geog ch 11

The transition zone from the upper mantle to the crust is known as the ________ discontinuity.

Mohorovii

________ is the coherent theory that describes the motion of the Earth's lithosphere and associated processes and results.

Plate tectonics

Which of the following is correct regarding the geologic time scale?

The bulk of Earth's history has occurred during the Precambrian eon.

Which of the following statements about Earth's core is not correct?

The inner core is believed to be liquid and the outer core solid.

Which of the following is an example of the principle of uniformitarianism?

The processes by which streams carve valleys at present are the same as those that carved valleys 500 million years ago.

Limestone formed from the shells of marine organisms is an example of ________ sedimentary rock.

biochemical

The geologic cycle is fueled by

both solar energy and the Earth's internal heat.

Sedimentary rock formed from dissolved minerals that precipitate out of water solution and build up to form rock are

chemical

A batholith forms from

intrusive igneous rock

The three most abundant elements in Earth's crust are

oxygen, silicon, and aluminum.

What type of rock is derived from the bits and pieces of former rocks?

sedimentary

The scientific study of rock strata (layers) is known as ________ and based on the principle of ________.

stratigraphy; superposition

During the past 4 million years, ________ geomagnetic reversals have occurred.

9

The most recent epoch in the geologic time scale is the ________, though numerous scientists agree we have entered a new epoch called the ________.

Holocene; Anthropocene

________ are sites of upwelling of magma from the mantle independent of plate boundaries.

Hot spots