Chapter 1 - Introduction Flashcards
The Earth is thought to be about _______ old.
a) 1 Ma
b) 45 Ma
c) 450 Ma
d) 4550 Ma
e) 45000 Ma
d) 4550 Ma
Evidence indicates that Earth is about _______ old.
a) 4.5 Ka
b) 45 Ka
c) 4.5 Ma
d) 4.5 Ga
e) 45 Ga
d) 4.5 Ga
Isotopes are _______.
A) The ‘building blocks’ of minerals
B) Varieties of elements that differ only in that their atomic nuclei have different number of neutrons
C) Elements whose nuclei are unstable thus undergo radioactive decay
D) Elements whose nuclei are stable
E) Atoms with an electrical charge
B) Varieties of elements that differ only in that their atomic nuclei have different number of neutrons
The ratio of O^18 to O^16 in a clam shell can be used to determine:
A) The temperature of the water in which the oyster grew
B) The age of the oyster when it died
C) How long ago the oyster died
D) How radioactive the oyster is
E) How radioactive the sea water was in which it grew
A) The temperature of the water in which the oyster grew
Most of the physical properties of minerals (like those of all chemical compounds) are controlled mainly by _______.
A) The chemical composition, especially the dominant element present
B) The geometric pattern in which the atom are arranged
C) The complexity of the molecule
D) How many different elements are present
E) The type of rock in which the mineral occurs
A) The chemical composition, especially the dominant element present
Metamorphism involves:
A) Melting and a complete change of the chemical elements making up the rock
B) A complete change of the chemical elements making up the rock but the rock remains in the solid state
C) Melting and a reorganizing of the chemical elements in the rock to form new minerals
D) A reorganizing of the chemical elements in the rock to form new minerals but the rock remains in the solid state - ionic diffusion
E) Melting and re-freezing of the rock
D) A reorganizing of the chemical elements in the rock to form new minerals but the rock remains in the solid state - ionic diffusion
The most abundant three (3) elements within Earth are (in no special order): A) Iron, oxygen, and hydrogen B) Silicon, aluminum and iron C) Iron, oxygen and carbon D) Iron, oxygen and silicon E) Oxygen, iron and magnesium
E) Oxygen, iron and magnesium
Evidence indicates that Earth is about \_\_\_\_\_\_\_ old. A) 4.5 Ka B) 45 Ka C) 4.5 Ma D) 4.5 Ga E) 45 Ga
D) 4.5 Ga
An isotope is:
A) An atom with a specific number of protons plus a specific number of neutrons in its nucleus
B) An atom with a specific number of protons but any number of neutrons in its nucleus
C) An atom with any number of protons but a specific number of neutrons in its nucleus
D) A radioactive element
E) An element found to be useful for medical purposes
B) An atom with a specific number of protons but any number of neutrons in its nucleus
The most abundant two (2) elements (by weight) within Earth are (in no special order): A) Iron & oxygen B) Silicon & aluminum C) Iron & carbon D) Iron & silicon E) Oxygen & silicon
A) Iron & oxygen
The most abundant FOUR elements (by weight) within Earth are (in no special order):
A) Iron, oxygen, silicon & magnesium
B) Silicon, aluminum, iron & carbon
C) Iron, oxygen, aluminum & carbon
D) Iron, aluminum, nitrogen & silicon
E) Oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen & carbon
A) Iron, oxygen, silicon & magnesium
The earliest known form of life on Earth were \_\_\_\_\_\_\_. A) Microbes similar to blue-green algae B) Insects C) One-celled animals D) Simple worms E) Corals
A) Microbes similar to blue-green algae
Fossils of the earliest known form of life occur in rocks of all ages back to about \_\_\_\_\_\_\_ Mya. A) 10 B) 35 C) 350 D) 3,500 E) 4,500
D) 3,500
Isotopes are _______.
A) Varieties of atoms belonging to the same element but which have different atomic weights
B) Varieties in atoms belonging to the same element but which have different numbers of protons in their nuclei
C) Varieties of atoms belonging to different elements and which have different atomic weights
D) Varieties of atoms belonging to different elements but which have the same atomic weights
E) Atoms that have special meaning to geologists
A) Varieties of atoms belonging to the same element but which have different atomic weights
According to modern cosmological theory, the element iron, which forms the basis of our material culture (“iron age” in archaeology) was/is created _______.
A) During the “Big Bang”
B) During the formation of the first stars
C) As part of the origin of our galaxy
D) In the centres of the most massive stars
E) By supernova
D) In the centre of the most massive stars
