Fossil Record Vocab

Front

Geologic processes shaping Earth today have been at work throughout history - SLOW changes.

Back

uniformitarianism

Front

Geologic change on Earth occurs suddenly.

Back

catastrophism

Front

Study of fossils

Back

Paleontology

Front

Death of every member of a species

Back

extinction

Front

A fossil found in rock strata at one age, used to date surrounding rock layers.

Back

index fossil

Front

Method to determine if an event/object is older or younger than others.

Back

relative dating

Front

Younger rock strata lie above older in undisturbed layers.

Back

Principal of superposition.

Front

Remains of an organism preserved by geological processes.

Back

fossil

Front

Break in geologic record from disturbed rock layers.

Back

Unconformity

Front

Standard method to divide Earth's 4.6 billion year history.

Back

Geologic time scale.