Fossil Record Flashcards
uniformitarianism
the theory that changes in the earth’s crust during geological history have resulted from the action of continuous and uniform processes
catastrophism
the theory that changes in the earth’s crust during geological history have resulted chiefly from sudden violent and unusual events
paleontology
the branch of science concerned with fossil animals and plants
relative dating
Relative dating is used to arrange geological events, and the rocks they leave behind, in a sequence
absolute dating
Absolute dating is the process of determining an age on a specified chronology in archaeology and geology
superposition
The act of superposing or the state of being superposed: Yet another technique in the forensic specialist’s repertoire is photo superposition
isotope
each of two or more forms of the same element that contain equal numbers of protons but different numbers of neutrons in their nuclei, and hence differ in relative atomic mass but not in chemical properties
radioactive decay
l’ll so known as nuclear decay, radioactivity or nuclear radiation) is the process by which an unstable atomic nucleus loses energy
half-life
the time required for any specified property (e.g., the concentration of a substance in the body) to decrease by half
fossil
the remains or impression of a prehistoric organism preserved in petrified form or as a mold or cast in rock
trace fossil
a fossil of a footprint, trail, burrow, or other trace of an animal rather than of the animal itself
mold
s a fungus that grows in the form of multicellular filaments called hyphae
cast
throw (something) forcefully in a specified direction
unconformity
a surface of contact between two groups of unconformable strata
mass extinction
also known as a mass extinction or biotic crisis) is a widespread and rapid decrease in the biodiversity on Earth
Jurassic period
was a geologic period and system that spanned 56 million years from the end of the Triassic Period 201.3 million years ago
Cretaceous period
The Cretaceous Period was the last and longest segment of the Mesozoic Era
Devonian period
The Devonian is a geologic period and system of the Paleozoic, spanning 60 million years from the end of the Silurian
Quaternary period
The Quaternary Period is divided into two epochs: the Pleistocene 2.588 million years ago to 11.7 thousand years ago
Permian period
The Permian is a geologic period and system which spans 47 million years from the end of the Carboniferous Period 298.9 million years ago
