According to a recent theory, Archean-age gold-quartz vein systems were formed more than two billion years ago from magmatic fluids that originated from molten granite-like bodies deep beneath the surface of the Earth. This theory is 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. The recently developed theory has considerable practical importance. Most of the gold deposits discovered during 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 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 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 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 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 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. 1 104. 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 2 105. 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 granite-like bodies (C) were formed from alluvial deposits (D) generally have surface expression (E) are not discoverable through chemical tests 3 106. 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 4 107. 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. 5 108. 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 metamorphic 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 6 109. The theory mentioned in lines 1-5 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. 7 110. 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 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) I only (B) II only (C) I and II only (D) I and III only (E) I, II, and III [

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According to a recent theory, Archean-age gold-quartz vein systems wer

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Hi GMATNinja Can you please shed some light on Q109 and Q110.
Thanks in advance!

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NamanPro

Hi GMATNinja Can you please shed some light on Q109 and Q110.
Thanks in advance!

Hello

Please refer to the posts in the following links for explanation

https://gmatclub.com/forum/according-to ... l#p2973354

https://gmatclub.com/forum/according-to ... l#p2973358

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Hi Experts

GMATNinja KarishmaB EducationAisle ChrisLele mikemcgarry AjiteshArun egmat sayantanc2k RonPurewal DmitryFarber MagooshExpert avigutman EMPOWERgmatVerbal MartyTargetTestPrep ExpertsGlobal5 IanStewart
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I was not able to understand that Archean-age gold-quartz vein systems is a ore-forming processes. But after reading certain explanantion I infered that thing

Can you please let me know , How can I infer these all things while reading the passage.
And also I was not able to find the practical importance of the recent theory.

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Hey,
When i started reading the passage i wasn't able to understand it.

I read it twice,but still wasn't able to understand.
Somehow I started attempting the questions and got QUESTION 2,4,5,7,8 CORRECT as they were SPECIFIC TYPE QUESTIONS and QUESTION 1,3,6 INCORRECT as they were INFER TYPE QUESTIONS.

Can somehow please let me know that from next time what shall do incase i didn't understand the passage?

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Hey Sajjad1994,
when i started the passage,I didn't understand it.
I read twice,but wasn't able to understand it.

Somehow I started attempting questions and got 2,4,5,7 and 8 CORRECT as they were specific type questions and got 1,3 and 6 INCORRECT as they were infer type questions.

Can you please let me know how i shall work on such passages ( science) in which i am unable to understand the passage.

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Ilhomjon98

Hi GMATNinja

Could you please help with question number 109:

The theory mentioned in lines 1-5 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.

I could eliminate C, D, and E and come to A and B, choosing A, the correct answer. Yet, I have had really hard time why A is correct and B is wrong.

of course, the conceptual models don't prove or confirm that some geological formations are mineralized or not, but they are constructed primarily from empirical observations of known mineral deposits and from theories of ore-forming processes.
That is why, I did not choose B. However, my reasoning may be wrong.

Could you please explain why A is correct and B is wrong?

Thank you very much beforehand!

Ilhomjon98 – Your answer has to tie to the passage and has to be supported by the passage. In order to correctly pick an aswer for all RC questions, the best strategy is to understand the structure of the passage. When I worked on this passage, I mentally jogged the key points of each paragraph:
Paragraph 1 – presents two oppsosing theories: a recent theory and then a widely held theory.
Paragraph 2 – sounds like it supports the recent theory by mentioning that it has a practical importance.
Paragraph 3 – continues to lends more details into the theory in paragraph 2.
Paragraph 4 – gives more insights into the models being mentioned in paragraph 3, which lends supports to paragraph 2, which lends support to the recent theory.

Now, when you read this sentence: "These models are constructed primarily from empirical observations of known mineral deposits and from theories of ore-forming processes", answer A captures most info compared to other answer choices: It talks about "ore-forming processes", which the models in paragraph 3 leverage for their exploration, and it also ties to paragraph 2, which mentions that the recent theory, which has a practical importance, leverages these conceptual models for the exploration.

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Can someone please explain why (E) is incorrect for question 106?

The question asks how to "maximise". Other methods are still very uncertain but it is mentioned that all gold deposits discovered thus far were alluvial gold has been found.

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Q.no 107

"These models are constructed primarily from empirical observations of known mineral deposits and from theories of ore-forming processes."

I understood why B is a good option, but at the same time I am unable to eliminate E since it also looks pleasing. This theory is referring to the theory mentioned First right (magmatic fluid) ?

If that's the case, Why isn't E correct?
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Prajeesh

The passage mentions two theories/views:

The newer theory: gold originated from magmatic fluids
The older (widely held) view: the systems were deposited from metamorphic fluids

Choice (E) basically says that the NEWER theory (magmatic fluids) has led to new discoveries of gold deposits. But we don't actually know whether the newer theory has ALREADY led to any new discoveries.

The author thinks that the newer theory will help with FUTURE discoveries (i.e. in detecting the deposits that have NOT yet been discovered because they are buried and have no surface expression), but nothing in the passage suggests that models based on the newer theory have already led to new discoveries of gold deposits. So (E) doesn't work.

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