Question 1

Basaltic clasts within the basal layers of the conglomerate imply which of the following statements? (Choose the most correct answer.)

Accepted Answer

A)  The conglomerate must be the older of the two. 
B)  The basalt must be the older of the two. 
C)  The section must not have been overturned by tectonic activity at any time. 
D)  B and C are equally correct.

Question 2

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

Question 3

Which of the following always varies among multiple isotopes of a single element?

Accepted Answer

A)  atomic number 
B)  atomic mass number 
C)  tendency to decay radioactively 
D)  none of the above

Question 4

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

Accepted Answer

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

Question 5

If horizontal sedimentary strata overlie tilted strata (and no fault is present),the surface between the horizontal and tilted strata must be a(n)____________.

Accepted Answer

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

Question 6

Precisely speaking,a measured radiometric age for a mineral crystal within an igneous rock denotes the amount of time that has passed since the ____________.

Accepted Answer

A)  atoms within the crystal were part of a body of molten magma 
B)  crystal solidified 
C)  temperature of the crystal became equal to the Curie point for the mineral 
D)  temperature of the crystal became equal to the closure temperature for the mineral

Question 7

Buried erosional surfaces between parallel sedimentary strata are termed ____________.

Accepted Answer

A)  disconformities 
B)  angular unconformities 
C)  nonconformities

Question 8

Radiometric dates applied to sedimentary rocks produce ages that are ____________.

Accepted Answer

A)  just as accurate as when the technique is applied to igneous rocks. 
B)  too young (postdate sedimentary deposition) 
C)  too old (predate sedimentary deposition)

Question 9

If the relative age of two formations (with respect to one another)is known,then the numerical ages for each formation can be inferred.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

Which method of correlation is more reliable for determining age equivalence among bodies of rock that are physically isolated by vast distances?

Accepted Answer

A)  lithologic correlation 
B)  fossil correlation

Question 11

In an unweathered sample of detrital sedimentary 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 reaction is 50 million years,how old is the rock?

Accepted Answer

A)  200 million years 
B)  400 million years 
C)  750 million years 
D)  none of the above

Question 12

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

Question 13

In an undisturbed sequence of sedimentary rocks,younger layers overlay older layers,according to the principle of ____________.

Accepted Answer

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

Question 14

The surfaces named contacts #2 and #3 are examples of ____________.

Accepted Answer

A)  conformable sedimentary contacts 
B)  faults 
C)  baked contacts 
D)  unconformities

Question 15

If the numerical ages of two formations are known,then the relative age of each with respect to one another can be inferred.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

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

Accepted Answer

A)  Archean 
B)  Phanerozoic 
C)  Proterozoic

Question 17

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)  original continuity 
C)  original horizontality 
D)  uniformitarianism

Question 18

The oldest geologic unit in the cross section is the ____________.

Accepted Answer

A)  granite 
B)  marble 
C)  limestone 
D)  sandstone

Question 19

The youngest geologic unit visible in the cross section is the ____________.

Accepted Answer

A)  granite 
B)  limestone 
C)  conglomerate 
D)  marble

Question 20

The correct answer to question 30 illustrates the principle of ____________.

Accepted Answer

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

Exam 10: Deep Time: How Old Is Old

Basaltic clasts within the basal layers of the conglomerate imply which of the following statements? (Choose the most correct answer.)

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

Which of the following always varies among multiple isotopes of a single element?

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

If horizontal sedimentary strata overlie tilted strata (and no fault is present) ,the surface between the horizontal and tilted strata must be a(n) ____________.

Precisely speaking,a measured radiometric age for a mineral crystal within an igneous rock denotes the amount of time that has passed since the ____________.

Buried erosional surfaces between parallel sedimentary strata are termed ____________.

Radiometric dates applied to sedimentary rocks produce ages that are ____________.

If the relative age of two formations (with respect to one another)is known,then the numerical ages for each formation can be inferred.

Which method of correlation is more reliable for determining age equivalence among bodies of rock that are physically isolated by vast distances?

In an unweathered sample of detrital sedimentary 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 reaction is 50 million years,how old is the rock?

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

In an undisturbed sequence of sedimentary rocks,younger layers overlay older layers,according to the principle of ____________.

The surfaces named contacts #2 and #3 are examples of ____________.

If the numerical ages of two formations are known,then the relative age of each with respect to one another can be inferred.

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

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 ____________.

The oldest geologic unit in the cross section is the ____________.

The youngest geologic unit visible in the cross section is the ____________.

The correct answer to question 30 illustrates the principle of ____________.