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PHS 103 > Chapter 8 > Flashcards

Chapter 8 Flashcards

1
Q

An unconformity is a buried ________.

fault or fracture with older rocks above and younger rocks below

surface of erosion with older strata above and younger strata below

fault or fracture with younger strata above and older strata below

surface of erosion separating younger strata above from older strata below

A

surface of erosion separating younger strata above from older strata below

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2
Q

If rock A cross across rock B, then rock A is ________ rock b.

the same age as

older than

younger than

indistinguishable from

A

younger than

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3
Q

What type of unconformity did James Hutton observe at Siccar Point, Scotland?

disconformity

angular unconformity

nonconformity

uniform unconformity

A

angular unconformity

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4
Q

The principle of fossil succession:

is attributed to William Smith

all are correct

states that fossils are formed by rapid burial and the possession of hard parts

states that fossils are randomly distributed through rock strata

A

is attributed to William Smith

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5
Q

Who made the first clear statement of the law of superposition? When?

Nicolaus Steno, 17th century

William Smith, 18th century

John Wesley Powell, 19th century

John Stuart Priestly, 19th century

A

Nicolaus Steno, 17th century

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6
Q

If sedimentary rocks are undisturbed, layers get younger going from bottom to top. This is the principle of:

unconformities

cross-cutting relationships

correlation

superposition

A

superposition

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7
Q

The rocks exposed on the surface of S. Illinois were formed during the _________ era.

Precambrian

Paleozoic

Phanerozoic

Illinoisian

A

Paleozoic

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8
Q

The rocks exposed on the surface of S. Illinois were formed during the _________ and ________ periods.

Ordovician, Sulurian

Triassic, Jurrasic

Pennsylvanian, Mississippian

Phanerozoic, Precambrian

A

Pennsylvanian, Mississippian

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9
Q

Which of the following best characterizes an angular unconformity?

Tilted strata lie below the unconformity with loose, unconsolidated soil above.

Horizontal lava flows lie below the unconformity and horizontal, sedimentary strata lie above.

The discordant boundary between older strata and an intrusive body of granite.

Tilted strata lie below the unconformity; bedding in younger strata above is parallel to the unconformity.

A

Tilted strata lie below the unconformity; bedding in younger strata above is parallel to the unconformity.

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10
Q

What fundamental concept states that in a horizontal sequence of conformable sedimentary strata, each higher bed is younger than the bed below it?

theory of correlative deposition

law of superposition

law of original correlation

theory of superstition

A

law of superposition

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11
Q

What 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?

strata indexing

super matching

cross-access dating

correlation

A

correlation

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12
Q

Sandstone strata and a mass of granite are observed to be in contact. Which of the following statements is correct geologically?

The sandstone is younger if the granite contains sandstone inclusions.

The sandstone is younger if it shows evidence of contact metamorphism.

The granite is older if it contains inclusions of sandstone.

The granite is older if the sandstone contains pebbles of the granite.

A

The granite is older if the sandstone contains pebbles of the granite.

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13
Q

Which is used as a basis for rock correlation?

position of a bed in a sequence of strata

all of these are used in correlation

mineral composition

fossils content

A

all of these are used in correlation

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14
Q

Which of the following is an essential characteristic of an index fossil?

the organism only lived for a short period of geologic time

the fossils are exceptionally abundant and well preserved

the organism lived only in specific environments such as beaches or estuaries

the fossils occur in deep-water marine sediments, but the organism actually lived in the sunlit, surface layer of the ocean

A

the organism only lived for a short period of geologic time

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15
Q

________ refers to the process of fossilization where the internal cavities and pores of the original organism are filled with precipitated mineral matter.

Impression

Replacement

Petrification

Carbonization

A

Petrification

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16
Q

Complex, invertebrate, life forms are common as fossils beginning with marine strata of Cambrian age. How long ago did the Cambrian period begin?

540 million years

65.4 million years

54 million years

6 billion years

A

540 million years

17
Q

Visualize five, horizontal, sedimentary strata exposed in a cliff or canyon wall identified by consecutive numbers, 1 being the lowest bed and 5 being the highest. Which of the following statements concerning the strata are true?

bed 3 is older than beds 2 and 4

beds l and 3 are older than bed 4

bed 4 is older than bed 2

bed 5 is the oldest

A

beds l and 3 are older than bed 4

18
Q

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

eon, era, epoch, period

eon, epoch, period, era

era, period, epoch, eon

A

eon, era, period, epoch

19
Q

What is the age of the Earth accepted by most scientists today?

4. 5 million years
6. 4 billion years
4. 5 billion years
6. 4 million years

A

4.5 billion years

20
Q

Which division of geologic time was the longest?

Precambrian

Paleozoic

Cenozoic

Mesozoic

A

Precambrian

21
Q

Eras are subdivided into:

periods

ages

eons

epochs

A

periods

22
Q

Which two Paleozoic, geologic, time-scale periods used in North America are combined into the Carboniferous period in Europe and elsewhere?

Permian; Pennsylvanian

Mississippian; Pennsylvanian

Cambrian; Ordovician

Triassic; Jurassic

A

Mississippian; Pennsylvanian

23
Q

Consider the names of the eras in the geologic time scale. What is meant by “zoic”?

life; living things

places; geographic references

rocks; lithified strata

time; recording of events

A

life; living things

24
Q

The process of radioactive decay occurs in the atom’s __________ .

electron orbits

nucleus

neutrons

protons

A

nucleus

25
Q

The ratio of parent to daughter isotopes in a radioactive decay process is 1:3. How many half-lives have elapsed since the material was 100% parent atoms?

l

more than 3

less than l

2

A

2

26
Q

The radioactive isotopes uranium-238, uranium-235, and thorium-232 eventually decay to different, stable, daughter isotopes of ________.

lead

argon

iron

strontium

A

lead

27
Q

The geologic time scale was devised before numerical dating using radioactivity was invented.

1) True
2) False

A

True

28
Q

Rapid burial and possession of hard parts are necessary conditions for the preservation of plant or animal remains as fossils.

1) True
2) False

A

True

29
Q

The term Mesozoic refers to life forms intermediate in complexity between early and much later, more modern-looking life forms.

1) True
 	2) False
A

True

30
Q

After three half-lives, one-ninth of an original, radioactive, parent isotope remains and eight-ninths has decayed into the daughter isotope.

1) True
2) False
A

False

PHS 103 (7 decks)

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