Geology 1401- CHPT 11
In the late 1700s James Hutton published his important work titled ________.
Theory of the Earth
Which of the following best characterizes an angular unconformity?
Tilted strata lie below the unconformity; bedding in younger strata above is parallel to the unconformity.
Rare, but complete preservation of fossils occurs in ________.
Amber
The ________ is the idea or concept that ancient life forms succeeded each other in a definite, evolutionary pattern and that the contained assemblage of fossils can determine geologic ages of strata.
principle of fossil succession
By applying the law of superposition, ________ dates can be determined.
relative
Which of the following describes radioactive decay by beta particle emission?
The atomic number of the daughter isotope is one more than the parent; the mass numbers are the same.
One type of fossil that can preserve details of organic soft parts is ________.
carbonized imprints
When a radioactive isotope decays by electron capture, the electron ________.
combines with a proton in the nucleus; the atomic number of the daughter is one less than the parent
Assume that you have just examined several flat-lying sedimentary layers. After much study you determine that there is a considerable span of time for which no sedimentary rock layer exists at this site. You have just discovered a(n) ________.
disconformity
Which of the following denotes the divisions of the geologic time scale in correct order of decreasing lengths of time beginning with the longest time interval and ending with the shortest?
eon, era, period, epoch
The principle of cross-cutting relationships which states that a geologic feature that cuts across another feature must be younger than the feature it cuts is important because ________.
it provided a tool for sorting out the relative timing of various geologic events
The principle of horizontality which states that sediments are usually deposited in relatively flat layers is important because ________.
it provided a way to recognize if rocks had been deformed
The principle of superposition which states that in undeformed rocks, the younger rocks will be on top of older rocks, is particularly important because ________.
it provided an order for assembling the relative ages of various rock layers
What fundamental concept states that in a horizontal sequence of conformable sedimentary strata, each higher bed is younger than the bed below it?
law of superposition
A major difference between Catastrophism and Uniformitarianism is ________.
Catastrophism supports rapid changes on the earth and a young age of the earth while Uniformitarianism requires long times for changes to be significant and thus a very old earth
Which of the following refers to the investigative process by which geologists identify and match sedimentary strata and other rocks of the same ages in different areas?
Correlation
The subdivision of the geologic time scale that represents the longest time span is called a(n) ________.
Eon
The basic concept of Uniformitarianism is ________.
Geology changes constantly but the rules that control those transformations do not change
Who is credited with formulating the doctrine of uniformitarianism?
Hutton
Who made the first clear statement of the law of superposition? When?
Nicolaus Steno, seventeenth century
An important tool in understanding the actual numerical dates of past geologic events is ________.
Radioactivity
One of the primary goals of geology is to ________.
Understand the history of earth
Paleontology is the study of ________.
ancient life
You pick up a sandstone. In the rock sample you see an impression of a sea shell in the rock. This type of fossil is a ________.
mold
Petrified wood is an example of a fossil formed by ________.
permineralization replacing original cellulose of the wood
Unconformities which represent a break in the geologic record of deposition are important because ________.
they represent a period of major activity
