Explorations Chapter 7 Fossils + Primate evolution Flashcards
Anaerobic
An oxygen-free environment
Anthropocene
The proposed name for our current geologic epoch based on human-driven climate change
Argon-argon (Ar-Ar) dating
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.
Atom
A small building block of matter
Bezoars
Hard, concrete-like substances found in the intestines of fossil creatures
Biostratigraphy
A relative dating method that uses other plant and animal remains occurring in the stratigraphic context to establish time depth.
Bya
Billion years ago
Chronometric dating
Dating methods that give estimated numbers of years for artifacts and sites.
Continental drift
The slow movement of continents over time
Coprolite
Fossilized poop
Cultural dating
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.
Deep Time
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.
Dendrochronology
A chronometric dating method that uses the annual growth of trees to build a timeline into the past.
Electron spin resonance dating
A chronometric dating method that measures the background radiation accumulated in material over time.
Element
Matter that cannot be broken down into smaller matter
Eon
The largest unit of geologic time, spanning billions of years and divided into subunits callederas, periods, and epochs.
Epochs
The smallest units of geologic time, spanning thousands to millions of years.
Eras
Units of geological time that span millions to billions of years and that are divided into periods and epochs
Fission track dating
A chronometric dating method that is based on the fission of 283U.
Fluorine dating
A relative dating method that analyzes the absorption of fluorine in bones from the surrounding soils.
Foraminifera
Single-celled marine organisms with shells
Fossilization
The process by which an organism becomes a fossil
Fossils
Mineralized copies of organisms or activity imprints
Geomorphology
the study of the physical characteristics of the Earth’s surface
Glacial periods
Periods characterized by low global temperatures and the expansion of ice sheets on Earth’s surface
Holocene
The geologic epoch from 10 kya to present.
Hominin
The term used for humans and their ancestors after the split with chimpanzees and bonobos.
In matrix
When a fossil is embedded in a substance, such as igneous rock.
Isotopes
Variants of elements
Kya
Thousand years ago
Law of superposition
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.
Lithification
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.
Luminescence dating
The chronometric dating method based on the buildup of background radiation in pottery, clay, and soils.
Megafauna
Large animals such as mammoths and mastodons
Mitochondrial DNA
DNA located in the mitochondria of a cell that is only passed down from biological mother to child.
Mya
Million years ago
Paleopathology
Study of ancient diseases and injuries identified through examining remains
Periods
Geologic time units that span millions of years and are subdivided into epochs.
Permineralization
When minerals from water impregnate or replace organic remains, leaving a fossilized copy of the organism
Petrified wood
A fossilized piece of wood in which the original organism is completely replaced by minerals through petrifaction.
Potassium-argon (K-Ar) dating
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.
Pseudofossils
Natural rocks or mineral formations that can be mistaken for fossils
Radioactive decay
The processing of transforming the atom by spontaneously releasing energy
Radiocarbon dating
The chronometric dating method based on the radioactive decay of 14 C in organic remains
Relative dating
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.
Sediment cores
Core samples taken from lake beds or other water sources for analysis of their pollen
Stable isotopes
Variants of elements that do not change over time without outside interference
Stratigraphy
a relative dating method that is based on ordered layers or (strata) that build up over time
Taphonomy
the study of what happens to an organism after death
Trace fossils
Fossilized remains of activity such as footprints
Uniformitarianism
the theoretical perspective that the geological process observed today are the same as the processes operating in the past
Unstable isotopes
Variants of elements that spontaneously change into stable isotopes over time
Uranium series dating
a radiometric dating method based on the decay chain of unstable isotopes of 238 U and 235 U
