unit5 1-54 test 55-59 quiz 8 60-64 quiz 9 Flashcards
how do we use the name precambrian?
informal name for the earliest chapter in earths history
refers to all rocks beneath cambrian-aged rocks, and to all time before the cambrian period
which range of earths history is represented by the precambrian, in by (billions of years)?
+4.6 billion years ago and ended 542 million years ago or 4.0 billion years
which two rock types represents most of the precambrian outcrop surfaces?
igneous and metamorphic rocks
what type of fossil is most representative of the precambrian?
single-cell organisms
where is found the largest north american precambrian exposure?
around the hudson bay, canada
where can we find exposures of precambrian rocks in texas?
llano area, central tx, carrizo mt. near van horn, tx and the franklin mts. at el paso, tx
how do we use the term basement rocks?
usual name for precambrian rocks
define a (precambrian) shield
exposed portion of the basement of a continent that is composed of precambrian rocks
define a platform
buried or covered surfaces of a shield
forms the foundation upon which other sediments are deposited
define a craton
the nucleus of a continent made up of a shield and a platform
crraons are not composed of uniform series of rock types.
what is the canadian shield?
the exposed portion of the north american craton
what are the only representative rocks for the very beginning of the hadean eon?
meteorites
what is earths oldest particle known and its age in by?
4,404 billion years, one zircon crystal represents the oldest particle on planet earth
what time period (by) is represent by the archean eon?
period of 4.0 billion years to 2.5 billion years
which country do we find earths oldest crustal rocks?
in northern canada the acasta gneiss
describe the effect of the moon on earths surface and oceans during the early archean eon.
the moon was much closer then, causing the earths crust to rise and fall by 200 feet every day
the oceans were getting deeper but were subjected to 1,000 foot tides
when did a large number of meteorites stop pelting the earth?
3.8 billion years
what type of tectonic feature can create continental crust?
convergent- subduction zones
oceanic crust being subducted under oceanic crust, island arcs that create continental crust (geologic province)are created
describe the rocks surrounding a typical precambrian geologic province.
surrounded by metamorphic rocks
what is graywacke sandstone and what type of environment would it represent?
a sandstone that shows a decrease in grain size from the bottom to the top of the bed and composed of abundant clay and volcanic rock fragments
they form in deep waters either beyond a continental shelf or off an oceanic island
what is a greenstone?
former volcanic and sedimentary rocks that are rich in chlorite
what do greenstone belts represent?
zones of rocks rich in chlorite
where do we find united states oldest crustal rocks and what is the formation name?
minesota river valley called the morton gneiss dated 3.5 billion years
at what period of time was earths first ice age (by)?
the beginning of the early proterozoic (2.7-2.5 BY)
what is a tillite? sometimes it is also called a __.
sedimentary deposits that include rocks and boulders from icebergs
also called drop-stones