JAM 2025 Question Paper Geology (GG)

JOINT ADMISSION TEST FOR MASTERS

2025

IIT

JAM
2025
Question Papers | Answer Key

The Joint Admission Test for Masters is a
common admission test conducted every
year for admission into Master of Science
and other post-graduate science
programs at Indian Institutes of
Technology

JAM 2025 Confidential GEOLOGY (GG)

Paper Specific Instructions

1. The examination is of 3 hours duration. There are a total of 60 questions carrying 100 marks. The
entire paper is divided into three sections, A, B and C. All sections are compulsory. Questions in
each section are of different types.

2. Section A contains a total of 30 Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ). Each MCQ type question
has four choices out of which only one choice is the correct answer. Questions Q.1 – Q.30 belong
to this section and carry a total of 50 marks. Q.1 – Q.10 carry 1 mark each and Questions Q.11 –
Q.30 carry 2 marks each.

3. Section B contains a total of 10 Multiple Select Questions (MSQ). Each MSQ type question is
similar to MCQ but with a difference that there will be more than one choices that are correct out
of the four given choices. The candidate gets full credit if he/she selects all the correct answers
only and no wrong answers. Questions Q.31 – Q.40 belong to this section and carry 2 marks each
with a total of 20 marks.

4. Section C contains a total of 20 Numerical Answer Type (NAT) questions. For these NAT type
questions, the answer is a real number which needs to be entered using the virtual keyboard on the
monitor. No choices will be shown for these type of questions. Questions Q.41 – Q.60 belong to
this section and carry a total of 30 marks. Q.41 – Q.50 carry 1 mark each and Questions Q.51 –
Q.60 carry 2 marks each.

5. In all sections, questions not attempted will result in zero mark. In Section A (MCQ), wrong
answer will result in NEGATIVE marks. For all 1-mark questions, 1/3 marks will be deducted for
each wrong answer. For all 2-mark questions, 2/3 marks will be deducted for each wrong answer.
In Section B (MSQ), there is NO NEGATIVE and NO PARTIAL marking provisions. There is
NO NEGATIVE marking in Section C (NAT) as well.

6. Only Virtual Scientific Calculator is allowed. Charts, graph sheets, tables, cellular phone or other
electronic gadgets are NOT allowed in the examination hall.

7. A Scribble Pad will be provided for rough work.

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JAM 2025 Confidential GEOLOGY (GG)

Special Instructions / Useful Data

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JAM 2025 Confidential GEOLOGY (GG)

Section A: Q.1 – Q.10 Carry ONE mark each.

Q.1 The density contrast across which one of the following transitions in the Earth is
maximum?

(A) Upper crust – lower crust

(B) Upper mantle – lower mantle

(C) Lower mantle – outer core

(D) Outer core – inner core

Q.2 Which one of the following is NOT an ultramafic rock?

(A) Wehrlite

(B) Olivine websterite

(C) Harzburgite

(D) Anorthosite

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JAM 2025 Confidential GEOLOGY (GG)

Q.3 The longitude of the person’s position at a place 3 hours ahead of UTC (Prime
Meridian) is

(A) 15 E

(B) 30 W

(C) 45 E

(D) 45 W

Q.4 Which one of the following does NOT have a polymorph?

(A) Fluorite

(B) Pyrite

(C) Calcite

(D) Diamond

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JAM 2025 Confidential GEOLOGY (GG)

Q.5 Which one of the following CORRECTLY describes the footwall block relative
to the hanging wall of a planar normal fault?

(A) Lies above the fault plane and relatively moves down

(B) Lies below the fault plane and relatively moves horizontally

(C) Lies above the fault plane and relatively moves up

(D) Lies below the fault plane and relatively moves up

Q.6 Which one of the following minerals has a characteristic pale yellow streak?

(A) Sphalerite

(B) Pyrite

(C) Hematite

(D) Cuprite

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JAM 2025 Confidential GEOLOGY (GG)

Q.7 Which one of the following is a fluorite deposit?

(A) Sonapahar, Meghalaya

(B) Mangampeta, Andhra Pradesh

(C) Belka Pahar, Rajasthan

(D) Dongargaon, Maharashtra

Q.8 According to Dunham’s classification, which one of the following limestones is
grain-supported and contains mud?

(A) Wackestone

(B) Packstone

(C) Grainstone

(D) Mudstone

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JAM 2025 Confidential GEOLOGY (GG)

Q.9 Which one of the following vertebrate fauna is a Proboscidea?

(A) Hipparion

(B) Mastodon

(C) Indratherium

(D) Sivapithecus

Q10. Which one of the following is an undifferentiated meteorite?

(A) Basaltic achondrite

(B) Carbonaceous chondrite

(C) Eucrite

(D) Pallasite

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JAM 2025 Confidential GEOLOGY (GG)

Section A: Q.11 – Q.30 Carry TWO marks each.

Q.11 Which one of the following is the CORRECT sequence of igneous rocks with
increasing SiO2 content?

(A) basalt  komatiite  dacite  andesite

(B) dacite  basalt  komatiite  andesite

(C) basalt  dacite  andesite  komatiite

(D) komatiite  basalt  andesite  dacite

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JAM 2025 Confidential GEOLOGY (GG)

Q.12 The schematic diagram given below shows textural relationship among garnet,
muscovite, biotite and kyanite in a metapelite. Biotite defines S1 foliation and
muscovite defines S2 and S3 foliations. S1, S2 and S3 fabrics were developed
during distinct deformation events D1, D2 and D3, respectively. Which one of
the following represents the pre-D3 mineral assemblage?

(A) kyanite + garnet + biotite

(B) garnet + biotite + muscovite

(C) garnet + kyanite + muscovite

(D) biotite + muscovite + kyanite

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JAM 2025 Confidential GEOLOGY (GG)

Q.13 Which one of the following characteristic mineral assemblages represents
eclogite facies metamorphism of a pelitic protolith?

(A) garnet + K-feldspar + sillimanite + cordierite

(B) talc + kyanite + phengite + garnet

(C) chlorite + muscovite + biotite + albite

(D) staurolite + chloritoid + biotite + garnet

Q.14 Which one of the following drainage patterns is formed by stream paths that
follow circular segments?

(A) Annular

(B) Trellis

(C) Radial

(D) Centripetal

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JAM 2025 Confidential GEOLOGY (GG)

Q.15 A mineral displays magenta interference colour (retardation, m = 550 nm)
under crossed polarized light. If an accessory plate adds retardation of 100 nm,
the interference colour observed is

(A) 1st order yellow

(B) 1st order green

(C) 2nd order blue

(D) 2nd order red

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JAM 2025 Confidential GEOLOGY (GG)

Q.16 Match the symmetry elements in Group I with the corresponding crystal system
in Group II.

Group I Group II
P. 3A2, 3m, 4A3+i 1. Orthorhombic

Q. i, 1A4, m 2. Hexagonal

R. i, 3A2, 3m 3. Tetragonal

S. 1A3+m, 3m, 3A2 4. Cubic

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

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

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

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

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JAM 2025 Confidential GEOLOGY (GG)

Q.17 Match the cycles in Group I with the corresponding processes in Group II.

Group I Group II
P. Hydrological cycle 1. Regolith formation
Q. Biogeochemical cycle 2. Ocean closure
R. Rock cycle 3. Infiltration
S. Wilson cycle 4. Denitrification

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

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

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

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

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Q.18 Which one of the following is the oldest volcanics?

(A) Deccan

(B) Panjal

(C) Sylhet

(D) Rajmahal

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JAM 2025 Confidential GEOLOGY (GG)

Q.19 The following map shows an outcrop of a coal bed that intersects the elevation
contours. Which one of the following statements is CORRECT?

(A) Bed intersects a spur and dip of bed is less than gradient of spur axis

(B) Bed intersects a valley and dip of bed is greater than valley gradient

(C) Bed intersects a spur and dip of bed is equal to gradient of spur axis

(D) Bed intersects a valley and dip of bed is less than valley gradient

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JAM 2025 Confidential GEOLOGY (GG)

Q.20 Refer the dam section shown below. Which one of the following conditions
represents the most stable state of the dam against rotation about its center of
gravity?

FRL – Full Reservoir Level; T – horizontal thrust on dam at FRL;
W – weight of dam; CG – center of gravity; L – base length; H – height of dam

(A) T > 3W and L < H

(B) Resultant force of T and W passes through the base of the dam

(C) H > 3L and T = W

(D) Resultant force of T and W passes outside the base of the dam

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JAM 2025 Confidential GEOLOGY (GG)

Q.21 Which one of the following is related to porphyry Cu-Mo deposit?

(A) Host rock is pegmatite

(B) Forms due to first boiling process

(C) Occurs in rift settings

(D) Forms due to sulfur saturation

Q.22 Which one of the following statements is CORRECT for coal?

(A) Sapropelic coals are composed of a mixture of macroscopic plant debris

(B) Fusain is a microlithotype in coal

(C) Clarain is grey in color and has dull lustre

(D) High value of vitrinite reflectance indicates a low rank coal

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JAM 2025 Confidential GEOLOGY (GG)

Q.23 Which one of the following sedimentary structures is formed by rapid release of
water?

(A) Ripple lamination

(B) Gutter cast

(C) Convolute lamination

(D) Prod mark

Q.24 Which one of the following represents the CORRECT combination of
stratigraphic unit with its corresponding age?

(A) Barail Formation – Miocene

(B) Mahadek Formation – Oligocene

(C) Naredi Formation – Eocene

(D) Dalmiapuram Formation – Paleocene

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JAM 2025 Confidential GEOLOGY (GG)

Q.25 Match the stratigraphic units in Group I with their corresponding basins in
Group II.

Group I Group II
P. Kajrahat Limestone 1. Cuddapah
Q. Shahabad Limestone 2. Pranhita-Godavari
R. Chanda Limestone 3. Vindhyan
S. Narji Limestone 4. Bhima

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

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

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

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

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JAM 2025 Confidential GEOLOGY (GG)

Q.26 Match the morphological features in Group I with their corresponding
descriptions given in Group II.

Group I Group II
P. Hyponome 1. A large plate
Q. Myophore 2. Irregular prismatic crystals
R. Hypostome 3. Long tubular structure
S. Myostracum 4. Shaft with a head

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

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

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

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

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JAM 2025 Confidential GEOLOGY (GG)

Q.27 Which one of the following is a Paleozoic flora?

(A) Williamsonia

(B) Dicroidium

(C) Gangamopteris

(D) Nilssonia

Q.28 Which one of the following lithospheric plates has the least length of
convergent boundary?

(A) Pacific

(B) Indian

(C) Antarctic

(D) South American

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JAM 2025 Confidential GEOLOGY (GG)

Q.29 Which one of the following elements in the Earth is a chalcophile and shows
siderophilic behavior?

(A) Mg

(B) Fe

(C) Li

(D) Pb

Q.30 Which one of the following set of landforms results dominantly due to erosion?

(A) Cirque and ventifact

(B) Loess and yardangs

(C) Barchans and till

(D) Moraine and eskers

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JAM 2025 Confidential GEOLOGY (GG)

Section B: Q.31 – Q.40 Carry TWO marks each.

Q.31 The shaded region (P) in the given ACF diagram represents the compositional
range of mafic rocks that have undergone granulite facies metamorphism.
Which of the following equilibrium mineral assemblage(s) is/are identified in
these mafic rocks?

(A) plagioclase + clinopyroxene

(B) plagioclase + clinopyroxene + orthopyroxene

(C) plagioclase + orthopyroxene + garnet

(D) plagioclase + garnet + cordierite

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JAM 2025 Confidential GEOLOGY (GG)

Q.32 Which of the following stereographic projections represent(s) an upright
plunging fold?

AP: axial plane; HL: hinge line

(A) P

(B) Q

(C) R

(D) S

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JAM 2025 Confidential GEOLOGY (GG)

Q.33 Which of the following property/properties of a mineral indicate(s) uniaxial
negative optic sign?

(A) Ordinary ray is slow

(B) Extraordinary ray is slow

(C) n < n
 

(D) n > n
 

Q.34 Which of the following statements related to stratigraphy is/are CORRECT?

(A) Grain-size of sediments progressively coarsens upward in a deltaic succession

(B) Paraconformity shows a distinct erosional surface

(C) Paleogene Period includes Paleocene, Eocene and Oligocene Epochs

(D) Sea-level fall causes shifting of river mouth towards deep ocean

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JAM 2025 Confidential GEOLOGY (GG)

Q.35 Which of following combinations of sedimentary environments and their
features is/are CORRECTLY matched?

(A) Fluvial – tabular cross-stratification

(B) Submarine fan – rain print

(C) Beach – planar lamination

(D) Supratidal – mud-cracks

Q.36 Which of the following is/are characteristic feature(s) of Brachiopods?

(A) Valves equilateral

(B) Inequivalved

(C) Plane of symmetry between valves

(D) Presence of ligament

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JAM 2025 Confidential GEOLOGY (GG)

Q.37 Which of the following characteristics of fossils is/are necessary for
biostratigraphic applications?

(A) Wide geographic distribution

(B) Long vertical range

(C) Good preservation of hard shells

(D) Facies dependence

Q.38 Moon is considered to have been formed due to high temperature condensation
of post-collisional ejected material. Which of the following statement(s) related
to its mantle composition as compared to CI carbonaceous chondrite is/are
CORRECT?

(A) Depleted in volatile and refractory elements

(B) Depleted in volatile and enriched in refractory elements

(C) Higher Rb/Sr element ratio

(D) Lower K/U element ratio

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JAM 2025 Confidential GEOLOGY (GG)

Q.39 Which of the following statement(s) related to ore-forming processes is/are
CORRECT?

(A) Lateritization involves eluviation and illuviation processes

(B) Stratiform sediment-hosted copper (SSC)-type deposits are formed at mid-
oceanic ridges

(C) Fluid phase separation is the major process of formation of Mississippi Valley
(MV)-type deposits

(D) Formation of Superior-type banded iron formation (BIF) is related to the Great
Oxidation Event

Q.40 Which of the following landforms is/are weathering dominated?

(A) Duricrusts

(B) Berms

(C) Inselbergs

(D) Tors

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JAM 2025 Confidential GEOLOGY (GG)

Section C: Q.41 – Q.50 Carry ONE mark each.

Q.41 A metapelite is composed of muscovite + quartz + K-feldspar + kyanite mineral
assemblage. If the muscovite and K-feldspar show solid solution between ‘Na’
and ‘K’ end-members, the minimum number of components that defines this
metapelitic assemblage is ____________. (In integer)

Q.42 The mineral formula of orthopyroxene calculated on 6 Oxygen atom basis is

(Mg1.2Fe0.8)Si2O6. The weight percentage of MgO in the chemical composition

of orthopyroxene is __________. (Round off to one decimal place)

Use the following data:
Oxide Molecular weight (g mol−1 )
SiO2 60.08

MgO 40.30
FeO 71.84

Q.43 A grain has a size of 36 mm when observed under a magnification of 125 times.
The actual size of the grain in µm is __________. (In integer)

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JAM 2025 Confidential GEOLOGY (GG)

Q.44 Radiogenic atoms of 40K have a half-life of 1.25 × 109 years. The percentage

of 40K atoms left after six half-lives will be _____________. (Round off to two

decimal places)

Q.45 2
For a pyroxene, the extinction angle between the vibration direction and
𝑚

crystallographic axis, X ˄ c, is 36. Then the angle Y ˄ b in degrees will be
_____________. (In integer)

Q.46 A kimberlite pipe has a bulk density of 2.5 g/cc and contains diamond of grade
100 carat/metric ton. If the pipe contains only 1-carat diamond crystals, then the
number of diamond crystals per cubic meter in the pipe is _______. (In integer)

Q.47 Consider the present volume of the Earth’s continental crust as 7.5 × 1018 m3.
If continental crust formation started 3.0 Ga ago, then the average rate of
continental crustal growth is _________ km3 yr −1 . (Round off to one decimal
place)

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JAM 2025 Confidential GEOLOGY (GG)

Q.48 The Throw of a fault is 4 m and the Heave is 3 m. The Dip separation of the
fault, in meters, is ____________. (In integer)

Q.49 A Rb–Sr isochron plot of cogenetic volcanic rocks yielded a slope of 0.003. The
eruption age of these rocks is __________ Ma. (Round off to one decimal place)

(Use λ87 Rb = 1.39 × 10−11 yr −1 )

Q.50 The apparent dip amount of a limestone bed in the direction 010 is 30. If the

bed strikes 320, the value of true dip amount in degrees is ___________.
(Round off to nearest integer)

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JAM 2025 Confidential GEOLOGY (GG)

Section C: Q.51 – Q.60 Carry TWO marks each.

Q.51 A magma having density of 2900 kg m−3 just reaches the surface through a
two-layered crust as shown in the figure below. Assuming isostatic equilibrium,
its depth of melting is ______________ km. (Round off to one decimal place)

Q.52 The cation exchange equilibrium reaction between end-member components of
orthopyroxene and ilmenite is given below:

MgSiO3 + FeTiO3 = FeSiO3 + MgTiO3
(Enstatite) (Fe-Ilmenite) (Ferrosilite) (Mg-Ilmenite)

Considering ideal mixing of Fe and Mg in orthopyroxene and ilmenite solid
Orthopyroxene Ilmenite
solutions, the mole fractions are X Mg = 0.60 and X Mg = 0.40.

The equilibrium constant of the above reaction is ___________. (Round off to
two decimal places)

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JAM 2025 Confidential GEOLOGY (GG)

Q.53 The isobaric temperature-composition (T–X) phase diagram given below shows
the phase relation between components M and N. The equilibrium melting
undergone by the rock R to generate the liquid of composition L is
_______________ %. (In integer)

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JAM 2025 Confidential GEOLOGY (GG)

Q.54 A satellite launching vehicle is carrying a lander for Moon mapping. As shown
in the figure below, P is the position where the gravitational forces exerted by
Earth and Moon on the vehicle balance out. The distance P from the center of
the Earth is __________ × 105 km. (Round off to two decimal places)

d = distance between the centers of Earth and Moon
ME = Mass of Earth; MM = Mass of Moon; G = 6.67 × 10−11 Nm2 kg −2

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JAM 2025 Confidential GEOLOGY (GG)

Q.55 The data tabulated below are for flooding events in the last 400 years. The
probability of a large flood accompanied by glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF)
in 2025 is ____________ × 10−3. (Round off to one decimal place)

Year Flood Size Magnitude rank
1625 Large 2
1658 Large + GLOF 1
1692 Small 4
1704 Large 2
1767 Large 2
1806 Small 4
1872 Large + GLOF 1
1909 Large 2
1932 Large 2
1966 Medium 3
2023 Large + GLOF 1

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JAM 2025 Confidential GEOLOGY (GG)

Q.56 A well-developed succession of laminated shale is bound by two volcanic ash
beds that were precisely dated as shown in the schematic diagram given below.
Assuming a constant sedimentation rate, the age of the fossiliferous limestone
bed 65 m above the basal volcanic ash bed is _____________ Ma. (Round off to
nearest integer)

Q.57 Pumping and extraction of groundwater from an unconfined aquifer resulted in
a uniform drop of water table by 40 m over an area of 1 km2. If the porosity of

the aquifer is 35% and specific retention is 15%, the volume of water (in m3)
pumped out from the affected area is __________ × 106 m3 . (In integer)

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JAM 2025 Confidential GEOLOGY (GG)

Q.58 A Cu deposit of 198 tons with average grade of 1.5% Cu contains 60%
chalcopyrite, 30% bornite and 10% gangue. The maximum amount of Cu that
can be extracted from chalcopyrite is ____________ tons. (Round off to two
decimal places)

Q.59 The orientations of two planar limbs of an overturned antiform are 045°/72°SE

and 225°/37°SE. The interlimb angle of the fold in degrees is ____________.
(In integer)

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JAM 2025 Confidential GEOLOGY (GG)

Q.60 Two boreholes A and B, both inclined towards 270°, penetrate a dipping coal
bed at the same point and pass through it entirely in the sub-surface as shown in
the figure below. The bed dips towards 270°. The thickness of the coal bed,
measured along the borehole A is 10 m and along borehole B is 8 m. The angle
between the two boreholes is 20°. The orthogonal thickness (x) of the coal bed
is ___________m. (Round off to one decimal place)

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