerating differences between two widely used
methods
(D) describing events leading to a discovery
(E) challenging the assumptions on which a theory is
based
2. According to the passage, the widely held view of
Archean- age gold-quartz vein systems is that such
systems
(A) were formed from metamorphic fluids
(B) originated in molten granitelike bodies
(C) were formed from alluvial deposits
(D) generally have surface expression
(E) are not discoverable through chemical tests
3. The passage implies that which of the following steps
would be the first performed by explorers who wish to
maximize their chances of discovering gold?
(A) Surveying several sites known to have been formed
more than two billion years ago
(B) Limiting exploration to sites known to have been
formed from metamorphic fluid.
(C) Using an appropriate conceptual model to select a
site for further exploration
(D) Using geophysical methods to analyze rocks over a
broad area
(E) Limiting exploration to sites where alluvial gold has
previously been found
4. Which of the following statements about discoveries of
gold deposits is supported by information in the
passage?
(A) The number of gold discoveries made annually has
increased between the time of the original gold rushes
and the present.
(B) New discoveries of gold deposits are likely to be the
result of exploration techniques designed to locate
buried mineralization.
(C) It is unlikely that newly discovered gold deposits will
ever yield as much as did those deposits discovered
during the original gold rushes.
(D) Modern explorers are divided on the question of the
utility of simple prospecting methods as a source of
new discoveries of gold deposits.
(E) Models based on the theory that gold originated
from magmatic fluids have already led to new
discoveries of gold deposits.
5. It can be inferred from the passage that which of the
following is easiest to detect?
(A) A gold-quartz vein system originating in magmatic
fluids
(B) A gold-quartz vein system originating in
meamorphic fluids
(C) A gold deposit that is mixed with granite
(D) A gold deposit that has shed alluvial gold
(E) A gold deposit that exhibits chemical halos
6. The theory mentioned in line 1 relates to the conceptual
models discussed in the passage in which of the
following ways?
(A) It may furnish a valid account of ore-forming
processes, and, hence, can support conceptual
models that have great practical significance.
(B) It suggests that certain geological formations, long
believed to be mineralized, are in fact
mineralized, thus confirming current conceptual
models.
(C) It suggests that there may not be enough similarity
across Archean-age gold-quartz vein systems to
warrant the formulation of conceptual models.
(D) It corrects existing theories about the chemical
halos of gold deposits, and thus provides a
basis for correcting current conceptual models.
(E) It suggests that simple prospecting methods
still have a higher success rate in the discovery
of gold deposits than do more modern methods.
7. According to the passage, methods of exploring for gold
that are widely used today are based on which of the
following facts?
(A) Most of the Earth’s remaining gold deposits are still
molten.
(B) Most of the Earth’s remaining gold deposits are
exposed at the surface.
(C) Most of the Earth’s remaining gold deposits are
buried and have no surface expression.
(D) Only one type of gold deposit warrants exploration,
since the other types of gold deposits are found in
regions difficult to reach.
(E) Only one type of gold deposit warrants exploration,
since the other types of gold deposits are unlikely to
yield concentrated quantities of gold.
8. It can be inferred from the passage that the efficiency of
model-based gold exploration depends on which of the
following?
Ⅰ. The closeness of the match between the geological
features identified by the model as critical and the
actual geological features of a given area
Ⅱ. The degree to which the model chosen relies on
empirical observation of known mineral deposits
rather than on theories of ore-forming processes
Ⅲ. The degree to which the model chosen is based on
an accurate description of the events leading to
mineralization
(A) Ⅰonly
(B) Ⅱ only
(C) Ⅰand Ⅱ only
(D) Ⅰ and Ⅲ only
(E) Ⅰ,Ⅱ and Ⅲ