Question 1

Magnetostratigraphy takes advantage of the fact that the Earth's magnetic field

Accepted Answer

A)  only arose 10,000 years ago. 
B)  has been uniformly strong,with constant polarity,throughout the Earth's history. 
C)  has experienced numerous polarity reversals,with periods of normal and reversed polarity of varying lengths. 
D)  has experienced numerous regular,predictable polarity reversals. 
A)  only arose 10,000 years ago. 
B)  has been uniformly strong,with constant polarity,throughout the Earth's history. 
C)  has experienced numerous polarity reversals,with periods of normal and reversed polarity of varying lengths. 
D)  has experienced numerous regular,predictable polarity reversals.

Question 2

Based on the figure,what is the age of Layer 7 relative to Layer 3?

Accepted Answer

A)  Layer 7 is younger than Layer 3. 
B)  Layer 7 is older than Layer 3. 
C)  Layer 7 and Layer 3 are the same rock type,so they are the same age. 
D)  Their relative ages cannot be determined. 
A)  Layer 7 is younger than Layer 3. 
B)  Layer 7 is older than Layer 3. 
C)  Layer 7 and Layer 3 are the same rock type,so they are the same age. 
D)  Their relative ages cannot be determined.

Question 3

Which of the following geologic principles is a direct result of gravity?

Accepted Answer

A)  baked contacts 
B)  cross-cutting relationships 
C)  original horizontality 
D)  inclusions 
A)  baked contacts 
B)  cross-cutting relationships 
C)  original horizontality 
D)  inclusions

Question 4

In an undisturbed sequence of sedimentary rocks,younger layers overlie older layers,according to 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 5

Which of the following is ALWAYS the same for different isotopes of a single element?

Accepted Answer

A)  atomic number 
B)  atomic mass number 
C)  tendency to decay radioactively 
D)  half-life 
A)  atomic number 
B)  atomic mass number 
C)  tendency to decay radioactively 
D)  half-life

Question 6

If the relative ages of two formations are known,what else about them can be inferred?

Accepted Answer

A)  their absolute ages 
B)  their fossil assemblages 
C)  their lithologies 
D)  their relative position in the geologic column 
A)  their absolute ages 
B)  their fossil assemblages 
C)  their lithologies 
D)  their relative position in the geologic column

Question 7

As understood by modern geologists,the principle of uniformitarianism implies that

Accepted Answer

A)  the Earth has always had the same basic appearance that it has today. 
B)  igneous,metamorphic,and sedimentary rocks are uniformly mixed throughout the crust. 
C)  physical processes observed today (such as erosion and volcanic eruptions)have been active in the past at roughly the same rates. 
D)  physical processes observed today (such as erosion and volcanic eruption)occurred much more rapidly in the past,quickly sculpting the Earth's surface. 
A)  the Earth has always had the same basic appearance that it has today. 
B)  igneous,metamorphic,and sedimentary rocks are uniformly mixed throughout the crust. 
C)  physical processes observed today (such as erosion and volcanic eruptions)have been active in the past at roughly the same rates. 
D)  physical processes observed today (such as erosion and volcanic eruption)occurred much more rapidly in the past,quickly sculpting the Earth's surface.

Question 8

The closure temperature represents the point when

Accepted Answer

A)  a magma cools to the point where minerals begin to crystallize. 
B)  radioactive isotopes begin to decay. 
C)  isotopes are no longer free to move out of a crystal lattice. 
D)  the last remaining magma crystallizes. 
A)  a magma cools to the point where minerals begin to crystallize. 
B)  radioactive isotopes begin to decay. 
C)  isotopes are no longer free to move out of a crystal lattice. 
D)  the last remaining magma crystallizes.

Question 9

If the lithology and fossil content of two bodies of rock on opposite sides of a canyon are identical,then these remaining outcrops were likely physically connected at one time and formed part of an extensive,sheet-like layer of rock.This idea summarizes the principle of

Accepted Answer

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

Question 10

If a basalt body cuts across a fault,what are the relative ages of the basalt and the fault?

Accepted Answer

A)  The fault must be older,according to the principle of cross-cutting relationships. 
B)  The basalt must be older,according to the principle of cross-cutting relationships. 
C)  The basalt must be older,according to the principle of original horizontality. 
D)  Their relative ages cannot be determined from the information given. 
A)  The fault must be older,according to the principle of cross-cutting relationships. 
B)  The basalt must be older,according to the principle of cross-cutting relationships. 
C)  The basalt must be older,according to the principle of original horizontality. 
D)  Their relative ages cannot be determined from the information given.

Question 11

Radiometric dates applied to sedimentary rocks produce ages that

Accepted Answer

A)  are just as accurate as when the technique is applied to igneous rocks. 
B)  are too young (postdate sedimentary deposition). 
C)  are too old (predate sedimentary deposition). 
D)  represent the time the sediments became lithified. 
A)  are just as accurate as when the technique is applied to igneous rocks. 
B)  are too young (postdate sedimentary deposition). 
C)  are too old (predate sedimentary deposition). 
D)  represent the time the sediments became lithified.

Question 12

Within the world's sedimentary rocks,fossils

Accepted Answer

A)  are rarely,if ever,found. 
B)  are randomly distributed. 
C)  occur in an ordered sequence. 
D)  are found only in igneous rocks. 
A)  are rarely,if ever,found. 
B)  are randomly distributed. 
C)  occur in an ordered sequence. 
D)  are found only in igneous rocks.

Question 13

Discuss what the numerical age represents when radiometrically dating a basalt,a gneiss,and a sandstone.

Accepted Answer

The numerical age of a basalt gives the

Question 14

Relative ages expressed on the geologic time scale primarily resulted from the study of

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 15

A birthdate is an example of a(n)________ age.

Accepted Answer

A)  relative 
B)  numerical 
C)  radiocarbon 
D)  isotopic 
A)  relative 
B)  numerical 
C)  radiocarbon 
D)  isotopic

Question 16

Two atoms of a single element that differ in number of neutrons are said to represent two distinct ________ of that element.

Accepted Answer

A)  isomers 
B)  isotopes 
C)  isotherms 
D)  atomic species 
A)  isomers 
B)  isotopes 
C)  isotherms 
D)  atomic species

Question 17

Look at the figure below.The contact between the Vishnu Schist and the Tapeats Sandstone is a(n)

Accepted Answer

A)  conformable contact. 
B)  disconformity. 
C)  nonconformity. 
D)  angular unconformity. 
A)  conformable contact. 
B)  disconformity. 
C)  nonconformity. 
D)  angular unconformity.

Question 18

Can the age of the Earth be reliably estimated from sediment thicknesses?

Accepted Answer

A)  Yes.Sedimentation rates remain constant at any one locality throughout the Earth's history. 
B)  Yes.Sedimentary rocks are rarely metamorphosed or melted. 
C)  No.Sedimentary rocks make up only a small fraction of the rocks on the Earth's surface. 
D)  No.Much of the Earth's history is represented by unconformities between strata rather than the strata themselves. 
A)  Yes.Sedimentation rates remain constant at any one locality throughout the Earth's history. 
B)  Yes.Sedimentary rocks are rarely metamorphosed or melted. 
C)  No.Sedimentary rocks make up only a small fraction of the rocks on the Earth's surface. 
D)  No.Much of the Earth's history is represented by unconformities between strata rather than the strata themselves.

Question 19

Why is radiocarbon dating rarely applied in geological work?

Accepted Answer

A)  No substances on the Earth contain significant amounts of carbon-14. 
B)  The half-life of carbon-14 is so long that it is effectively a stable isotope. 
C)  The half-life of carbon-14 is so short that it can only be used to date materials that are less than 70,000 years old. 
D)  Carbon-14 is destroyed by the heat of magma. 
A)  No substances on the Earth contain significant amounts of carbon-14. 
B)  The half-life of carbon-14 is so long that it is effectively a stable isotope. 
C)  The half-life of carbon-14 is so short that it can only be used to date materials that are less than 70,000 years old. 
D)  Carbon-14 is destroyed by the heat of magma.

Question 20

Place the layers and geologic events in order from oldest to youngest.Make sure to include all of the layers and events,including the top surface.(There will be one event/layer per line when complete.)   $\begin{array}{c}
\begin{array}{|l}
 \hline \text {Youngest}\
 \hline\
\
\
\
\
\
\
\
\
\
\
 \hline \text {Oldest}\
 \hline 
\end{array}
\begin{array}{|l|}
 \hline \quad\quad\quad\quad\quad\quad\quad\quad\quad\quad\quad\quad\
 \hline \
 \hline \
 \hline \
 \hline \
 \hline \ 
\hline \
 \hline \
 \hline \
 \hline \
 \hline \
 \hline \
 \hline \
 \hline 
\end{array}
\end{array}$

Accepted Answer

The answer of Place the layers and geologic events in...

Exam 12: Deep Time: How Old Is Old

Magnetostratigraphy takes advantage of the fact that the Earth's magnetic field

Based on the figure,what is the age of Layer 7 relative to Layer 3?

Which of the following geologic principles is a direct result of gravity?

In an undisturbed sequence of sedimentary rocks,younger layers overlie older layers,according to the principle of

Which of the following is ALWAYS the same for different isotopes of a single element?

If the relative ages of two formations are known,what else about them can be inferred?

As understood by modern geologists,the principle of uniformitarianism implies that

The closure temperature represents the point when

If the lithology and fossil content of two bodies of rock on opposite sides of a canyon are identical,then these remaining outcrops were likely physically connected at one time and formed part of an extensive,sheet-like layer of rock.This idea summarizes the principle of

If a basalt body cuts across a fault,what are the relative ages of the basalt and the fault?

Radiometric dates applied to sedimentary rocks produce ages that

Within the world's sedimentary rocks,fossils

Discuss what the numerical age represents when radiometrically dating a basalt,a gneiss,and a sandstone.

Relative ages expressed on the geologic time scale primarily resulted from the study of

A birthdate is an example of a(n)________ age.

Two atoms of a single element that differ in number of neutrons are said to represent two distinct ________ of that element.

Look at the figure below.The contact between the Vishnu Schist and the Tapeats Sandstone is a(n)

Can the age of the Earth be reliably estimated from sediment thicknesses?

Why is radiocarbon dating rarely applied in geological work?

Place the layers and geologic events in order from oldest to youngest.Make sure to include all of the layers and events,including the top surface.(There will be one event/layer per line when complete.) Youngest Oldest

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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