rock and fossil Flashcards
uniformitarianism
the theory that changes in the earth’s crust during geological history have resulted from the action of continuous
catastrophism
the theory that changes in the earth’s crust during geological history have resulted chiefly from sudden violent
paleontology
the branch of science concerned with fossil animals
relative dating
Relative dating is the science of determining the relative order of past event
absolute dating
Absolute dating is the process of determining an age on a specified chronology in archaeology
superposition
also known as superposition property
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
radioactive decay
is the process by which an unstable atomic nucleus loses energy
half-life
the time taken for the radioactivity of a specified isotope to fall to half its original value
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
is a fungus that grows in the form of multicellular filaments called hyphae
cast
an object made by shaping molten metal or similar material in a mold
unconformity
the condition of being unconformable
mass extinction
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
Cretaceous period
was the last and longest segment of the Mesozoic Era
Devonian period
system of the Paleozoic
Quaternary period
is divided into two epochs the pleistocene
Permian period
is a geologic period and system which spans 47 million years from the end of the Carboniferous Period
