Earth Science, Tarbuck Chapter 11

Question 1

What is the Principle of Uniformitarianism

Answer 1

the physical, chemical, and biological laws that operate
today have also operated in the geologic past

Question 2

What is the Principle of Superposition

Answer 2

in an undeformed sequence of sedimentary rocks, each bed is
older than the one above and younger than the one below.

Question 3

What is Principle of Lateral Continuity

Answer 3

sedimentary beds originate as continuous layers that
extend in all directions until they eventually grade into
a different type of sediment or until they thin out at the
edge of the basin of deposition

Question 4

What is principle of Original Horizontality

Answer 4

states that layers of sediment are generally
deposited in a horizontal position. Thus, if we observe rock
layers that are flat, we know that they have not been disturbed and still have their original horizontality

Question 5

What is Principle of Cross-Cutting Relationships

Answer 5

states that geologic features that cut across rocks
must have formed after the rocks they cut through.

Question 6

What is Principle of Inclusions

Answer 6

The rock mass adjacent to the one containing the inclusions must have been there first in order to provide the rock fragments.

Question 7

What are Sediment layers that are conformable

Answer 7

layers of rock that have been deposited essentially without interruption,

Question 8

What are unconformities

Answer 8

breaks in the rock record where deposition ceased, erosion removed previously formed rocks, and then deposition resumed

Question 9

What is an Angular Unconformity

Answer 9

consists of tilted or folded sedimentary rocks that are
overlain by younger, more flat-lying strata

Question 10

What is a disconformity

Answer 10

a gap in the rock record that represents a period during which erosion rather than deposition occurred.

Question 11

What is a Nonconformity

Answer 11

younger sedimentary strata overlie older metamorphic or intrusive igneous rocks following erosion and uplift.

Question 12

What is Permineralization fossilization

Answer 12

When mineral-rich groundwater gets into porous tissue such as bone or wood, minerals precipitate out of solution and fill pores and empty spaces

Question 13

What is Mold Fossilization

Answer 13

When a shell or another structure is buried in sediment and then dissolved by underground water,

Question 14

What is Cast Fossilization

Answer 14

When a mold is filled with mineral matter and hardens to form a cast

Question 15

What is Carbonization Fossilization

Answer 15

fine sediment encases the remains of an organism. As time passes, pressure squeezes out the liquid and gaseous components and leaves behind a thin residue of carbon

Question 16

What is Amber Fossilization

Answer 16

Tree Resin seals off the organism from the atmosphere and protected the remains from damage by water and air.

Question 17

What are Trace Fossils

Answer 17

traces of prehistoric life

Question 18

What are Tracks Trace Fossils

Answer 18

animal footprints made in soft sediment that later turned into sedimentary rock.

Question 19

What are Burrows Trace Fossils

Answer 19

tubes in sediment, wood, or rock made by an animal. These holes may later become filled with mineral matter and preserved. Some of the oldest-known fossils are believed to be worm burrows.

Question 20

What are Coprolites Trace Fossils

Answer 20

Fossilized Dung

Question 21

What are Gastroliths Trace Fossils

Answer 21

highly polished stomach stones that were used in the grinding of food by some dinosaurs and other organisms.

Question 22

What special Conditions favor fossilization

Answer 22

rapid burial and the possession of hard parts

Question 23

What is Principle of Fossil Succession

Answer 23

Fossil organisms succeed
one another in a definite and determinable order, and
therefore any time period can be recognized by its fossil content.

Question 24

What are Index Fossils

Answer 24

widespread geographically but limited to a short span
of geologic time, so their presence provides an important method of matching rocks of the same age

Question 25

What does a neutron turn into during radioactive decay

Answer 25

1 Proton and 1 Electron

Question 26

What are the 3 ways radioactive decay can happen

Answer 26

Alpha Particle release, electron release, and electron capture

Question 27

How does alpha particle release radioactive decay happen

Answer 27

When an alpha particle(2 protons and 2 neutrons) is released from the atom, atomic mass is lowered by 4 and atomic number is lowered by 2

Question 28

How does electron release radioactive decay happen

Answer 28

When an electron escapes from the atom, a neutron will decay to get 1 proton and the electron it lost. This means atomic number increases by 1 and mass stays the same

Question 29

How does electron capture radioactive decay happen

Answer 29

Electron that is captured combines with proton to form a new neutron, atom mass stays the same, atomic number is lowered by 1

Question 30

Isotope used to find geologic events that occurred very recently

Answer 30

Carbon-14

Question 31

Rate of Half life of carbon-14

Answer 31

5730 years

Question 32

What are the 2 eons that precede the Cambrian

Answer 32

Archean and Proterozoic