Explorations Chapter 7 Fossils + Primate evolution

Question 1

Anaerobic

Answer 1

An oxygen-free environment

Question 2

Anthropocene

Answer 2

The proposed name for our current geologic epoch based on human-driven climate change

Question 3

Argon-argon (Ar-Ar) dating

Answer 3

A chronometric dating method that measures the ratio of argon gas in volcanic rock to estimate time elapsed since the volcanic rock cooled and solidified. See also potassium-argon dating.

Question 4

Atom

Answer 4

A small building block of matter

Question 5

Bezoars

Answer 5

Hard, concrete-like substances found in the intestines of fossil creatures

Question 6

Biostratigraphy

Answer 6

A relative dating method that uses other plant and animal remains occurring in the stratigraphic context to establish time depth.

Question 7

Bya

Answer 7

Billion years ago

Question 8

Chronometric dating

Answer 8

Dating methods that give estimated numbers of years for artifacts and sites.

Question 9

Continental drift

Answer 9

The slow movement of continents over time

Question 10

Coprolite

Answer 10

Fossilized poop

Question 11

Cultural dating

Answer 11

The relative dating method that arranges human-made artifacts in a time frame from oldest to youngest based on material, production technique, style, and other features.

Question 12

Deep Time

Answer 12

James Hutton’s theory that the world was much older than biblical explanation sallowed. This age could be determined by gradual natural processes like soil erosion.

Question 13

Dendrochronology

Answer 13

A chronometric dating method that uses the annual growth of trees to build a timeline into the past.

Question 14

Electron spin resonance dating

Answer 14

A chronometric dating method that measures the background radiation accumulated in material over time.

Question 15

Element

Answer 15

Matter that cannot be broken down into smaller matter

Question 16

Eon

Answer 16

The largest unit of geologic time, spanning billions of years and divided into subunits callederas, periods, and epochs.

Question 17

Epochs

Answer 17

The smallest units of geologic time, spanning thousands to millions of years.

Question 18

Eras

Answer 18

Units of geological time that span millions to billions of years and that are divided into periods and epochs

Question 19

Fission track dating

Answer 19

A chronometric dating method that is based on the fission of 283U.

Question 20

Fluorine dating

Answer 20

A relative dating method that analyzes the absorption of fluorine in bones from the surrounding soils.

Question 21

Foraminifera

Answer 21

Single-celled marine organisms with shells

Question 22

Fossilization

Answer 22

The process by which an organism becomes a fossil

Question 23

Fossils

Answer 23

Mineralized copies of organisms or activity imprints

Question 24

Geomorphology

Answer 24

the study of the physical characteristics of the Earth’s surface

Question 25

Glacial periods

Answer 25

Periods characterized by low global temperatures and the expansion of ice sheets on Earth's surface

Question 26

Holocene

Answer 26

The geologic epoch from 10 kya to present.

Question 27

Hominin

Answer 27

The term used for humans and their ancestors after the split with chimpanzees and bonobos.

Question 28

In matrix

Answer 28

When a fossil is embedded in a substance, such as igneous rock.

Question 29

Isotopes

Answer 29

Variants of elements

Question 30

Kya

Answer 30

Thousand years ago

Question 31

Law of superposition

Answer 31

The scientific law that states that rock and soil are deposited in layers, with the youngest layers on top and the oldest layers on the bottom.

Question 32

Lithification

Answer 32

The process by which the pressure of sediments squeeze extra water out of decaying remains and replace the voids that appear with minerals from the surrounding soil and groundwater.

Question 33

Luminescence dating

Answer 33

The chronometric dating method based on the buildup of background radiation in pottery, clay, and soils.

Question 34

Megafauna

Answer 34

Large animals such as mammoths and mastodons

Question 35

Mitochondrial DNA

Answer 35

DNA located in the mitochondria of a cell that is only passed down from biological mother to child.

Question 36

Mya

Answer 36

Million years ago

Question 37

Paleopathology

Answer 37

Study of ancient diseases and injuries identified through examining remains

Question 38

Periods

Answer 38

Geologic time units that span millions of years and are subdivided into epochs.

Question 39

Permineralization

Answer 39

When minerals from water impregnate or replace organic remains, leaving a fossilized copy of the organism

Question 40

Petrified wood

Answer 40

A fossilized piece of wood in which the original organism is completely replaced by minerals through petrifaction.

Question 41

Potassium-argon (K-Ar) dating

Answer 41

A chronometric dating method that measures the ratio of argon gas in volcanic rock to estimate time elapsed since the volcanic rock cooled and solidified.

Question 42

Pseudofossils

Answer 42

Natural rocks or mineral formations that can be mistaken for fossils

Question 43

Radioactive decay

Answer 43

The processing of transforming the atom by spontaneously releasing energy

Question 44

Radiocarbon dating

Answer 44

The chronometric dating method based on the radioactive decay of 14 C in organic remains

Question 45

Relative dating

Answer 45

Dating methods that do not result in numbers of years but, rather, in relative time lines where in some organisms or artifacts are older or younger than others.

Question 46

Sediment cores

Answer 46

Core samples taken from lake beds or other water sources for analysis of their pollen

Question 47

Stable isotopes

Answer 47

Variants of elements that do not change over time without outside interference

Question 48

Stratigraphy

Answer 48

a relative dating method that is based on ordered layers or (strata) that build up over time

Question 49

Taphonomy

Answer 49

the study of what happens to an organism after death

Question 50

Trace fossils

Answer 50

Fossilized remains of activity such as footprints

Question 51

Uniformitarianism

Answer 51

the theoretical perspective that the geological process observed today are the same as the processes operating in the past

Question 52

Unstable isotopes

Answer 52

Variants of elements that spontaneously change into stable isotopes over time

Question 53

Uranium series dating

Answer 53

a radiometric dating method based on the decay chain of unstable isotopes of 238 U and 235 U