Questions

Question 1

How and why are the planets beyond asteroid belt different from those in board of the asteroid belt?

Answer 1

Planets beyond the asteroid belt are gasseous while the planets in board of the asteroid belt are made of rocky.

Question 2

Uniformitarianism vs. Actualism?

Answer 2

Uniformitariansim is the idea that the same universal laws that have occured in the past occur now and will occur in the future. Actualism is the idea that facts of geology should be explained by processes that actually happen, not that have happened in the past.

Question 3

How old must an organism be in order to consider it a fossil?

Answer 3

Greater than 10,000 years.

Question 4

What are Steno’s Principles?

Answer 4

1) Superposition: The oldest rock layer will be on the bottom of the sequence.
2) Initial Horizontality: Rock layers are deposited horizontally and then possibly deformed to different attitudes later.
3) Original Lateral Continuity: Rock layers can be assumed to have continued laterally far from where they presently end (erosion).

Question 5

What differentiates the Phanerozoic from the pre-Cambrian?

Answer 5

The Phanerozoic introduces marine species with skeletons (better fossilization). Life also moved from the seas and began forming complex mamalls, insects, invertebrates, etc.

Question 6

Oceanic vs. Continental Crust:

Answer 6

Oceanic crust is comosed of dense mafic rock (basalt) and continental crust is composed of less dense felsic rock (granite).

Question 7

Types of unconformities?

Answer 7

Angular- layers of rock lay horizontally across older, tilted/eroded angled strata.
Nonconformity- unconformity separating bedded sedimentary rocks above igneous rocks below
Disconformity- a parallel unconformity representing a period of erosion/ non depostion.

Question 8

What criteria are needed for preservation of soft parts? How likely is this?

Answer 8

An anoxic, high pressure environment is needed. Loose permeable sediment is then pressurized to hold the soft parts together. It is not likely, however.

Question 9

What types of unique conditions can Archaebacteria tolerate?

Answer 9

Extreme temperatures, salty, no oxygen, acidic environments.

Question 10

What are the criteria of an index fossil?

Answer 10

1) abundant
2) easily distinguishable
3) geographically widespread
4) occurance in many kinds of sedimentary rocks
5) narrow stratigraphic range (shortlived)

Question 11

What is the difference between primitive and derived traits?

Answer 11

Primitive traits appear early in evolutionary history, while derived traits evolved later and occur in only some of the subgroups.

Question 12

What are the primary organisms that produce chalk? Chert?

Answer 12

Chalk- Calacareous single celled organisms called coccolithophores.
Chert- siliceous single celled organisms called Diatoms.

Question 13

How do bivalves differ from brachiopods?

Answer 13

The main physical difference is that bivalves have bilateral symmetry from one shell to the other (mirror immage) while brachiopods have symmetry on each shell.

Question 14

Why does radiocarbon dating have limitted uses?

Answer 14

Radiocarbon dating can only date organic material. It also has a shorter half life so it can only date back to a few thousand years (can’t date dinosaurs).

Question 15

Calculate half-lives.

Answer 15

.

Question 16

How does natural selection drive evolution?

Answer 16

Species that are more “fit” or adaptable to their environment live on and continue to evolve as the less “fit” are unable to pass on their genes when they come extinct.

Question 17

Define homology:

Answer 17

Presence in two different groups of animals or plants of organs that have the same ancestral origin but serve different function.

Question 18

Define vestigial organ:

Answer 18

Organs that serve no apparent purpose but resemble organs that peform functions in other creatures (appendix).

Question 19

Define horotely:

Answer 19

Average rates of change in evolution.

Question 20

Define tachytely:

Answer 20

Faster than average rates in evolution.

Question 21

Define bradytely:

Answer 21

Slower than average rates in evolution.

Question 22

Define neoteny:

Answer 22

Reach adulthood without metamorphasis (child-like features in adults).

Question 23

Explain the Miller Experiment and how clay played a role:

Answer 23

The Miller Experiment simulated the atmospheric conditions on earth during the early stages of life. It showed us that organic compounds (namely amino acids) can be formed by inorganic compounds. Clay acted as an inorganic cataylst for the reaction.

Question 24

What do meteorites tell us about the composition of the solar system?

Answer 24

The minerals which make up the meteroites tell us the composition of the solar system AND the earth. Stony (silica based), Iron meteorites (iron-based), and stony-iron.

Question 25

Allopatric vs. sympatric speciation:

Answer 25

Allopatric speciation is when populations of the same species are split by a geographical barrier and then become unable reproduce with one another. Sympatric speciation is when populations of the same species choose not to mate because of behavioral barriers and eventually become unable to reproduce with one another.

Question 26

What are greenstone belts and what do they tell us about the formation of cratons?

Answer 26

Greenstone belts form at subduction zones composed of metamorphosed igneous (gabbro/basalt- oceanic crust). These comprise a percentage of the craton which are the oldest “basement rock” on the lithosphere.

Question 27

Where are the oldest rocks in a structural basin? In a structural dome?

Answer 27

The oldest rocks are found on the outside of the basin and the youngest are found in the middle. The oldest rocks in a dome are found in the middle and the youngest on the outside.

Question 28

What is the importance of the Wopmay Orogeny? When did it occur and what does it tell us about the size of continental landmasses at this time?

Answer 28

It occured in the early Proterozoic around 2 BYA in Northern Canada when the slave plate and the bear plate came together. It told us that the continental landmasses were similar in size to the current day continents.

Question 29

Explain Eukaryotic evolution with diagrams:

Answer 29

Union of 2 prokaryotes where a chloroplast and mitochondria is ingest but not digested. They branch off to form plants (mitochondria and chloroplast) or animals (only mitochondria).

Question 30

What is Rodina and what does it have to do with the Pacific Ocean?

Answer 30

Rodina is the “sutured”supercontinent that the Greenville Orogeny assembled. Around 700-800 millions years ago Rodina split and created the Pacific Ocean.

Question 31

Retroarc Foreland Basin vs. Peripheral Foreland Basin:

Answer 31

Retroarc foreland basins (which override) occur behind the peripheral foreland basin (which is being subducted).

Question 32

Where are Ophiolite Suites found and where are they never found? Why?

Answer 32

Ophiolite suites are only ever found on the peripheral foreland basin where heat, pressure, and collision is present. They will not be found in retro-arc foreland basins because there is no heat/pressure contact on the back side of the basin.

Question 33

Flysche vs. Molasse:

Answer 33

Flysche (shales and turbidites) phase is deposited in mountain building events. Molasse (arkosic and other nonmarine sediment) is deposited after the mountains are formed (on top of deep water flysche).

Question 34

What types of rocks are diagnostic of continental rifting when found together?

Answer 34

Arkose and basalt.

Question 35

What is the Orthoquartzite-Carbonate Suite? When during a Wilson Cycle is it found?

Answer 35

Sandstone/arkose and limestone are deposited at the edges of grabens at the passive ocean margin on top of the continental crust.

Question 36

What are the hypothesized steps in the differentiation of the Earth’s interior and exterior?

Answer 36

Earth was liquefied by impaction and stratified because of density differences.