Question 1

Which principle of stratigraphy could be used to determine the relative ages of Layer 7 and Layer 3?

Accepted Answer

A)  the principle of fossil succession 
B)  the principle of original horizontality 
C)  the principle of lateral continuity 
D)  the principle of inclusions 
A)  the principle of fossil succession 
B)  the principle of original horizontality 
C)  the principle of lateral continuity 
D)  the principle of inclusions

Question 2

Which statement best summarizes the development of the geologic time scale?

Accepted Answer

A)  Numerical ages for rocks were known before the relative sequence of sedimentary layers was established. 
B)  Relative ages for sedimentary strata were known before accurate numerical dates for these rocks were measured. 
C)  Names of relative ages (such as Silurian)and accurate numerical dates for these ages became known at about the same time. 
D)  Numerical ages for fossils were known before the relative sequence of sedimentary layers was established. 
A)  Numerical ages for rocks were known before the relative sequence of sedimentary layers was established. 
B)  Relative ages for sedimentary strata were known before accurate numerical dates for these rocks were measured. 
C)  Names of relative ages (such as Silurian)and accurate numerical dates for these ages became known at about the same time. 
D)  Numerical ages for fossils were known before the relative sequence of sedimentary layers was established.

Question 3

James Hutton,the "father of geology," put forth the principle of

Accepted Answer

A)  superposition. 
B)  original continuity. 
C)  original horizontality. 
D)  uniformitarianism. 
A)  superposition. 
B)  original continuity. 
C)  original horizontality. 
D)  uniformitarianism.

Question 4

How is the half-life of a radioactive parent isotope defined?

Accepted Answer

A)  the time it takes for half of the parent isotope to decay 
B)  half the time it takes for the parent isotope to completely decay 
C)  the time it takes the parent isotope to go through half the decay steps necessary to produce a stable daughter isotope 
D)  half of the average rate of decay of the parent isotope 
A)  the time it takes for half of the parent isotope to decay 
B)  half the time it takes for the parent isotope to completely decay 
C)  the time it takes the parent isotope to go through half the decay steps necessary to produce a stable daughter isotope 
D)  half of the average rate of decay of the parent isotope

Question 5

Magma has intruded into some limestone,and a marble rind formed surrounding the granite pluton.The marble rind must be younger than the limestone according to the principle of

Accepted Answer

A)  superposition. 
B)  baked contacts. 
C)  original horizontality. 
D)  original continuity. 
A)  superposition. 
B)  baked contacts. 
C)  original horizontality. 
D)  original continuity.

Question 6

Which eon of geologic time is represented by rocks containing abundant shelly fossils?

Accepted Answer

A)  Hadean 
B)  Archean 
C)  Phanerozoic 
D)  Proterozoic 
A)  Hadean 
B)  Archean 
C)  Phanerozoic 
D)  Proterozoic

Question 7

In an unweathered sample of igneous rock,the ratio of an unstable isotope to its stable daughter isotope is 1:15.If no daughters were present at the time the rock cooled below closure temperature,and the half-life of the isotope is 50 million years,how old is the rock?

Accepted Answer

A)  200 million years 
B)  400 million years 
C)  750 million years 
D)  1 billion years 
A)  200 million years 
B)  400 million years 
C)  750 million years 
D)  1 billion years

Question 8

What is the principle of uniformitarianism? How does this principle apply to our understanding of the Earth system? How is this useful in the context of relative dating?

Accepted Answer

Uniformitarianism states,"The present is

Question 9

Numerical ages for boundaries between time units on the geologic time scale primarily resulted from the study of ________,in conjunction with relative age data.

Accepted Answer

A)  fossil content and spatial relationships among igneous rocks 
B)  fossil content and spatial relationships among sedimentary rocks 
C)  radiometric dating of igneous rocks 
D)  radiometric dating of sedimentary rocks 
A)  fossil content and spatial relationships among igneous rocks 
B)  fossil content and spatial relationships among sedimentary rocks 
C)  radiometric dating of igneous rocks 
D)  radiometric dating of sedimentary rocks

Question 10

Which of the following statements is true regarding the clasts (labeled 5)inside the granite pluton?

Accepted Answer

A)  The inclusions are the same age as the pluton. 
B)  The inclusions are younger than the pluton. 
C)  The inclusions are older than the pluton. 
D)  The relative age of the inclusions and the pluton cannot be determined. 
A)  The inclusions are the same age as the pluton. 
B)  The inclusions are younger than the pluton. 
C)  The inclusions are older than the pluton. 
D)  The relative age of the inclusions and the pluton cannot be determined.

Question 11

If an igneous dike cuts across a sequence of sedimentary beds,then

Accepted Answer

A)  the beds must be older. 
B)  the dike must be older. 
C)  the beds and the dike must have formed at the same time. 
D)  their relative ages cannot be determined from the information given. 
A)  the beds must be older. 
B)  the dike must be older. 
C)  the beds and the dike must have formed at the same time. 
D)  their relative ages cannot be determined from the information given.

Question 12

What is an unconformity? Illustrate the three types of unconformities.

Accepted Answer

An unconformity is a boundary

Question 13

The oldest geologic unit is

Accepted Answer

A)  Layer 1 
B)  Layer 8 
C)  Layer 5 
D)  Layer 10 
A)  Layer 1 
B)  Layer 8 
C)  Layer 5 
D)  Layer 10

Question 14

Describe the plausible geologic history of the rocks in the following photo/diagram.

Accepted Answer

The sediments that make up the sandstone

Question 15

Basaltic clasts within a conglomerate have been radiometrically dated to 50 million years ago.Is this a reliable age for the conglomerate?

Accepted Answer

A)  Yes. 
B)  No,this age is likely too old. 
C)  No,this age is likely too young. 
D)  No,basalt never contains minerals bearing radioactive isotopes. 
A)  Yes. 
B)  No,this age is likely too old. 
C)  No,this age is likely too young. 
D)  No,basalt never contains minerals bearing radioactive isotopes.

Question 16

In the area immediately surrounding an igneous intrusion,a host limestone is locally metamorphosed to produce marble.Which of the following statements is correct?

Accepted Answer

A)  The intrusive igneous rock must be older than the limestone. 
B)  The limestone must be older than the marble. 
C)  The limestone must be younger than the marble. 
D)  The relative ages of the three units cannot be determined with the information given. 
A)  The intrusive igneous rock must be older than the limestone. 
B)  The limestone must be older than the marble. 
C)  The limestone must be younger than the marble. 
D)  The relative ages of the three units cannot be determined with the information given.

Question 17

Which of the following geologic principles is NOT a result of gravity?

Accepted Answer

A)  original horizontality 
B)  cross-cutting relationships 
C)  lateral continuity 
D)  superposition 
A)  original horizontality 
B)  cross-cutting relationships 
C)  lateral continuity 
D)  superposition

Question 18

Which of the following lists the divisions on the geologic column from largest (most general)to smallest (most specific)?

Accepted Answer

A)  epoch,period,era,eon 
B)  period,epoch,eon,era 
C)  era,eon,epoch,period 
D)  eon,era,period,epoch 
A)  epoch,period,era,eon 
B)  period,epoch,eon,era 
C)  era,eon,epoch,period 
D)  eon,era,period,epoch

Question 19

Uniformitarianism is succinctly summarized by which phrase?

Accepted Answer

A)  The future is the key to the present. 
B)  The present is the key to the past. 
C)  The past is the key to the present. 
D)  The present is the key to the future. 
A)  The future is the key to the present. 
B)  The present is the key to the past. 
C)  The past is the key to the present. 
D)  The present is the key to the future.

Question 20

Seasonal changes create layering in glaciers known as

Accepted Answer

A)  growth banding. 
B)  rhythmic layering. 
C)  seasonal layering. 
D)  annual banding. 
A)  growth banding. 
B)  rhythmic layering. 
C)  seasonal layering. 
D)  annual banding.

Exam 12: Deep Time: How Old Is Old

Which principle of stratigraphy could be used to determine the relative ages of Layer 7 and Layer 3?

Which statement best summarizes the development of the geologic time scale?

James Hutton,the "father of geology," put forth the principle of

How is the half-life of a radioactive parent isotope defined?

Magma has intruded into some limestone,and a marble rind formed surrounding the granite pluton.The marble rind must be younger than the limestone according to the principle of

Which eon of geologic time is represented by rocks containing abundant shelly fossils?

In an unweathered sample of igneous rock,the ratio of an unstable isotope to its stable daughter isotope is 1:15.If no daughters were present at the time the rock cooled below closure temperature,and the half-life of the isotope is 50 million years,how old is the rock?

What is the principle of uniformitarianism? How does this principle apply to our understanding of the Earth system? How is this useful in the context of relative dating?

Numerical ages for boundaries between time units on the geologic time scale primarily resulted from the study of ________,in conjunction with relative age data.

Which of the following statements is true regarding the clasts (labeled 5)inside the granite pluton?

If an igneous dike cuts across a sequence of sedimentary beds,then

What is an unconformity? Illustrate the three types of unconformities.

The oldest geologic unit is

Describe the plausible geologic history of the rocks in the following photo/diagram.

Basaltic clasts within a conglomerate have been radiometrically dated to 50 million years ago.Is this a reliable age for the conglomerate?

In the area immediately surrounding an igneous intrusion,a host limestone is locally metamorphosed to produce marble.Which of the following statements is correct?

Which of the following geologic principles is NOT a result of gravity?

Which of the following lists the divisions on the geologic column from largest (most general)to smallest (most specific)?

Uniformitarianism is succinctly summarized by which phrase?

Seasonal changes create layering in glaciers known as

Cosmology and the Birth of the Earth

Journey to the Center of the Earth

Drifting Continents and Spreading Seas

The Way the Earth Works: Plate Tectonics

Patterns in Nature: Minerals

Up From the Inferno: Magma and Igneous Rocks

Pages of Earths Past: Sedimentary Rocks

Metamorphism: a Process of Change

The Wrath of Vulcan: Volcanic Eruptions

A Violent Pulse: Earthquakes

Crags,cracks,and Crumples: Crustal Deformation and Mountain Building

A Biography of the Earth

Squeezing Power From a Stone: Energy Resources

Riches in Rock: Mineral Resources

Unsafe Ground: Landslides and Other Mass Movements

Streams and Floods: the Geology of Running Water

Restless Realm: Oceans and Coasts

A Hidden Reserve: Groundwater

An Envelope of Gas: the Earths Atmosphere and Climate

Dry Regions: the Geology of Deserts

Amazing Ice: Glaciers and Ice Ages

Global Change in the Earth System

Introducing Rocks

a Surface Veneer: Sediments and Soils

the Rock Cycle in the Earth System

the Earths Interior, Revisited: Seismic Layering, Gravity, and the Magnetic Field

Memories of Past Life: Fossils and Evolution

Ever-Changing Landscapes and the Hydrologic Cycle

Prelude: and Just What Is Geology

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