Question

Which of the following tasks could not be accomplished by seismic reflection profiling?

A. identifying the boundary between two or more rock layers in the Earth
B. identifying molten zones like magma chambers in the Earth
C. mapping a buried ancient landscape feature, such as a river channel
D. identifying structures such as folds and faults that are favorable for trapping petroleum and natural gas
E. determining the chemical composition of a rock

Answer 1

Seismic reflection profiling can map subsurface structures and differences in rock properties but cannot directly determine the chemical composition of rocks.

Step-by-step explanation:

Seismic reflection profiling is a powerful tool in geology and geophysics used to explore subsurface structures, but it cannot directly determine the chemical composition of rocks. Seismic profiles reflect waves off of various strata to create images that indicate differences in rock properties, such as impedance or hardness (not to be confused with Mohs hardness). While seismic data can be used to map rock layers, faults, magma chambers, and ancient landscapes, it only provides indirect information about the materials based on their density and elastic properties. The detail it can provide about the subsurface is highly valuable for understanding tectonic and stratigraphic history or for locating resources such as water or petroleum, but the actual chemical composition of the rocks requires other methods, such as direct sampling or geochemical analysis of core samples.