Chapter 12 Geologic Time - Chapter Test

Front

Rocks record geological events and

Back

life forms of the past.

Front

The geologic processes that shape Earth’s features today

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are basically the same today as they were in the geologic past.

Front

For what purpose do geologists use relative dating?

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to determine which rock layer in a canyon wall formed first

Front

In general, the law of superposition states that in an undeformed sequence of sedimentary rocks, each layer is

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older than the one above it.

Front

According to the principle of cross-cutting relationships, an intrusive rock body is

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younger than the rocks it intrudes into.

Front

Which type of geologic event has to occur to create an angular unconformity?

Back

folding or tilting of rock layers

Front

What are fossils?

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the remains or traces of an organism preserved from the geologic past

Front

Which of the following environments would NOT contain fossils?

• sediment deposited in a riverbed
• intrusive rock formed from cooled magma
• a thick deposit of dried mud
• layers of sand that accumulated over thousands of years

Back

intrusive rock formed from cooled magma

Front

What is important for an organism to become a fossil?

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rapid burial and hard parts

Front

Index fossils allow geologists to

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match rocks of the same age in different regions.