Geologic History and Fossils

Which letter best represents an index fossil?

• A

• B

• C

• D

The geologic time scale is a record of....

• the history of fossils only
• the history of rocks
• the history of rock layers and fossils
• geologist notes

What two methods are used to divide and classify the geological time scale?

• Living organisms

• rock strata or layers

• DNA

• fossils

Earth is thought to be formed ______ years ago?

• 200 thousand

• 3 million

• 4.6 billion

• who knows

What is stratigraphy?

• the study of the fossilized remains of plants and animals

• the study of the layers of rock

• the study of how the continents have moved and are still moving

• the study of how carbon is stored in Earth's permafrost

What is the Law of Superposition?

• All principle that states that rock layers were formed as horizontal layers

• A gap in rock layers due to erosion of a weak layer of rock

• A principle that states that an intrusive layer of igneous rock will always be younger than the rock it cuts through.

• A principle that states that the deeper a rock is, the older it is unless it has been disturbed or altered.

What is the Law of Original Horizontality?

• All principle that states that rock layers were formed as flat layers

• A gap in rock layers due to erosion of a weak layer of rock

• A principle that states that an intrusive layer of igneous rock will always be younger than the rock it cuts through.

• A principle that states that the deeper a rock is, the older it is unless it has been disturbed or altered.

What is the Law of Cross-Cutting Relationships?

• All principle that states that rock layers were formed as flat layers

• A gap in rock layers due to erosion of a weak layer of rock

• A principle that states that an intrusive layer of igneous rock will always be younger than the rock it cuts through.

• A principle that states that the deeper a rock is, the older it is unless it has been disturbed or altered.

What is Relative Age Dating?

• The dating of rocks in how they compare to the rocks that are around them.

• The use of fossils to help find the age of a rock.

• The use of radioactive elements in rock to find a highly accurate estimate of the age of the rock.

• Dating of a rock layer based on how far it is from Earth's core.

Which layer is the oldest?

• E

• A

• B

• C

• D