Earth Science - Stratigraphy Quiz

This discipline of Earth Science is devoted to the order and relative position of rock strata, and their relationships to the geologic time scale and Earth history.

• Petrology

• Stratigraphy

• Paleontology

• Geodyanmics

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

What principle of stratigraphy does the image display?

• Law of Cross-Cutting Relationships

• Law of Lateral Continuity

• Law of Original Horizontality

• Law of Superposition

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

Here, we see a sequence of sedimentary rock strata. Using which stratigraphic principle, how do we know that these layers have yet to be subjected to geologic processes of deformation?

• Law of Cross-Cutting Relationsips

• Law of Lateral Continuity

• Law of Original Horizontality

• Law of Superposition

In this image, we see two rock towers that appear to express the same sequences of sediments. Using the ________, young geologists can infer that these separated layers were once joined as one larger layer.

• Law of Cross-Cutting Relationships

• Law of Lateral Continuity

• Law of Original Horizontality

• Law of Superposition

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

Using the Principle of Cross-Cutting Relationships, a young geologist like yourself can infer that the darker layer of vertical rock is ________ than the lighter, more massive rocks behind it.

• Younger

• Older

• Of equal relative age

• Answer can't be determined

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

Here, relative ages of sedimentary rock strata are extrapolated using assemblages of fossils that are expressed in individual layers. What principle of stratigraphy is used to make these inferences?

• Law of Superposition

• Law of Lateral Continuity

• Law of Faunal Succession

• Law of Cross-Cutting Relationships

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

Using your newfound skills involving the principles of stratigraphy, order the geologic sequence of events from oldest to youngest using the associated letter codes (e.g. C → A → B → E → D).

• C → B → A → D → E

• E → D → C → B → A

• C → B → D → A → E

• D → C → B → A → E

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

Lithostratigraphy, biostratigraphy, and chronostratigraphy are three related subfields of stratigraphy.

• True

• False

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

This Catholic priest and scientist established three principles relating to sedimentary rock strata during the 17th-century giving rise to the modern field of stratigraphy.

• William "Strata" Smith

• Harry Hess

• Alfred Wegener

• Nicolas Steno

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

Average American consumers can thank the work of geologists studying the stratigraphy of sediments in finding this popular commodity.

• groundwater

• oil & gas

• building material (e.g. limestone, dolostone)

• geothermal energy zones

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-1

NGSS.MS-ESS3-1