Pre-Final Leaks Flashcards
What is deformation in geological terms?
The bending, breaking, or flowing of rocks in response to stress
What mainly causes deformation in the Earth’s crust?
Horizontal movements of plates
What is stress in geological terms?
The force applied per unit area producing deformation
What are the two main types of deformation?
Brittle and ductile deformation
Which type of deformation involves cracking and breaking of rocks?
Confining deformation
What structures are produced by brittle deformation?
Joints and faults
How are joints different from faults?
Faults involve appreciable displacement, while joints do not
What type of fault involves the hanging wall moving down relative to the footwall?
Normal fault
How do domes differ from basins in terms of rock layers?
Domes have older rocks at the center, basins have younger rocks.
What is the main difference between anticlines and synclines?
Anticlines are upward bulges, synclines are downward troughs
What is the primary purpose of dating in geology?
Determining the age of geologic events
Which type of dating places rocks in proper sequence of formation without specifying the exact time?
Relative dating
According to the Law of Superposition, what can be inferred about undisturbed strata?
Each layer is younger than the one below and older than the one above
What does the Law of Original Horizontality state?
Sediments form strata horizontally
If one geologic feature cuts across another, what can be inferred?
The feature that cuts is older
What are inclusions in rocks, and what does their presence indicate?
Fragments of another tock, older than the rock containing them
What is the purpose of Foxall Succession?
Identifying rock types ?
What is an unconformity in geology?
A gap in the rock record due to erosion or non-deposition
Among the types of unconformities, which one involves strata with different dip angles?
Angular unconformity
What is the main principle of Absolute Dating?
Specifying numerical ages of geologic events
What are Isotopes in the context of geology?
Elements with the same atomic number but different atomic mass
What is the process of change undergone by unstable radioactive isotopes to become more stable?
Radioactive decay
What is a fossil?
Remains or traces of prehistoric life
What are the three requirements for fossilization?
Rapid bural, presence of protective cover, possession of hard parts or durable tissues
If one geologic feature cuts across another, what can be inferred?
The feature that cuts is older
What are inclusions in rocks, and what does their presence indicate?
Fragments of another rock; older than the rock containing them
What is the purpose of Fossil Succession?
Identifying rock types ?
What is an unconformity in geology?
A gap in the rock record due to erosion or non-deposition
Among the types of unconformities, which one involves strata with different dip angles?
Angular unconformity
What is the main principle of Absolute Dating?
Specifying numerical ages of geologic events
What are isotopes in the context of geology?
Elements with the same atomic number but different atomic mass
What is the process of change undergone by unstable radioactive isotopes to become more stable?
Radioactive decay
What is a fossil?
Remains or traces of prehistoric life
What are the three requirements for fossilization?
Rapid burial, presence of protective cover, possession of hard parts or durable tissues
What does the Geologic Time
Scale (GTS) represent?
A division of the whole geologic history
What is the Precambrian Eon-divided into?
Hadean, Archean, Proterozoic
Under the Phanerozoic Eon, what are the three eras?
Paleozoic, Mesozoic, Cenozoic
In the Paleozoic Era, what is the oldest period?
Cambrian
Which era includes the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous periods?
Mesozoic
In the Cenozoic Era, which period includes the Pleistocene and Holocene epochs?
Quaternary Period
The Precambrian Eon is divided into the Hadean, Archean, and Proterozole eras.
T
The Mesozoic Era includes the Cambrian, Ordovician, and Silurian periods.
F
Ductile deformation involves cracking and breaking of rocks.
F
Joints involve appreciable displacement, while faults do not.
F
Normal faults are associated with compressional stress.
F
Anticlines are upward bulges, while synclines are downward troughs.
T
Deformation factors include temperature, pressure, deformation rate, and rock composition.
T ?
Folds and basins are structures produced by ductile deformation.
T
Faults and folds are important for indicating areas of potential earthquakes.
F ?
Isotopes are elements with different atomic numbers.
F
Relative dating provides numerical ages for geologic events.
F
The Law of Original Horizontality states that sediments forming strata are originally deposited vertically.
F
The Law of Lateral Continuity suggests that sediments are deposited laterally and continuousty in all directions.
T
Inclusions are always older than the rocks that contain them.
T
Fossil Succession refers to the vertical succession of rocks in a specific order.
T
Unconformities represent periods of rapid deposition.
F
An angular unconformity involves strata with the same dip angles.
F
Radioactive decay is the process of changing stable isotopes into unstable ones.
F
Fossilization requires slow burial, absence of a protective cover, and possession of soft tissues.
F
The Geologic Time Scale (GTS) divides Earth’s history based on temperature variations.
F ?
Why are faults and folds important in geology?
They indicate areas of potential earthquakes
What are the three main types of unconformities?
Angular, Nonconformity, Disconformity
Which era includes the Paleocene, Eocene, and Oligocene epochs?
Cenozoic Era
What primarily causes deformation in rocks?
horizontal movements of plates
Which factor is not a deformation factor influencing rock deformation?
Temperature
What structures are produced by ductile deformation?
Folds, basins, domes
What type of fault involves the hanging wall moving up relative to the footwall?
Reverse Fault
What is the main difference between a syncline and an anticline?
Shape and orientation
